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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 opening remarks by the Honorable Mark E. Recktenwald, Chief Justice of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court, while commencing with the 2026 program, Chief Justice Vladimir P. Devens presented the remarks. The following distinguished jurists served as panelists:

2026

• U.S. District Judge Shanlyn A.S. Park
• Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge Sonja M. McCullen
• First Circuit Court Judge Shirley M. Kawamura
• First Circuit Court Judge Jordon J. Kimura
• First Circuit Family Court Judge Robert J. Brown

2025

• Hon. Shanlyn A.S. Park, District Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaiʻi
• Hon. Lisa M. Ginoza, Associate Justice, Hawaiʻi Supreme Court
• Hon. Keith K. Hiraoka, Associate Judge, Intermediate Court of Appeals, Hawaiʻi
• Hon. Lisa W. Cataldo, Judge, First Circuit Court, Hawaiʻi
• Hon. Kevin T. Morikone, First Circuit Court, Hawaiʻi

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

The American Judicature Society convenes its annual meeting each December to review the organization’s activities and issues from the preceding year and to elect officers for the upcoming term.

In keeping with tradition, the meeting features a keynote address delivered by the Chief Justice of the Hawai‘i Supreme Court. This is followed by a presentation from a distinguished speaker or panel addressing judicial issues of contemporary significance. The program is designed to foster dialogue on matters central to the administration of justice and the improvement of the judicial system.

Until 2020, the annual meetings were held at the Pacific Club in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Following the formal program, members participated in a reception that provided an opportunity to strengthen professional relationships, welcome new members, and engage in collegial exchange.

On December 3, 2020, the Society’s annual meeting was conducted virtually for the first time in its history. This adjustment, necessitated by the global coronavirus pandemic, reflected the Society’s commitment to maintaining continuity of governance and programming while safeguarding the health and well-being of its membership. Despite the change in format, the meeting preserved its essential functions and upheld the Society’s tradition of substantive engagement on judicial issues.

Below are links to the keynote addresses delivered by the Hawaii Chief Justices.

Acting Chief Justice Sabrina S. McKenna

• December 2, 2025

Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald

• 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“.

The American Judicature Society (“AJS”) is an independent, non-partisan membership organization working nationally to protect the integrity of the American justice system. Its mission is to secure and promote an independent and qualified judiciary and a fair system of justice.

AJS Bulletins

• September 2021
• July 2021
• March 2021
• January 2021
• October 2020

AJS Publications

• AJS Strategic Plan 2023-2028
• AJS Exec Summary FINAL 2025.12.01 Impacts of Artificial Intelligence upon the Judiciary
• 11.27.23 REVISED AJS Report Protecting Personal Information of Hawaii’s Judges
• Report on the Presentation: The Supreme Court 2021-2022 Term in Review
• Report of the House Resolution 21 Committee of the American Judicature Society 2019
• Report of the Special Committee on Redress for Unlawful Imprisonment (2015)
• Report of the Special Committee on Mandatory Retirement Age of State Judges (2014)
• Report of Long-Range Planning Committee (2013)
• Report of the Special Committee on the Effects of the Economy on the Judiciary (2011)
• Report of the Special Committee on Judicial Careers and Selectivity (2011)
• Report of the Special Committee on Rules Governing Mediation in Civil Cases (2010)
• Report of the Special Committee on the Jury (2009)
• Report on the 2007 ABA Model Judicial Code (2008)
• Report of the Special Committee on Judicial Independence and Accountability (2008)
• Report of the Special Committee on Public Knowledge, Understanding & Confidence in the Courts (2008)
• Report of the Special Committee on the Judiciary, Lawyers and the Issue of Conflicts in the Judicial System Concerning Survey on Judicial Recusal and Disqualification (2007)
• Report of the Special Committee on the Judicial Selection System (2005)_ Minority Report (2005)
• Report of the Special Committee on Judicial Selection and Retention (2003)

Other Publications

• Brennan Center for Justice – Judicial Retention in Hawaii: A Case Study
• Tribute in Memory of The Honorable Randy J. Holland
• Report of the Joint Committee on Judicial Selection, Hawaii State Legislature, December 2021