Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 411, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Upon review of the résumé, application for judicial office, letter from the nominee dated March 30, 2004, and testimony, your Committee finds that Glenn S. Hara graduated with a BA and JD degree from Stanford University and was a law clerk for former Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice Kazuhisa Abe. The nominee has an extensive legal background. He worked in the Judge Advocate General's Corps for the U.S. Army and Attorney General's Office and has been in private practice since 1979. While in private practice, the nominee has been a Grand Jury Counsel, a Per Diem Judge, an Arbitrator for the Court Annexed Arbitration Program since 1987, and a partner at Roehrig, Roehrig, Wilson and Hara since 1987.

Testimony in support of this nominee was submitted by the Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA), County of Hawaii, Office of the Corporation Counsel for the County of Hawaii, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Hawaii, the Chairman of the Hawaii County Council, Fireplace and Home Center, Mermel, Inc., T&T Electric Inc., six attorneys, and two individuals.

The Board of Directors of the HSBA has found the nominee to be highly qualified to serve as a judge in the Circuit Court in the Third Circuit. As part of the HSBA Board's procedures for taking a position on judicial appointments, the candidate is asked to submit a resume, respond to a questionnaire, and to appear before the Board to answer questions. The HSBA Board utilizes a modified version of the American Bar Association Guidelines for Reviewing Qualifications of Candidates for State Judicial Office. These Guidelines include the following criteria for judicial positions: integrity, legal knowledge and ability, professional experience, judicial temperament, diligence, financial responsibility, public service, collegiality, and writing ability.

Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, résumé, and statements submitted by the nominee, and finds the nominee to have the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the position of nomination. Your Committee further finds that this nominee's vast and diverse experience in practicing law, as well as his former experience as a Per Diem Judge, will serve him well in a permanent position on the bench and facilitate an expedient transition.

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, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.