STAND. COM. REP. NO.1575

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: JUD. COM. NO. 4

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Judiciary Communication No. 4, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

FAYE KOYANAGI, to the District Court of the First Circuit;

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominee from Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney, Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA), twenty-four attorneys, and four individuals.

The Board of Directors of the HSBA has found the nominee to be a highly qualified candidate. As part of the HSBA Board's procedure for taking a position on judicial appointments, the candidate is asked to submit a resume, respond to a questionnaire, or both, and appear before the Board to answer questions. The HSBA Board utilizes a modified version of the American Bar Association Guidelines for Reviewing Qualifications of Candidates for State Judicial Office. These Guidelines include the following criteria for judicial positions: integrity, legal knowledge and ability, professional experience, judicial temperament, diligence, financial responsibility, public service, collegiality, and writing ability.

The nominee received a JD degree from Hastings College of Law, where she served as the student note author of the "Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly, 1975-1976, a BA degree from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a teaching credential from the University of California at Berkeley. She currently practices in her own firm associated with the Fireman's Fund Insurance Companies, and acts as an arbitrator and mediator. She was previously with the firm of Libkuman, Ventura, Ayabe, Chong, & Nishimoto, and with the City and County of Honolulu Departments of Corporation Counsel and Prosecuting Attorney. With a substantial legal background in trial work, the nominee also has an extensive background as a seminar speaker in risk management and tort law. She has also served as HSBA Director (two separate terms) and HSBA Secretary.

Your Committee notes from the testimony that the nominee is respected by her peers and possesses all the qualities necessary to be a good judge. She is intelligent, fair, diligent, and exercises excellent judgment.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs 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 and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair