STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1577

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 613

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 613, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Defender Council

 

G.M. No. 613

THOMAS OTAKE,

for a term to expire 6-30-2018,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds Thomas Otake to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to serve on the Defender Council.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Thomas Otake from the Office of the Public Defender.

 

     Mr. Otake received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Pacific University and received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  After graduating from law school, he served as a Law Clerk for Circuit Court of the First Circuit Retired Judge Marcia Waldorf.  From 2003 to 2007, he served as a Deputy Public Defender and appeared before the Intermediate Court of Appeals, Circuit Court, Family Court, and District Court.  Since 2007, he has been a private criminal defense attorney practicing in Honolulu.

 

     Of particular note, in 2011, Mr. Otake received the Extra Mile Award, which is given annually by the Federal Public Defender's Office to a private criminal defense attorney who, through the attorney's actions or deeds, demonstrates the dedication to go the "extra mile" in representing or assisting a client in federal court.  He was previously selected by the District Court of Hawaii Federal Court Judges to be Hawaii's attorney representative at the 2014-2015 Ninth Circuit Conference.

 

     According to testimony in support of Mr. Otake's nomination, his experience as a former Deputy Public Defender has allowed him to form a complete understanding of the criminal justice system and the Public Defender's essential role in that system.  As a member of the Defender Council, he will assist the Office of the Public Defender in fulfilling its mission of zealous and effective representation of indigent persons charged with criminal offenses.

 

     Your Committee finds that due to the nominee's experience in the criminal justice system, the State will benefit from Mr. Otake serving on the Defender Council.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Otake is eminently qualified, and his experience, knowledge, and skills will be invaluable to the Defender Council.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair