Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 376, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee finds that the nominee received a B.A. degree from the University of Hawaii and a J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law. The nominee has been licensed to practice law in Hawaii since 1981. The nominee worked in the Office of the Public Defender and currently serves as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu handling complex white collar and public corruption cases.

Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted by the Hawaii State Bar Association, the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Kauai, the Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Hawaii, the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, the Attorney General for the State of Hawaii, the Executive Director of the State Campaign Spending Commission, a Florida judge, thirty-eight attorneys, and twenty-three individuals. One person testified in opposition to the nominee. One person offered comments on the nominee.

The Board of Directors of the Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA) rated the nominee to be highly qualified. As part of the HSBA Board's procedure for taking a position on judicial appointments, the candidate is asked to submit a resume, respond to a questionnaire, and 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, resume, and statements submitted by the nominee and finds the nominee to have the necessary qualifications and legal experience to be appointed to the position of the nomination.

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.