STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1645

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 569

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 569, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Defender Council

G.M. No. 569

ALEXANDRA SCANLAN, for a term to expire 6-30-2014,

begs leave to report as follows:

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

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Alexandra Scanlan from the Office of the Public Defender.

     Ms. Scanlan earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and received her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  She currently is a private criminal defense attorney practicing in Honolulu with twenty years of experience in handling over a hundred jury trials in Hawaii Circuit and Family Courts, hundreds of bench trials in Hawaii District and Family Courts, writing numerous briefs, and presenting three oral arguments before the Hawaii Supreme Court.

     According to testimony in support of Ms. Scanlan's nomination, her experience as a former Deputy Public Defender has allowed her to form a complete understanding of the criminal justice system and the Public Defender's essential role in that system.  As a member of the Defender Council, she will assist the Office of the Public Defender in fulfilling its mission of zealous and effective representation of indigent persons charged with criminal offenses.

     Your Committee finds that due to the nominee's previous experience in the criminal justice system, the State will benefit from Ms. Scanlan serving on the Defender Council.  Your Committee further finds that Ms. Scanlan is eminently qualified, and her experience, knowledge, and skills will be 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,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair