Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 995 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal the mandatory retirement age of seventy for all state judges and justices.

Your Committee finds that the current mandatory retirement age for judges and justices is counterproductive to judicial efficiency and productivity as it often dispenses of highly experienced jurists capable of discharging their duties well beyond the age of the seventy. Your Committee further finds that age alone does not determine a judge's functional ability. Mandatory retirement does not consider the value of a judge's accumulated wisdom and experience on the bench.

Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 995, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 995, S.D. 1.