STAND. COM. REP. NO.3596

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 357

 

 

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 Governor's Message No. 357, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

MARCIA J. WALDORF, to the Circuit Court of the First Circuit, for a term of ten years;

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominee from the Hawaii State Public Defender, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney, Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA), a Program Specialist of the First Judicial Circuit, sixteen attorneys, and four 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 guidelines' criteria include: integrity, legal knowledge and ability, professional experience, judicial temperament, diligence, financial responsibility, public service, collegiality, and writing ability.

The nominee has been a District Court Judge of the First Circuit Court since 1985, in which she served as the Administrative Judge of the District Court for five years. She has substituted as a circuit court judge from time to time and has also served as a district family court judge. She received an undergraduate degree, cum laude, from the University of California at Davis, and a law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law where she was on the Moot Court Board. Previously, she served as a Deputy Public Defender. Most recently, the nominee has helped plan a mental health court.

Your Committee notes that the nominee has been active in domestic violence working groups and judicial education. She has been a member of the Judicial Education Committee, contributing to the content, format, and faculty composition of at least two education seminars a year. She has also been a faculty member as well and trains per diem judges. Your Committee is more familiar with her in her capacity as the District Court Legislative Coordinator. Her testimony before your Committee has been forthright and enlightening.

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 appointment.

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

____________________________

BRIAN KANNO, Chair