STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2122

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2319

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2319 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI, SECTION 3, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO INCREASE THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE FOR STATE JUSTICES AND JUDGES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to propose a constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory retirement age for justices and judges from seventy to seventy-five years.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Community Alliance on Prisons and five individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the institutional knowledge that justices and judges acquire throughout their tenure is invaluable to the administration of justice in the State. Your Committee believes that the existing mandatory retirement age for justices and judges of seventy years is harming the court system because it requires excellent judges to retire prematurely. This measure will allow judges to continue to benefit the State's justice system with their years of experience gained from considering legal issues during their tenure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2319 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair