STAND. COM. REP. NO. 159

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    JUD. COM. NO. 9

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred Judiciary Communication No. 9, submitting for study and consideration the appointment of: 

 

District Court of the Second Circuit

 

J.C. No. 9

CHRISTOPHER M. DUNN,

for a term to expire in 6 years,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Christopher M. Dunn for service on the District Court of the Second Circuit, State of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the appointment of Christopher M. Dunn from the Maui Community Correction Center, Maui Office of the Public Defender, the Honorable John T. Lu, and sixty-six individuals.  Your Committee received comments on the appointment of Christopher M. Dunn by the Hawaii State Bar Association.

 

     The Hawaii State Bar Association Board of Directors found the appointee to be qualified for the position of District Court Judge of the Second Circuit based on established criteria for determining the qualifications of judicial and executive appointments generally using the American Bar Association Guidelines for Reviewing Qualifications of Candidates for State Judicial Office.  Specifically, the Board uses the following criteria in its deliberations:  integrity and diligence, legal knowledge and ability, professional experience, judicial temperament, financial responsibility, public service, health, and ability to fulfill the responsibilities and duties of the position for which the applicant has been nominated.  The Board's rating system includes the categories of "qualified" and "not qualified".

 

     Mr. Dunn received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Skidmore College, where he played collegiate basketball on the junior varsity and varsity teams.  He later obtained his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the George Washington University National Law Center, where he served as an intern at the Office of the Federal Public Defenders in Washington, D.C.

 

     Mr. Dunn has been a solo practitioner in the State of Hawaii since 2002, and has practiced primarily in the area of criminal defense.  A significant portion of his practice involves representing indigent clients on a court-appointed basis.  He has represented petitioners and respondents in District Court and Family Court restraining order cases, and has served as a court-appointed Commissioner in judicial foreclosure actions.  Throughout the course of his practice, he has served as counsel in numerous cases that have presented novel or challenging legal issues, including pleas of not guilty by reason of insanity and challenges to improper search and seizure by law enforcement.

 

     Mr. Dunn has been active in the legal community throughout his career, and regularly participates in legal round table luncheons with other practitioners in the community.  He also provides significant pro-bono services in and out of the scope of his court-appointed representation.  In addition, he has been involved in competitive outrigger canoe paddling since 2004.

 

     Testimony submitted in support of Mr. Dunn's appointment commend his genuine concern for his clients and his consistent pursuit of justice.  In the course of his private practice and court-appointed representation, he has demonstrated an outstanding professional demeanor and an ability to build strong working relationships with judges, court clerks and staff, and opposing counsel.  Numerous testifiers also praise his deep legal expertise, commitment to fairness, and strong personal integrity.

 

     Your Committee finds that, based on the testimony submitted on his behalf, responses to questions asked by the members of your Committee, and your Committee's review of information about him and his qualifications, Christopher M. Dunn has the experience, temperament, and other competencies required to be a Judge of the District Court of the Second Circuit, and he has the legal expertise, integrity, and demeanor to fully and faithfully discharge the duties associated with that judicial office.

 

     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, experience, and qualifications of the appointee, has found the appointee to be qualified for the position to which appointed and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the appointment.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair