STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1901

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 686

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 686, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Civil Rights Commission

G.M. No. 686

MARK G. VALENCIA, for a term to expire 6-30-2009,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee finds that Mark G. Valencia graduated from the University of Hawaii-West Oahu in 1993 and obtained a J.D. from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas.  Following graduation he went on to clerk for Judge Walter Kirimitsu in the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals ("ICA").  From 1997-2004, Mr. Valencia practiced law as an attorney with Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert.  From 2004-2005 he served as a policy analyst for the Office of the Governor.  Currently, Mr. Valencia is an adjunct professor at Hawaii Pacific University as well as an attorney with Case Lombardi & Pettit.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominee from ICA Chief Judge Mark Recktenwald, retired Judge Sandra Simms, retired Judge Walter Kirimitsu, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, 7 attorneys, and 5 individuals.      

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair