STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1415

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 76

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 76 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THAT THE KAPOLEI COURT COMPLEX BE RENAMED AS "THE RONALD T.Y. MOON JUDICIAL COMPLEX","

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to recommend that the Kapolei Court Complex be renamed the Ronald T.Y. Moon Judicial Complex in recognition of Chief Justice Moon's outstanding contributions to the State of Hawaii.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

The Honorable Ronald T.Y. Moon has devoted more than four decades to serving Hawaii's judiciary, as Circuit Court Judge, and as a distinguished Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court.  Under Chief Justice Moon's leadership, Hawaii's judicial system has responded to the challenges of a rapidly growing state through innovative programs such as the Judicial Performance Project, the Committee on Jury Innovations for the Twenty-first Century, the Appellate Mediation Program, and the Access to Justice Committee.

     Chief Justice Moon has been a strong advocate for the American principle of "Justice for All" by working to ensure equal access to the courts through his service as Chair of the Conference of Chief Justices' Access to and Fairness in the Courts Committee and Chair of the Americans with Disabilities Act Resource Center Advisory Committee, and vocal support of lawyers' pro bono service.  Chief Justice Moon has been honored by the National Center for State Courts with that organization's Distinguished Service Award for longstanding contributions to the improvement of the justice system and support of the National Center's mission of leadership, service, and education.

     Chief Justice Moon's unwavering support and tireless advocacy was instrumental in increasing access to the judicial system, especially for traditionally underserved communities on the Leeward Coast, by building the Kapolei Court Complex in West Oahu.  The Kapolei Court Complex will increase access to the judicial system by relieving overcrowding, increasing public safety within the courthouse, providing a more convenient forum for the residents of West Oahu, and providing a location for services to the community.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 76 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair