JC3 SSCR3432

 

STAND. COM. REP. NO.3432

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: JUD. COM. NO. 3

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred Judiciary Communication No. 3, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

PAUL T. MURAKAMI, to the District Family Court of the First Circuit;

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominee from the Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA), Chief Court Administrator of the First Judicial Circuit, Hawaii State Public Defender, and five individuals.

The HSBA subjected the nominee to rigorous review and evaluation before rating the nominee as "highly qualified" for the position. That rating is the highest endorsement given by the HSBA for judicial appointment recommendations. The review includes a thorough evaluation of the nominee based on a modified version of the American Bar Association Guidelines for Reviewing Qualifications of Candidates for Judicial Office. The guideline's criteria include: integrity, legal knowledge and ability, professional experience, judicial temperament, diligence, financial responsibility, public service, collegiality, and writing ability.

The nominee is currently a per diem judge for the family court. Testimony indicated that his judicial temperament and relationship with the staff are excellent. He has handled all types of cases and maintained courtroom decorum. There has not been a single complaint about the nominee in his work as a per diem judge. Your Committee notes that the nominee has volunteered in helping the Kids First Program of the Judiciary.

The nominee is licensed to practice law in Hawaii, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has been a Grand Jury Council for the First Circuit, and serves on the Medical Claims Conciliation Panel and National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

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, character, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate consent to the nomination.

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

		____________________________ BRIAN KANNO, Chair