The state Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee voted yesterday in favor of confirming Katherine Leonard as a judge on the state Intermediate Court of Appeals, sending the recommendation to the full Senate for a confirmation vote today.

The committee vote was 6-0, with state Sen. Brian Taniguchi, D-10th (Manoa, McCully), the committee's chairman, and state Sen. Russell Kokubun, D-2nd (S. Hilo, Puna, Ka'u), voting with reservations.

Taniguchi said his reservations were based on what he considered Leonard's limited life experiences, lack of judicial experience, and that she is not widely known in the legal community. But he described Leonard, a civil attorney and partner at Carlsmith Ball LLP, as intelligent and hardworking.

"I would think she's going to be confirmed," Taniguchi told reporters afterward.

Last month, the committee unanimously recommended Randal Lee, an O'ahu Circuit Court judge, for the appeals court bench. But four senators voted with reservations, which signaled misgivings about his nomination that ultimately led the full Senate to reject him. Gov. Linda Lingle nominated Leonard as her second choice for the vacancy.

Senate Democrats met in private caucus yesterday, and several people who were either there or were familiar with the discussion said there were concerns about Leonard. But Taniguchi and other leading senators predict the Senate will vote to confirm Leonard today.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.