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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:

2024

• Hon. Vladimir P. Devens, Associate Justice, Hawai`i Supreme Court
• Hon. Lisa W. Cataldo, Judge, First Circuit Court, Hawai`i
• Hon. John M. Tonaki, Judge, First Circuit Court, Hawai`i
• Hon. Karin L. Holma, Judge, First Circuit District Court, Hawai`i
• Hon. Wes Reber Porter, Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai`i

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

Officers of the American Judicature Society

Board of Directors

General Counsel

• George L. Miller

Ex officio members

• William D. Johnston (DE)
• Robert M. Kaufman (NY)
• M. Margaret McKeown (CA)

The American Judicature Society’s (“AJS”) annual meeting is held in December, the major purpose of which is to inform the membership of major activities and considerations of the past year and to elect officers for the coming year. A keynote address is typically presented by the Chief Justice of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the annual meetings were held at the Pacific Club in Hawai‘i which was followed by a reception where participants socialized with colleagues and welcomed new members. The annual meeting on December 3, 2020 was held virtually because of the pandemic.

Below are links to the keynote addresses delivered by the Honorable Mark E. Recktenwald, Chief Justice of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court, at the 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 annual meetings:

• December 8, 2022
• November 22, 2021
• December 3, 2020
• December 5, 2019

As part of its response to HR 21, Urging the Hawai‘i Chapter of the American Judicature Society and the Hawai‘i State Bar Association to Analyze and Assess the Role of the Judiciary Within the Constitutional Framework of Government in the State of Hawai‘i, which was adopted on March 8, 2018, the AJS conducted a forum on Hawai‘i’s Three Branches of Government: A Frank and Open Discussion on September 28, 2019. The forum brought together members of the judiciary, legislature, and administration to reflect upon and discuss the respective roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government to ensure responsible governance.

Lawrence S. Okinaga, chair of the AJS Board of Directors, opened the forum and introduced Governor David Y. Ige who presented the welcome address. This was followed by presentations from the following panel of speakers:

• Aviam Soifer, Dean, University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law
• Hon. Clare E. Connors, Hawai‘i Attorney General
• Hon. Michael Broderick, President & CEO, YMCA of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Judge (ret.); Hawai‘i Administrative Director of the Courts (ret.)
• Hon. Colleen W. Hanabusa, U.S. Congress (fmr.); Hawai‘i Senate President (fmr.)

Forum attendees participated in table discussions and questions/answers with panelists which were facilitated by Linda Colburn. Douglas S. Chin served as emcee of the event.

More than 100 persons attended the forum and 75 submitted evaluations of the event. The evaluation form included a rating scale consisting of five choices–poor, fair, good, very good, and excellent—for various aspects of the forum. The following presents the percentages of respondents who gave good/excellent ratings to the:

• Forum overall: 100%
• Panel presentations: 100%
• Table discussions: 100%
• Ability of respondents to get to know and interact with the other branches of government: 98%
• Questions and answer session: 97%

In addition, 96% of the respondents indicated they would recommend the forum to a colleague, and 84% felt the forum increased their understanding of the three branches of government.

A full report of the forum, Report of the House Resolution 21 Committee of the American Judicature Society, can also be found on this website under “Publications“.