STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3532

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 598

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 598, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

 

Defender Council

 

G.M. No. 598

MICHAEL SOONG,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015,

 

begs leave to report as follows:  

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds Michael Soong to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to serve on the Defender Council.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Michael Soong from one individual.

 

     Mr. Soong earned his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from Southwestern School of Law in Los Angeles, California.  He has nearly twenty-five years of experience in criminal law as a defense attorney and a criminal prosecutor.  He currently is a private criminal defense attorney in Lihue and previously served eight years as the elected County Prosecutor for the County of Kauai as well as a Deputy Public Defender.

 

     Given his criminal law experience and skills, your Committee finds that Mr. Soong possesses the integrity, professionalism, and strong work ethic to be an effective member of the Defender Council.  His service will assist the Office of the Public Defender in achieving its mission of providing zealous and effective representation of indigent persons charged with criminal offenses.

 

     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