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. 377, 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 Puget Sound and a J.D. from the William S. Richardson School of Law. The nominee has been licensed to practice law in Hawaii since 1982. The nominee has served as a Deputy County Attorney and the County Attorney for Kauai County. The nominee also served as a per diem judge in the Fifth Circuit for four years where the nominee presided over traffic, criminal, civil, juvenile, and family court cases. The nominee also served as a Supervising Deputy Attorney General for the Individual Claims and Employment Law divisions within the Department of the Attorney General. Presently, the nominee is the Director of Human Resources Development for the State of Hawaii.

Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted by the Hawaii State Bar Association, a former Governor of the State of Hawaii, the Attorney General for the State of Hawaii, the Director of Finance, the Deputy Director of Finance, the State Chief Negotiator, the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, the Adjutant General of the State Department of Defense, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for Kauai County, a Kauai County Councilmember, the Hawaii Personnel Council, the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, twenty-four attorneys, and forty-six individuals.

The Board of Directors of the Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA) rated the nominee to be 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.