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. 422, 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 April 4, 2004, and testimony, your Committee finds that Alexa D. M. Fujise graduated with a BA degree from the University of Hawaii and a JD degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law. The nominee is a member of the Hawaii State Bar. She was a clerk for Associate Justice Herman Lum and an assistant counsel at the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. Since 1984, the nominee has worked at the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu. For those twenty years, the nominee was a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for six years, Appellate/Research Branch Chief for eight years, and Division Director for the Research and Reference Support Division for six years.

Testimony was submitted by the Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA), Department of the Attorney General, Office of the Public Defender, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu, forty-six attorneys, and twenty-three individuals. Comments were also submitted by one individual.

The Board of Directors of the HSBA has found the nominee to be qualified to serve as an Associate Judge for the Intermediate Court of Appeals. 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 finds that her substantial and impressive tenure practicing and supervising appellate work will support her transition to this position.

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.