Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 78 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to recommend to the Hawaii Supreme Court that the disposition of a proceeding, including the imposition of any sanctions or dismissal of a petition, be made public after the completion of the proceeding.

The Judiciary commented on the measure.

Your Committee finds that under current rules, attorney disciplinary proceedings become public when a hearing committee finds ethics rules violations and recommends public discipline to the Disciplinary Board. This measure proposes that proceedings become public ninety days after the Disciplinary Counsel files a formal petition alleging ethics violations. The Supreme Court is currently accepting comments from the public and the bar on the proposal.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 78 and recommends its adoption.