STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3695

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    JUD. COM. NO.  1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred Judiciary Communication No. 1, submitting for study and consideration the appointment of: 

 

Anthony k. bartholomew, to District Court of the Third Circuit

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Anthony K. Bartholomew from the State Public Defender, Federal Public Defender, and eight individuals.  The Hawaii State Bar Association submitted testimony rating the nominee as "qualified."

 

     Anthony K. Bartholomew is with the Office of the Public Defender in Hilo, Hawaii.  He is licensed to practice law in Hawaii, the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  He received an A.B. degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz, an M.Ed. degree from the University of Utah, and a J.D. degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law. 

 

     The nominee served as a volunteer with the Volunteers in Service to America 1971 to 1973, and has experience as an Associate Attorney in the private practice of law with a law firm.  He has been a Deputy Public Defender since 1997.

 

     Your Committee notes the testimony of the State Public Defender to the effect that Mr. Bartholomew is a very skillful and efficient attorney and has always handled his cases with dignity and compassion.  In particular, he has developed an expertise in the area of juvenile defense and has handled some of the most difficult family court cases over the years on the Big Island.  He is a very caring individual who is truly a champion for the rights of the underprivileged.  Other testimony emphasized the nominee's appropriate judicial temperament and unquestionable professional integrity.

 

     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 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 and Labor,

 

 

 

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair