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 Judiciary Communication 1, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

begs leave to report as follows:

The nominee received a B.A. from the University of Hawaii and a J.D. from the William S. Richardson School of Law. The nominee has been licensed to practice law in Hawaii since 1991. Upon completion of a judicial clerkship, the nominee served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu for three years and was also a Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City and County of Honolulu for five years. For the past seven years, the nominee has been in private practice with a number of local law firms specializing in insurance defense and personal injury matters, including dram shop and premises liability, employment, construction, motor vehicle tort, product liability, and breach of contract and warranty issues.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominee from the Hawaii State Bar Association, a State Representative, the Assistant Chief for the Investigative Bureau of the Honolulu Police Department, the President of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, seventeen attorneys, and twenty-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.