The State Senate this week will vote on whether Katherine Leonard should be the next Supreme Court Chief Justice.
Wednesday Governor Linda Lingle came to the defense of her nominee.
Two Senate votes stand between Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge Katherine Leonard and the job as Chief Justice - one a Senate Judiciary Committee vote Thursday, the second the full Senate advise and consent session Friday.
"We're very fortunate that people of this calibre are willing to step forward," said Lingle.
But not everyone agrees, the Hawaii State Bar Association gave her a thumbs down but did not say publicly why. The governor defended her nominee and blasted the bar's unqualified ratings of Leonard and District Court Judge Faauuga Tootoo's nomination to Circuit Court.
"I don't think the committee should give any credence to the Bar Association's conclusion in either case because they haven't stated why," said Lingle.
Some critics say Leonard's duration of experience as a judge is too short and say she lacks executive experience.
Retired Judge Marie Milks testifying in opposition said, "It is not enough that a nominee has the potential to grow into the job. A leader should not be a divisive personality."
Leonard aimed to show otherwise and visited senators one by one Wednesday.
"I think she's intelligent and she seems to be a kind individual," said Sen. Josh Green, (D) Kona. "I would like people to vote based on what they can glean from this individual as a person, what they know about her record and what they hear first hand."
Lingle set a face to face meeting with Senate Judiciary Chairman Brian Taniguchi.
"I'll talk with him about why I think Judge Leonard and Judge Tootoo are eminently qualified for these positions and I'll lay out the case," said Lingle.
If Leonard is not confirmed this week, the governor dismissed that it could be a stall tactic to push the top job appointment off long enough to let the next governor decide.
"I go right back to the list and send them down immediately another name and they have 30 days from that point," said Lingle.
