The American Judicature Society sponsors an annual event called the Sidebar Program, which offers a unique opportunity for summer associates and young lawyers to observe a moderated panel discussion of issues and challenges often faced by young attorneys.
The Sidebar Program, conducted in July at the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court, features a panel of state and federal judges, followed by small group discussions and a reception with attendees.
Previous Sidebar Programs included the Honorable Mark E. Recktenwald, Chief Justice of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court, as moderator, along with the following distinguished panels of jurists:
2023
- Hon. Jill A. Otake, District Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii
- Hon. Lisa M. Ginoza, Chief Judge, Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals
- Hon. R. Mark Browning, Chief Judge, First Circuit Court
- Hon. Gary W. B. Chang, Judge, First Circuit Court
- Hon. Karin L. Holma, Judge, First Circuit District Court
2022
- Hon. Keith K. Hiraoka, Associate Judge, Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals
- Hon. Jeannette H. Castagnetti, Judge, First Circuit Court, Hawaiʻi
- Hon. Lisa W. Cataldo, Judge, First Circuit Court, Hawaiʻi
- Hon. Gary W.B. Chang, Judge, First Circuit Court, Hawaiʻi
- Hon. Wes Reber Porter, Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaiʻi
2021– the program was not held due to the coronavirus pandemic
2019
- Hon. Leslie E. Kobayashi, District Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaiʻi
- Hon. Katherine G. Leonard, Associate Judge, Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals
- Hon. Gary W.B. Chang, Judge, First Circuit Court, Hawaiʻi
- Hon. Jeffrey P. Crabtree, Judge, First Circuit Court, Hawaiʻi
- Hon. James Kawashima, Judge, District Court of the First Circuit, Hawaiʻi
2018
- Hon. Lisa M. Ginoza, Chief Judge, Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals
- Hon. James H. Ashford, Judge, First Circuit Court, Hawaiʻi
- Hon. Gary W.B. Chang, Judge First Circuit Court, Hawaiʻi
- Hon. Dean E. Ochiai, Judge, First Circuit Court, Hawaiʻi
- Hon. Kenneth J. Mansfield, Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaiʻi
2017
- Hon. Richard R. Clifton, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- Hon. Craig H. Nakamura, Chief Judge, Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals
- Hon. Jeannette H. Castagnetti, Judge, First Circuit Court, Hawaiʻi
- Hon. Gary W.B. Chang, Judge, First Circuit Court, Hawaiʻi
- Hon. James C. McWhinnie, Judge, District Court of the First Circuit, Hawaiʻi
2016
- Hon. Lisa M. Ginoza, Associate Judge, Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals
- Hon. Gary W.B. Chang, Judge, First Circuit Court, Hawaiʻi
- Hon. Virginia L. Crandall, Judge, First Circuit Court, Hawaiʻi
- Hon. James H. Ashford, Judge, District Court of the First Circuit, Hawaiʻi
- Hon. Richard Puglisi, Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaiʻi