STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2918

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 403

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 403, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Defender Council

 

G.M. No. 403

SHIRLEY MIKI KAWAMURA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2010,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Shirley Miki Kawamura from the State Public Defender, Office of the Governor, and twenty-two individuals. 

 

     The nominee represents the Oahu appointment to the Defender Council.  Ms. Kawamura is currently an attorney with the law firm of Kawashima, Lorusso, and Tom, LLP, where she has been since 2005.  She is a graduate of Iolani School, and received a B.A. degree from Brown University and a J.D. degree from Stanford Law Center.  Ms. Kawamura has experience as a Senior Felony Trial Deputy with the Office of the Public Defender, where she served as an attorney from May 1999 to October 2005.  Prior thereto, she also worked as an intern for the Office of the Public Defender in Providence, Rhode Island from 1993 to 1994, and as an intern with the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii in 1993.  Ms. Kawamura is a Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem and on the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society. 

 

     Your Committee notes the cumulative testimony that Ms. Kawamura is bright, energetic, personable, collaborative, cooperative, positive in all she does, does more than her share of the work, understands people, and is good at bringing people together.  Her experience as a Deputy Public Defender is invaluable to the Defender Council.

 

     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,

 

 

 

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair