Expressing serious doubts about Judge Katherine Leonard’s ability to lead Hawaii’s third branch of government, the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations voted against her confirmation as the next Supreme Court chief justice.

The vote was largely along party lines, with four Democrats voting against Leonard. Sen. Sam Slom, the lone Republican on the committee, voted in favor of the nominee. Sen. Mike Gabbard, a Democrat who formerly was a Republican, voted against Leonard, with reservations.

In rejecting Leonard, Sen. Brian Taniguchi, committee chairman, said, “I have serious doubts this nominee can lead the judiciary. This position is so important, and I do not believe it is a position for someone to grow into. You must be able to take charge on day one.”

Slom added that the “old boy network” in Hawaii — meaning establishment Democrats and power-brokers — may have opposed Leonard because she is female.

Speaking to reporters after the vote, Leonard said she was dissapointed in the outcome but not discouraged. She said she would continue to speak with senators and said she remained hopeful about Friday’s full Senate vote on her nomination.

Leonard’s nomination now goes to the full Senate, which is expected to vote on the matter beginning Friday at 11 a.m.

The judiciary committee’s rejection of Leonard is expected to greatly influence the vote by the Senate, where Democrats hold a 21-2 majority over Republicans.

Last month, Republican Gov. Linda Lingle selected Leonard, a judge on the state’s Intermediate Court of Appeals, from a list of six candidates prepared by the state’s Judicial Selection Committee.

By state law, Chief Justice Ronald Moon must step down Sept. 4 at the age of 70.

If approved by the Senate, Leonard would be the state’s fifth chief justice since statehood, the first woman to lead the high court, and the first graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law.

Former senators Bobby Bunda and Gary Hooser resigned in late July to vie for the lieutenant governor nomination in the Democratic primary Sept. 18.

Republican Slom said there is “no question about her ability, her experience, and her judicial mind. And some of my colleagues are very concerned about administrative ability. I remind them we are not hiring a secretary, but the chief justice of the state Supreme Court. We want the best and the brightest. All judges hire administrative help.”

In related news, the judiciary committee recommended confirmation of four Lingle District Court nominees, and three Circuit Court nominees, including Faauuga L. To‘oto‘o, who — like Leonard — received a “not qualified” rating from the Hawaii State Bar Association.