STAND. COM. REP. NO.1011

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: JUD. COM. NO. 1

 

 

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. 1, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

MATTHEW S.K. PYUN, to the District Court of the Third Circuit;

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominee from the Hawaii State Bar Association (HSBA) and twenty-five 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 criteria include: integrity; legal knowledge and ability; professional experience; judicial temperament; diligence; financial responsibility; public service; collegiality; and writing ability.

Matthew S.K. Pyun received a BBA degree from the University of Hawaii and a JD degree from Drake University School of Law, and has been licensed since 1965 to practice law in Hawaii state courts, the U.S. District Court in Hawaii, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He has been in private practice since 1971 with extensive experience in various areas of the law, including trial, administrative, and appellate work. He is currently a per diem district court judge for the third circuit. He has worked as associate counsel for the Legal Aid Society of Honolulu, Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City and County of Honolulu, and law clerk for Judge Martin Pence of the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. The nominee has been listed in the Who's Who in American Law and The Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Law Section, State of Hawaii, and is a member of the American Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, and Hawaii Trial Lawyers Association. He has also been a guest lecturer at several professional seminars in criminal law.

Your Committee notes that the nominee is currently serving in a per diem capacity in the position to which he is being nominated, and that the nominee has resided on the Big Island since 1989. Most importantly, the nominee states that he finds the District Court to be exciting and challenging as participants bring to the court their emotions, beliefs, and causes with the full intention of making the judge aware of them, which is why he finds it important for a district court judge to be mature and controlled to maintain order.

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