Video & Transcript Research : 'judicial security'
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LA
Transcript Highlights:
- This makes it more secure.
- Social Security card.
- And in terms of having... ...a Social Security card, I mean, the Social Security cards that we have for
- Security card through the mail.
- And, for example, Barksdale in Bossier City is a secure base.
Bills:
HR118, HR196, HR237, HR285, HCR85, HB442, HB443, SCR5, SCR29, SCR33, SCR63, SB25, SB202, SB319
Keywords:
water utility, tax credit, excessive rates, residential service, subcommittee, fallen trees, property damage, insurance, property values, hurricanes, storm damage, local government, homeowners, risk management, committee study, census, military population, Department of Defense, representation, federal funding
LA
Bills:
HB199, HB222, HB223, HB224, HB235, HB246, HB405, HB535, HB554, HB907, SCR3, SB43, SB52, SB54, SB113, SB168, SB219, SB222, SB270, SB311, SB359
Keywords:
nursing facilities, moratorium, healthcare, patient care, data collection, Medicaid, dental coverage, healthcare access, medical necessity, Louisiana Department of Health, Department of Children and Family Services, sunset law, statutory entities, regulatory authority, re-creation, termination dates, child welfare, foster care, children's rights, legal guardianship
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House State Government Committee Feb 4th, 2026
State Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Digital receipts must also be sent to the Alabama Securities Commission.
- Uh, and violations of this will be administered through the Alabama Securities Commission.
- Digital receipts must also be sent to the Alabama Securities Commission.
- Uh, and violations of this will be administered through the Alabama Securities Commission.
- Andy Hamlin for the 24th Judicial Andy Hamlin for the 24th Judicial Circuit.<00:36:29.200>
Where
Bills:
SB8, SB22, SB137, HB295, HB2, HB343, HB220, HB303, HB81, SB8, SB22, SB137, HB295, HB2, HB343, HB220, HB303, HB81
Keywords:
emergency management, public funds, educational materials, state legislation, disaster response, uniformity, state laws, legislative commission, appointments, government structure, resilience, natural disasters, risk management, Alabama Resilience Council, Chief Resilience Officer, state planning, environmental protection, community preparedness, Alabama Office of Civic Engagement, Alabama Office of Minority Affairs
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, since 1999, the total amounts deposited into the judicial fund by statutory probate courts and
- I secured a judgment against the state, and you, among others, refused to pay what's due me.
- I, I certainly think that a judge, a judicial magistrate should in fact have some, you know, mandatory
- , this is Senator Huffman's bill relating to the discipline of judges by the State Commission on Judicial
- Conduct, Notice of certain reprimands, judicial compensation.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- It's really drastically improved safety. ...and security, but there's just some flexibility.
- Vincent said, I think with reasonableness and judiciousness.
- Vincent said, I think with reasonableness and judiciousness.
- But the point is it can be a tool that can be used at the right time judiciously. Thank you.
- It can be a tool that can be used at the right time judiciously. Thank you.
Bills:
SB27, SB226, SB326, SB570, SB605, SB870, SB991, SB1871, SB1872, SB1873, SB1874, SB1924, SB1925
Keywords:
residency, public schools, child safety placement, enrollment, education code, antisemitism, student conduct, education, disciplinary actions, Texas Education Code, truancy, attendance policy, chronic absenteeism, school attendance, student absence notifications, parent notification, home visit, attendance officer, truancy court, school district
Summary:
The committee heard a series of school safety and discipline bills, beginning with SB 870, which would codify an attorney general opinion allowing local school boards to decide whether school marshals may openly carry, conceal carry, or store a firearm in a secure safe on campus. The bill was laid out with no public testimony and left pending. The chair then moved to a combined discussion of SB 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, and 1924, all focused on school discipline, teacher authority, and student safety. Senators Perry and Creighton described the package as a response to rising classroom disruptions, assaults on teachers, and concerns that districts lack effective tools to maintain order.
SB 1871 would expand teacher removal authority, require return-to-class plans before a student removed for certain conduct can return, make some serious offenses mandatory for placement in juvenile justice settings, and provide telehealth mental health services through a consortium. SB 1872 would require expulsion to a JJAEP for assaults on teachers or school volunteers and extend certain expulsion-eligible conduct to off-campus offenses. SB 1873 would restore the prior understanding that in-school suspension is not subject to a three-day limit. SB 1874 would grant teachers immunity from disciplinary action for reporting discipline violations or acting in compliance with Chapter 37. SB 1924 would restore authority for local police and school district police to issue Class C citations for school offenses and require criminal referrals for students posing an imminent threat or assaulting a teacher, with a substitute clarifying referral rules when a citation has already been issued. The committee adopted the substitutes for the bills and moved them forward.
Invited witnesses from teacher and administrator groups largely supported the overall goal of stronger discipline and safer classrooms, while asking for refinements. The Texas Classroom Teachers Association testified that teachers need more autonomy to remove disruptive or violent students and that classroom removals should not mean removal from learning. Superintendents from San Angelo, Grandview, and Wiley ISDs supported the bills’ emphasis on safety, expanded ISS flexibility, mandatory placement for serious offenses, and telehealth mental health services, but asked for more local control, flexibility for Districts of Innovation, more than one campus behavior coordinator in large districts, clearer timelines for return-to-class plans, and more precise definitions for disruptive conduct. Several witnesses stressed that teacher retention and student learning are being harmed by current discipline problems, while some members raised concerns about vague standards and the risk of overuse or public humiliation through citations and removals.
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- >> Appears on page 112, unit 3037, secure treatment facility.
- Chairman, agency 103, Judicial >> Uh, Mr.
- Attorney Judicial District number one? Attorney Judicial District number one?
- >> Agency 157, District Attorney Judicial >> Agency 157, District Attorney Judicial
- <04:13:29.199>
ethics, uh, commission on judicial ethics, uh, commission on judicial ethics
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- , you could allow this; it would be an encouragement for people to actually make the systems more secure
- I've been in secure facilities with little red lights up there, checking for... making sure...
- So I think we put our judicial branch in a...
- I think it will create more confusion, particularly in the judicial branch.
- As a candidate, I don't see how you can make this tenable for the judicial branch.
Keywords:
social media, children, account verification, data privacy, parental control, financial crime, card fraud, motor fuel theft, law enforcement, criminal activity, skimmers, prevention, training, biological sex, government information, definitions, sex-based distinctions, public health, federal directives, state authority
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Feb 4th, 2025
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security
Transcript Highlights:
- It is where domestic security, the rubber meets the road.
- And as a result, that increases our domestic security.
- We have six domestic security goals in Florida.
- So we're going to talk about domestic security funding, and there's a saying in domestic security: the
- Last year you funded a school security assessment grant.
Summary:
The committee heard a series of domestic security and law enforcement presentations from the Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida Highway Patrol, and FDLE. Sheriff Rob Hardwick outlined the sheriffs’ legislative priorities, focusing on adding xylazine to Florida’s trafficking statute and increasing penalties for luring or enticing a child under 12 from a misdemeanor to a felony. He also discussed domestic security coordination, fusion center intelligence sharing, and jail-based reentry efforts. Members asked about xylazine prevalence in Broward County and whether canine units can detect it; Hardwick said he would follow up with data and noted that dogs are not specifically trained for xylazine, though fentanyl-certified dogs may alert on mixtures.
Chief Charlie Vasquez of the Florida Police Chiefs Association presented three priorities: stronger protections for law enforcement, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and their families when threatened because of their jobs; faster and more consistent access to blood-borne pathogen testing results after exposure incidents; and mandatory life without release for anyone convicted of murdering a police or correctional officer, reviving a version of the Jason Raynor Act. Senators asked about delays in blood testing after exposure, and Vasquez said officers can be forced to take prophylactic medication while waiting for results and that the process should be streamlined.
Florida Highway Patrol Director Dave Kerner described FHP’s domestic security role, including criminal interdiction, canine units, traffic homicide investigations, aviation, drones, border operations, and responses to threats such as human smuggling and the October 7-related security posture at synagogues and campuses. He said staffing remains constrained by vacancies and pay disparities, so he was not seeking more authorized troopers at this time. FDLE Deputy Commissioner David Binder then reviewed the state’s domestic security structure, fusion centers, critical infrastructure assessments, and grant funding, warning that federal homeland security dollars have declined sharply while threats remain high. He highlighted work on drone mitigation, radiological detection, vehicle barriers, and school security assessments, and emphasized the need for continued interagency coordination. The committee took no formal votes and adjourned after the presentations and questions.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
State Committee Meeting - 2025-04-03
State Government Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Troopers and house security personnel are present to ensure everyone's safety.
- Because in the DE2 amendment, the Compensation Council would make recommendations regarding judicial
- Yet, older workers face discrimination and increasing challenges in securing and maintaining employment
- Reflections of our shared values as Minnesotans, let us all work together to secure freedom, fairness
- This level of judicial review will make it impossible to uphold many common-sense distinctions in the
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- they can feel secure they can feel secure they<00:30:30.480>
can <00:30:30.720>know to restore that safety and security to restore that safety and security to<00:30:52.040>every - executes those laws, and the judicial executes those laws, and the judicial branch<02:48:42.240>
- This is a judicial<02:58:46.960>
problem. judicial problem. judicial problem. - <03:03:09.920>
process a in a judicial process a in a judicial process to<03:03:11.880>
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a performance of the national anthem, then established a quorum and approved the previous day’s journal. Members handled routine business including second readings of several Senate files, first readings of House files 5067 through 5073, and messages from the Senate transmitting bills and requesting concurrence on House File 3437 and House File 1410. The House concurred in Senate amendments to HF 3437, a commerce bill with a technical cross-reference correction, and passed it 133-0. It also concurred in Senate amendments to HF 1410, a public safety bill on correctional officer procedures, and passed it 132-2 after members described the changes as clarifying and balanced for labor and management.
The chamber then took up House File 3404, which increases penalties for impersonating a peace officer. The bill would raise the base offense from a gross misdemeanor to a felony, create aggravated offenses for impersonation involving unauthorized access, misleading orders, law-enforcement-style vehicles, or possession of a firearm, and add a duty for officers to identify themselves while protecting undercover work. Supporters, including the author and several members, tied the bill to the June 14, 2025 killings and said it was needed to restore public trust and protect both the public and legitimate law enforcement. The House passed HF 3404 134-0 after a moment of silence.
The House also passed House File 3155, which closes a loophole in gift card fraud law by allowing prosecution based on the value stored on the card rather than just the plastic card itself. Supporters described organized retail crime schemes in which stolen gift cards are drained after activation and said the bill would help retailers, consumers, and law enforcement. The bill passed 134-0. Senate File 3958, which changes the deadline for a disaster assistance contingency account report from January 15 to January 31, also passed 134-0.
Finally, the House considered House File 3875, the judiciary policy bill. An author’s amendment removed a section that had been unintentionally left in the bill, and members then discussed provisions allowing courts more flexibility in publishing notices, streamlining some notification requirements in dissolution cases, and making restitution orders permanent unless rescinded by court order. The transcript cuts off during discussion of the bill, before any final vote is shown.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House OKs bill to strengthen disability protections in Minnesota Human Rights Act 5/12/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The purpose of this bill in front of us today is that public policy for the state to secure persons in
- 04:54.320>
to is that public policy for the state to is that public policy for the state to secure - persons in this state freedom secure persons in this state freedom from<00:04:56.760>
disability< - So, members, I'll the judicial branch.
- branch to step into what should judicial branch to step into what should be<00:35:08.720>
our
Summary:
The House took Senate File 3210 off the table and then adopted an amendment from Representative Nadeau that added the word “reasonable” and a statutory reference clarifying who qualifies as a person with a disability. The bill, as amended, was then given third reading. The measure is described as relating to human rights and disability accommodations as protection from discrimination.
Representative Hicks, the bill’s author, said the proposal is intended to send a clear message that discrimination against people with disabilities is unlawful and that entities must engage in a good-faith process to identify reasonable accommodations. Supporters, including Representatives Finke, Feist, and Luetkemeyer, argued the bill reinforces existing law, reflects the interactive process already used in practice, and helps protect access in employment, public accommodations, schools, and other settings. Hicks also responded to questions from Representative Joy by describing the process as a simple conversation to meet a person’s needs.
Representative Niska opposed the bill, arguing that it is unclear whether it changes the meaning of other provisions in the Minnesota Human Rights Act beyond employment and that it could create ambiguity and more litigation for businesses, schools, and public entities. He said the legislature should be explicit if it intends to change those provisions and warned the bill could invite lawsuits rather than provide clarity. Representative Loegering-Nicolai responded that the bill would change the practice of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and that referencing the interactive process in public policy would provide a lens for assessing whether accommodations were handled in good faith. No final vote on passage was taken in the portion provided.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- this section that the conduct was for a bona fide educational, medical, psychological, psychiatric, judicial
- a bill actually on the existing 4324, 4325, and 4326 affirmative defenses, I would limit it to a judicial
- We want to make sure that it is as secure as possible and that we don't have loopholes.
- We want to make sure that it is as secure as possible and that we don't have loopholes.
- There is a program that the Department of Homeland Security started in 2013.
Summary:
The Subcommittee on New Offenses and Changed Penalties met with a quorum present and first handled witness-registration corrections for House Bill 2461, changing one witness from support to neutral and deleting another registration; HB 2461 was left pending. The subcommittee then heard House Bill 3507, which would create a tiered penalty structure for repeat theft offenders by increasing penalties for those with five or more prior theft convictions. Representative Wharton and Walker County District Attorney Will Durham testified in support, arguing current law treats chronic shoplifters the same regardless of how many prior convictions they have. No opposition was presented, and HB 3507 was left pending.
The committee next heard House Bill 1871, which would increase penalties for attempted capital murder of a peace officer, raise the minimum sentence to 25 years, and deny parole and mandatory supervision for those convicted. Representative Dyson, Brazos County District Attorney Jarvis Parsons, Lieutenant Ed Ramirez, and Chief Deputy Constable Calder Lively testified in support, describing attacks on officers and arguing the bill would provide stronger deterrence and truth in sentencing. No questions or opposition were recorded, and HB 1871 was left pending.
House Bill 4911 followed, updating child exploitation laws to address AI-generated and deepfake child sexual abuse material by expanding definitions and criminalizing knowing possession or viewing of fake or computer-generated images depicting minors. Representative Fairly and Harris County DA’s Office division chief Steven Driver supported the bill, saying technology had outpaced existing law and that the measure would help protect children. A committee member raised concerns about broad affirmative defenses in the bill, and Representative Fairly said the office would work on an amendment. HB 4911 was left pending. Finally, on HB 795, Representative Bowers moved that the subcommittee report completion of deliberations and recommend the bill for full committee consideration; the motion passed 3-2, and the meeting adjourned.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- It allows a superintendent to deny a ballad judicial warrant. That's the bill.
- The attorney general has already issued guidance to schools about judicial warrants.
- It just seems wild to me. the security measures.
- And when we have more security cameras up, Police Department responded as well as the dead.
- Part of both is making sure that we secure safety, protect the safety of our communities.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 48 (3-17-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- But right of a right of judicial remedy, section 14. This will surely go to court.
- of a right of judicial remedy, section 14. 14. 14.
- Kentucky Office for Homeland Security Kentucky Office for Homeland Security and<01:38:20.080>
- <01:51:59.520>
for increase school safety and security for increase school safety and security - of able to have judicial interpretation of of<02:24:54.319>
the <02:24:54.479>law.
DE
Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Capital Improvement Committee Meeting Jun 24th, 2026
Capital Improvement
Transcript Highlights:
- total appropriations to judicial of $8,765,200.
- total appropriations to judicial of $8,765,200.
- Safety and security updates, along with ADA handicapped individual accessibility.
- There’s going to be, like, a secure entrance that they come in.
- There’s going to be, like, a secure entrance that they come in and... Thank you.
Summary:
The committee met to finalize the FY27 bond bill, beginning with a roll call and a detailed review of updated appropriation amounts. The Comptroller General walked through major changes across agencies, including additions for OMB, the Department of State, DNREC, Agriculture, Education, and Transportation, and explained the funding sources that would cover the total $1.256 billion package. Members then debated several large items, especially the $110 million appropriation for the Diamond State Port Corporation, the $35 million Legislative Hall addition, the $20 million Community Reinvestment Fund, and the $30 million land and building acquisition line. Questions focused on the port project’s costs, expected jobs, return on investment, and whether the state would face future commitments; Secretary of State Charney Patitofunded Chances and other officials testified that the port expansion would create construction and permanent jobs and support long-term economic growth, while some members remained skeptical and objected to the process and spending priorities.
The committee also discussed school construction funding, with officials explaining that additional money would forward-fund projects already in the pipeline and help districts that had been turned down for certificates of necessity. Other items reviewed included funding for park improvements, marina acquisition, the Plummer Center demolition and transfer, the Pyle Center sewer project, the Site Readiness Fund, affordable housing, the Arts Endowment Fund, an unclaimed property task force, and various transportation and community transportation projects. Several members raised concerns about county distribution, minority-party involvement in negotiations, and the scale of certain appropriations, but the majority defended the package as statewide investment and economic development.
The committee then voted on the Section 1 addendum and a series of new and replacement epilogue sections, including provisions for the port project, Legislative Hall minor capital improvements, land acquisition, affordable housing, the Community Reinvestment Fund, downtown development districts, the Rite Aid demolition, the Site Readiness Fund, school construction formula review, and enhanced school capital funding. Most motions carried, with a few recorded no votes or abstentions on the main addendum. The meeting concluded with a motion authorizing technical corrections by the Comptroller General’s office, followed by closing remarks thanking staff and members for their work and noting that this was likely the final bond committee meeting for some participants before adjournment.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- 1195, appropriation, legal assistance services aid, Appropriations, Transportation, Technology, and Judicial
- Appropriations, Transportation, Technology, and Judicial.
- SB 1213, probation immigration enforcement court notification, Military Affairs and Border Security.
- SB 1150, family court judicial training. SB 1151, homeowners associations open meetings.
- SB 1189, campaign spending personal security. SCR 1010, impeachable offenses. Great job.
Summary:
The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recorded attendance, approved the journal, and welcomed several guests, including the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Tammy Penhollow, as well as visitors from Republic Services, Copper Valley Energy, and a young guest shadowing Senator Bolick. The President also announced deadline extensions for opening Senate folders and bill introduction preparation, and the chamber received communications from the Governor without reading them aloud.
The main floor business was the reading and reference of a large number of Senate bills and resolutions to committees, covering topics such as education, taxation, water and natural resources, health care, behavioral health, public safety, elections, family law, immigration, transportation, and appropriations. The Senate also completed second reading of another extensive set of bills on issues including concealed weapons, nicotine products, rental housing, mental health, behavioral health, radiation protection, school safety, family courts, elections, and various appropriations and regulatory measures.
No bills were debated or voted on during this transcript. Standing committee reports were waived from reading, and committee announcements were made for upcoming meetings of Government, Health and Human Services, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency, Education, Judiciary and Elections, and Public Safety. The Senate then adjourned until Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session May 27th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And it's the security guards who are there to protect.
- security officers union.
- When the officer, the security officer, went to engage, When the officer, the security officer, went
- I can tell you that trained security, it matters.
- This is why judicial discretion is not enough.
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum present, offered a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then proceeded through gubernatorial appointments and third-reading measures. Three appointments to the California Housing Finance Agency Board and the State Mining and Geology Board were confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The body then considered a series of bills on criminal procedure, military authority, housing, refinery safety, land use, music festivals, homelessness planning, solar tax assessment, HOA assessments, privacy, utility accounts, refrigerant disposal, law enforcement training, natural gas planning, school transfers, and regional transportation planning.
Among the more debated measures, SB 1173 on lesser related offense instructions passed 25-10 after opposition centered on judicial discretion and consistency. SB 1354, limiting out-of-state military or law enforcement activity without the Governor’s permission, passed 29-9 after supporters framed it as a sovereignty measure and opponents argued federal command authority controls. SB 1090, the Altadena disaster-speculation bill, passed 29-9; supporters said it would curb predatory investor purchases after wildfire disasters, while opponents raised concerns about property rights and market effects. SB 966 on refinery worker participation in safety standards passed 30-9 amid a dispute over worker protections versus regulatory burden, and SB 1256, a local housing/subdivision bill, passed 32-0 despite concerns about fire-safety amendments.
The Senate also approved SB 865 on music festivals, SB 866 on homelessness planning with a commitment to exempt smaller cities, SB 1007 on HOA assessment transparency and homeowner approval thresholds, SB 923 on privacy deletion rights, SB 1098 on utility balancing accounts, SB 1010 on refrigerant recovery, SB 937 on flashbang and breaching-device restrictions, SB 1082 on inter-district transfer timelines, and SB 1087 on modernizing regional transportation planning. SB 1329 on solar farm property tax assessment drew extensive debate over county revenues, solar development certainty, and fairness to rural communities, but ultimately passed after the call was lifted. Several measures were supported by authors and committee chairs as balancing consumer, worker, or local government protections against concerns about costs, regulatory stability, and local control.
WY
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 2/11/25
Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Transcript Highlights:
- secretary for the board on judicial secretary for the board on judicial standards<00:04:54.120><
- The preamble to the Judicial Code sets out the purpose of judicial discipline, and it talks about the
- Code sets out the purpose of um judicial Code sets out the purpose of um judicial discipline<00:08:23.080
- The board also handles judicial disability matters.
- of private discipline for judicial of private discipline for judicial officers<00:26:39.440>
Summary:
The Judiciary and Civil Law Committee met to hear an informational presentation from the Board of Judicial Standards. After brief member and staff introductions and a review of committee rules, the board’s executive secretary, Sarah Bas, and Mary Pat Maher explained the board’s history, mission, and operations. They described the board as an independent state agency that handles complaints about judicial misconduct and disability, issues advisory opinions, and educates judges on ethics. The presentation covered the board’s composition, complaint intake and screening process, and the levels of discipline available, ranging from summary dismissal and letters of caution to private admonitions, deferred disposition agreements, public reprimands, and formal complaints that can lead to Supreme Court review.
Members asked about the board’s budget, public access to discipline records, confidentiality of complaints, and how the board balances accountability with protecting public confidence in the judiciary. The board said public discipline is posted on its website, while private admonitions, deferred dispositions, dismissals, and letters of caution remain confidential. It also said judges generally are told who complained so they can respond, though the board can withhold the source for good cause. Questions also focused on whether attorneys are underreporting misconduct, how many complaints are nuisance complaints, and whether the online complaint system changed the types of complaints received; the board said nuisance complaints make up more than half, the complaint types have not changed much, and it does not have data comparing complaint sources to outcomes. No votes or formal committee actions were taken.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
JDC, JDC Public Hearings 04-21-2026
Transcript Highlights:
- She helped me secure my first clerkship, Judge Chan, and supported my entry into the office of public
- And you can have these conferences to determine whether or not there is room outside of the judicial
- <00:14:27.200>
proceeding um outside of the judicial proceeding um outside of the judicial - When we would gather at our annual or semi-annual judicial aid conferences with all of the judges, I
- of our state uh and appropriate security of our state courts.<00:53:40.080>
Uh <00:53:40.160><
Summary:
The Judiciary Committee heard Governor’s Messages 796 and 797, both judicial confirmation nominations, but announced at the outset that no votes would be taken that day. The committee said it would hold the vote the next day in Room 225. For GM 796, Annalisa M. Bernard Lee was nominated to serve as circuit court judge for the Second Circuit (Maui) for a 10-year term. Supporters included former Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, former judges, attorneys, and the Hawaii State Bar Association, all describing her as fair, hardworking, experienced on both criminal and civil matters, and active in the legal community. Judge Lee testified about her background as a Maui native, former public defender and prosecutor, and current district court judge, and said her experience on all sides of the courtroom shaped her commitment to fairness and access to justice. Senators asked about diversion, sentencing repeat offenders, and the role of a circuit court judge; Lee said she would consider cases individually, support diversion and pretrial collaboration where appropriate, and use judicial power to address underlying problems when possible.
For GM 797, Michael K. Soong was nominated to the Fifth Circuit Court for Kauai and Niihau. Former Chief Justice Recktenwald and other supporters praised his long legal career, including service as a prosecutor, district court judge, and acting chief judge during a period when Kauai lacked a full-time circuit judge. They emphasized his courtroom control, common sense, community ties, and willingness to take on extra judicial committee work. Soong testified that he had served as a district court judge since 2017 and had recently been handling circuit court duties, including civil, criminal, and jury trial matters. He described the differences between district and circuit court, his experience presiding over complex trials, and his support for specialty courts such as drug court, veterans court, and mental health calendars. The Hawaii State Bar Association said it found him qualified after its review. No votes were taken on either nomination during this hearing.