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. 78, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted by the Hawaii State Bar Association, West Hawaii Bar Association, the Hawaii County Committee on the Status of Women, fifteen attorneys, and twenty-one 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 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.

Similarly, the West Hawaii Bar Association also found her highly qualified.

Your Committee finds that the nominee received a B.S. degree from Willamette University and earned a J.D. degree from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College. The nominee has been licensed to practice law in Hawaii since 1988 and served as an associate attorney and partner in a number of local law firms. Presently, the nominee serves as a Per Diem Judge in the District and Family Courts in the Third Circuit and maintains a private law practice.

Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statements submitted by the nominee and find the nominee to have the necessary qualifications and legal experience to be appointed to the position of nomination.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on 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.