STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3146

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 418, 419

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 418 and 419, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

Defender Council

G.M. No. 418	JEFFREY ALAN HAWK, for a term to expire 6-30-2014.; and
G.M. No. 419	SHIRLEY MIKI KAWAMURA, for a term to expire 6-30-2014,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds the nominees to have the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the Defender Council.

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Jeffrey Alan Hawk was submitted by the State Public Defender and two other individuals.

     Jeffrey Alan Hawk received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of California at Berkeley, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law.  He is currently a partner with the law firm of Hawk Sing & Ignacio, a small firm specializing in all phases and types of criminal cases, where he has successfully litigated many difficult and high-publicity cases.  From 1998 to 2003, Mr. Hawk was a Deputy Public Defender with the Office of the Public Defender.  

     Mr. Hawk represents the City and County of Honolulu and is a reappointment to the Defender Council.  According to testimony submitted in support of his nomination, Mr. Hawk has been a member of the Council since 2006 and has served as the Chair of the Council since 2008, efficiently contributing to the administration of the Office of the Public Defender.

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Shirley Miki Kawamura was submitted by the State Public Defender and two other individuals.

     Shirley Miki Kawamura received a Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, in Sociology from Brown University, and a Juris Doctor degree from the Stanford Law Center.  She is currently an attorney with the law firm of Kawashima Lorusso & Tom, focusing her practice in commercial and insurance defense litigation.  From 1999 to 2005, she was a Senior Felony Trial Deputy, where she researched, prepared, and argued appellate briefs and substantive motions, and managed and directed hundreds of criminal cases in the District, Family, and Circuit Courts.  From 1998 to 1999, Ms. Kawamura was an attorney with the law firm of Ashford & Wriston, where she worked in the areas of bankruptcy, foreclosure, collections, real property transactions, commercial banking, quiet title, probate, and general contract litigation.  From 1997 to 1998, she was a law clerk for Judge Dexter Del Rosario. 

     Ms. Kawamura also represents the City and County of Honolulu and is a reappointment to the Defender Council.  According to testimony submitted in support of her nomination, Ms. Kawamura has been a member of the Council since 2006, and her extensive litigation background and experience has been beneficial for the Council.

     Written testimony presented to your Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

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

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair