STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1141
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 399
H.D. 1
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 399, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISTRICT COURT JUDGES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish one additional district court judgeship in the First Circuit.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii State Bar Association, Hawaii Financial Services Association, and one individual.
Your Committee finds that currently, there are sixteen district court courtrooms in the First Circuit. However, there are only fourteen district court judges, which requires the Judiciary to rely heavily on per diem judges to preside over district court calendars. Your Committee further finds that the availability of per diem judges is limited due to most per diem judges being practicing attorneys who have other professional responsibilities. This measure will provide the district court with the ability to better manage court dockets, be more responsive to the needs of the community, increase capacity in rural courts, and develop and expand specialized court calendars by establishing an additional district court judgeship in the First Circuit.
Your Committee has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.
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 H.B. No. 399, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 399, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, 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 |
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