GM 767

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1929

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 767

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 767, submitting for study and consideration the appointment of: 

Circuit Court of the Third Circuit (Island of Hawaiʻi)

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Kauanoe A. D. Jackson for service on the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit, Island of Hawaiʻi.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the appointment of Kauanoe A. D. Jackson from twenty-five individuals.

     Your Committee received comments on the appointment of Kauanoe A. D. Jackson from the Hawaii State Bar Association and West Hawaiʻi Bar Association.

     The Hawaii State Bar Association Board of Directors (HSBA Board) uses a rating system that considers several criteria to assist the HSBA Board in making a recommendation to your Committee on whether the appointee is "qualified" or "not qualified".  Specifically, the criteria the HSBA Board employs is the same criteria found in the American Bar Association's Guidelines for Reviewing Qualifications of Candidates for State Judicial Office.  Those guidelines include the following criteria, which are not exclusive:  integrity, diligence, legal knowledge and ability, professional experience, temperament, financial responsibility, public service, and ability to perform the responsibilities and duties required of the position for which the applicant has been appointed.  Upon review of the established criteria, the HSBA Board found the appointee to be qualified for the position of Circuit Court Judge of the Third Circuit, Island of Hawaiʻi.

     Ms. Jackson received her Juris Doctor from the Chapman University School of Law, now known as the Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law, and has been licensed to practice law in California and Hawaiʻi since 2006.

     Ms. Jackson has dedicated her legal career to public service and has worked at the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Hawaiʻi since 2007.  Ms. Jackson is currently a Supervising Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, where she supervises Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys, non-attorney supervisors, and the operations of the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney's West Hawaiʻi Office.  In her role as a Supervising Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Ms. Jackson is responsible for determining facility and equipment concerns, evaluating financing concerns, reviewing human resource matters within the Office, developing training measures for staff, and evaluating the overall needs of the Office.  She is also the designated Traffic Resource Safety Prosecutor for the Office.  Before she became a Supervising Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Ms. Jackson worked as a Circuit Court Co-Supervising Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for four years, where she supervised five to eight Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys assigned to felony and jury demand cases.  Ms. Jackson started her legal career at the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Hawaiʻi as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, where she reviewed cases to determine if the Office should file formal charges, appeared for all stages of proceedings until the case closure, reviewed cases with law enforcement officers, administered trainings, and reviewed the impact of prosecution and cases with victims and witnesses.  Your Committee further notes that as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Ms. Jackson had a narcotics-focused assignment, where she concentrated on reviewing cases involving narcotics investigations and distribution offenses occurring within the County of Hawaiʻi.

     Testimony submitted in support of Ms. Jackson's appointment commends her strong work ethic, integrity, dedication, and commitment to her position in public service.  The testimony also noted her demeanor and temperament that would be fitting for a role as a judge.  Your Committee additionally notes that testimony highlights Ms. Jackson's strong ties to the County of Hawaiʻi.  Specifically, testimony notes that Ms. Jackson was raised in Kona, graduated from Konawaena High School, knows and respects Hawaiian culture and the aloha spirit, and is well respected within her community.

     Your Committee finds that, based on the testimony submitted on her behalf, responses to questions asked by the members of your Committee, and your Committee's review of information about her and her qualifications, Kauanoe A. D. Jackson has the knowledge, dedication, and other competencies to be a Circuit Court Judge of the Third Circuit, Island of Hawaiʻi, and possesses the legal expertise and integrity 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 consent to the appointment.

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