STAND. COM. REP. 262

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 978

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Legislative Management, to which was referred H.B. No. 978 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to temporarily repeal the exemption from jury service for attorneys, heads of executive departments, judges, ministers or priests, members of the armed forces or militia when on active service, and elected officials serving in a legislative capacity when the legislative body is not in session. This bill also allows a juror to be excused from jury duty for reason of financial hardship.

Your Committee received testimony on this measure from the Judiciary and the League of Women Voters of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that jury service is a fundamental obligation of citizenship that promotes the ideals of democracy and equality in our society and that the selection of a jury from the broadest possible cross-section of the community is critical to our justice system.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Legislative Management that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 978 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Legislative Management,

 

____________________________

MICHAEL Y. MAGAOAY, Chair