Posted on: Saturday, March 12, 2005

Committee OKs judicial nominees

By Derrick DePledge
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Randal Lee, who has led the city's prosecution of campaign-finance abuses and other white-collar crime, and Kathleen Watanabe, the state's Human Resources director, were endorsed yesterday by the Senate Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee for circuit court judgeships in Honolulu and on Kaua'i.

Gov. Linda Lingle nominated Lee and Watanabe for the bench in February. Their nominations now go to the Senate for confirmation.

Lee, a deputy prosecutor, guided the investigation into illegal campaign contributions to former Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris. The inquiry has led to numerous convictions. He also prosecuted former Honolulu City Councilwoman Rene Mansho for misusing campaign money and city resources and led the theft probe of the city's 'Ewa Villages project.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys told the Senate committee yesterday that Lee is diligent, fearless and fair. Bob Watada, the executive director of the state Campaign Spending Commission, called Lee "a bastion of democracy and justice."

The Hawai'i State Bar Association rated Lee as highly qualified, its best rating. Lee said he was "very touched and actually humbled" by the degree of support.

Watanabe, the director of the state Department of Human Resources Development and a former per-diem judge on Kaua'i, was praised by colleagues for her empathy and her management and people skills. The state bar association gave Watanabe a qualified rating.

Watanabe acknowledged that her legal background does not include extensive trial experience but said her management expertise and her time as a per-diem judge have prepared her for the bench. "I have always had a strong sense of fairness," she said.

The committee, which reviews judicial nominees for the Senate, cast unanimous 4-0 votes to recommend Lee and Watanabe for confirmation.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.