On Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at 4:45 P.M. before the House Finance Committee, I testified in support of our measure, SB879 SD1 HD1 that Amends section 621-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to increase the per diem payments for out-of-state witnesses in criminal cases. It provides an additional per diem payment for witnesses from any island other than the island on which the court is located, when that witness is required to stay overnight.
I testified in opposition to SB886 that proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory retirement age for justices and judges from 70 to 80 years of age. The Department believes the drafters of our state constitution wanted to retire judges at the age of 70 to allow new qualified judges with with good judicial temperament and analytical skills to come onto the bench.
I testified in support of our measure, SB873 SD2 HD1 that will help the state collect restitution from offenders for the injury and/or damage they caused to victims. The measure would allow income withholding, tax refund withholding, and bail to be applied to restitution.
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 