STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2216

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 598

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

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

Attorney General of the Department of the Attorney General

G.M. No. 598

CLARE E. CONNORS, for a term to expire at noon on 12-05-2022,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Clare E. Connors for nomination as the Attorney General of the State of Hawai‘i.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Clare E. Connors as the Attorney General of the State of Hawai‘i from the Governor; Department of Health; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Human Services; Department of Taxation; Department of Transportation; Department of Agriculture; Department of Human Resources Development; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Public Safety; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Office of Enterprise Technology Services; Campaign Spending Commission; Office of Environmental Quality Control; Domestic Violence Action Center; Starn, O'Toole, Marcus, and Fisher; American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii; and forty-seven individuals. Your Committee received comments on the nomination of Clare E. Connors as the Attorney General from the Hawaii State Bar Association and Ho‘omanapono Political Action Committee.

Ms. Connors received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ethics, Politics, and Economics; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from Yale College, where she graduated cum laude. She subsequently received her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from Harvard Law School, where she was a line editor of the Journal on Legislation and was awarded the Heyman Fellowship Award for Government Service. Ms. Connors currently serves as the Acting Attorney General and previous to that she was a partner in the law firm of Davis Levin Livingston. She also served as an Assistant United States Attorney for seven years. For over seventeen years she has practiced law in private practice and in government service and has been a member of the Hawai‘i State Bar Association since 2003. Ms. Connors has been a lecturer and instructor of the small business and entrepreneurship clinic at the William S. Richardson School of Law and is a member of numerous professional and community boards and organizations. Additionally, she was nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii in 2015.

Testimony in support of Ms. Connors' nomination commend her depth of experience, leadership abilities, and professional demeanor. Even in her brief time as Acting Attorney General, she has earned a reputation among numerous state agencies as having the highest integrity and commitment to effective advocacy. Many testifiers noted that her superb knowledge of the law, clear and seasoned judgment, and open-minded approach to complex issues will continue to be great assets to the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that, based on the testimony submitted on her behalf, Clare E. Connors has the experience, temperament, and other competencies to be the Attorney General of the State of Hawai‘i, and in that capacity she will continue to be a strong advocate on behalf of the interests of the State and its residents.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary 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,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair