STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1583

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    JUD. COM. NO.  6

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred Judiciary Communication No. 6, submitting for study and consideration the appointment of: 

DISTRICT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT, STATE OF HAWAII

     J.C. No. 6    WILLIAM M. DOMINGO

                   for a term to expire in six years,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the resume and statements submitted by the appointee and finds William M. Domingo to possess the requisite qualifications to be appointed to the District Court of the First Circuit, State of Hawaii.

     Testimony in support of the appointment of Mr. Domingo was submitted by Judge J. Michael Seabright, United States District Court of the District of Hawaii; Retired Associate Justice Simeon R. Acoba, Jr., Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii; Office of the Public Defender; Afro-American Lawyers Association of Hawaii; Filipino American Citizens League; Hawaii Friends of Civil Rights; L & L Franchise, Inc.; Nursing Advocates & Mentors, Inc.; Hawaii Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; and fifty-two individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the appointment of Mr. Domingo from one individual.  Comments regarding the appointee were submitted by the Hawaii State Bar Association.

     The Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA) Board of Directors found the appointee to be qualified for the position of District Court Judge, First Circuit, based on all categories of the HSBA criteria that includes:  integrity, diligence, legal knowledge and ability, professional experience, temperament, financial responsibility, public service, health, and ability to fulfill the responsibilities and duties of the position.

     Mr. Domingo earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philippine Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa where, during his undergraduate studies, he served as President of the Filipino Students Association.  He later obtained his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  During his graduate studies, he served as President of the Filipino Law Students Association and Head Coach of the women's flag football team, Ete Bowl.

     Mr. Domingo has over twenty-eight years of criminal law experience.  Since 2005, he has been the sole practitioner of his own private law practice focusing on criminal defense representation in state and federal court in a variety of matters from traffic offenses to murder cases.  Prior to going into private practice, he served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the District of Hawaii where he focused on criminal defense representation in high profile federal crimes, including drug conspiracies, white collar corruption, and violent crimes.  He also served as a Deputy Public Defender for the Office of the Public Defender where he completed over eighty jury trials.

     Mr. Domingo is licensed to practice law in Hawaii and is an active participant in the legal community.  He is a past President of the Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association and Lecturer at the William S. Richardson School of Law for evidence classes.  He also serves as Grand Jury Counsel for the Circuit Court of the First Circuit and was rated as a Criminal Defense Hawaii Super Lawyer from 2008 to 2010.  He is also a Founder, Board Member, and past President of Sariling Gawa Youth Council, Inc.; Board Member and past President at the Kalihi YMCA; Board Member and past President of the Susannah Wesley Community Center; Mock Trial Coach for Farrington High School; Assistant Scout Master for Troop 201 Boys Scouts of America; AYSO Soccer Coach; and Member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church.

     Testimony in support of Mr. Domingo's appointment indicate that he fairly but zealously represents the best interests of his clients and possesses the ethical and professional standards that are demanded of judges.  He has the reputation for being a person of integrity who treats everyone equally and fairly and has the ability to relate to and is respectful toward everyone, which is an attribute that is important at the District Court level where most of the public comes into contact with the court system.

     Of particular note, testimony in support of the appointee praises his contributions to the Filipino community, especially his work with the Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association.  Mr. Domingo became President of the Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association when the Association had been inactive for many years.  Under his leadership, the Association has become a thriving organization that provides new and experienced attorneys with valuable resources and services to the public.  Testimony in support further indicates that Filipinos continue to be underrepresented in the legal profession and on the bench.  Mr. Domingo serving on the bench will more accurately reflect the diversity of Hawaii.

     As such, your Committee finds that, based on testimony submitted on his behalf, William M. Domingo has the experience, temperament, judiciousness, and other competencies to be a District Court Judge.  He has a good sense of where the equities, rights, and responsibilities lie in a case, which is essential for a District Court Judge.

     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 appointee, has found the appointee to be qualified for the position to which appointed and recommends that the Senate consent to the appointment.

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

____________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair