STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1899

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 608

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 608, submitting for study and consideration the appointment of: 

 

Circuit Court of the Second Circuit, State of Hawai'i

 

G.M. No. 608

MICHELLE L. DREWYER,

for a term to expire in 10 years,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Judge Michelle L. Drewyer for service on the Circuit Court of the Second Circuit, State of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the appointment of Judge Michelle L. Drewyer from the Governor and nineteen individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to the appointment of Judge Michelle L. Drewyer from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on the appointment of Judge Michelle L. Drewyer from the Board of Directors of the Hawaii State Bar Association.

 

     The Hawaii State Bar Association Board of Directors (HSBA Board) uses a rating system that considers several criteria to assist the HSBA Board in making a recommendation to your Committee on whether the appointee is "qualified" or "not qualified".  Specifically, the criteria the HSBA Board employs is the same criteria found in the American Bar Association's Guidelines for Reviewing Qualifications of Candidates for State Judicial Office.  Those guidelines include the following criteria, which are not exclusive:  integrity, diligence, legal knowledge and ability, professional experience, temperament, financial responsibility, public service, health, and ability to perform the responsibilities and duties required of the position for which the applicant has been appointed.  Upon review of the established criteria, the HSBA Board found the appointee to be qualified for the position of Circuit Court Judge of the Second Circuit.

 

     Judge Drewyer received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Western Michigan University.  She then received her Juris Doctor from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School.  Judge Drewyer has been licensed to practice law in the State of Hawaii since 1992.

 

     Judge Drewyer has served as a per diem judge in the Second Circuit since 2005 in Family Court and 2017 in District Court, where she has handled a number of issues, including traffic cases; misdemeanor crimes; civil cases; and cases involving child custody, divorce, and child welfare.  Her per diem work included presiding over cases in Maui, Lanai, and Molokai.  Judge Drewyer also has her own private practice handling civil and criminal litigation, arbitrations, and mediations.

 

For over a decade, Judge Drewyer was a partner at Ranken & Drewyer, L.L.C., where she concentrated in criminal and civil litigation, and law firm management, including advertising and personnel supervision.  She also was an arbitrator for the Court Annexed Arbitration Program.  Prior to becoming a partner, Judge Drewyer was an associate with Ranken, Drewyer, & Ranken.

 

Before going into private practice, Judge Drewyer worked as a Deputy Public Defender for the State of Hawaii, where she gained circuit court experience involving arraignment and plea, bail hearings, pre-trial motions, jury trials, and sentencing and parole hearings.  Judge Drewyer began her legal career in public service as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Maui, where she worked in the violent crime section and for a year, concentrated on child sex assault cases.

 

     Judge Drewyer has been an active participant in the community and has demonstrated her commitment to serving the public.  She is the President of the Na Hinano O Opana, a nonprofit corporation formed to protect agriculture lands, and is also a member of the Medical Reserve Corps.  Previously, she served as the President of the nonprofit organization, "Friends of the Public Defender"; participated in Volunteer Legal Services; participated in mock trials to introduce school age children to all aspects of the criminal justice system and the Outward Bound Program to introduce troubled teens to possible career opportunities within the legal field; and volunteered with the Maui District Health Office to assist the community in getting vaccinated and other projects relating to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

 

     Testimony submitted in support of Judge Drewyer's appointment commends her diligence, legal knowledge and experience, and commitment to fairness and justice.  Testimony further indicates that during her time as a judge for the District Court of the Second Circuit, she has been even-handed, composed, firm, and calm to all parties in her courtroom.  Numerous testifiers also praise her judicial temperament, as well as her strong work ethic.

 

Your Committee finds that, based on the testimony submitted on her behalf, responses to questions asked by the members of your Committee, and your Committee's review of information about her qualifications, Judge Michelle L. Drewyer has the experience, compassion, and other competencies to be a Circuit Court Judge of the Second Circuit, and she has the legal expertise and integrity to fully and faithfully discharge the duties associated with that judicial office.

 

     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 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,

 

 

 

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair