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The 2023 Sidebar Program took place on July 11, 2023 at the beautiful and historic Hawaii Supreme Court Courtroom. Nearly 60 summer clerks, interns and young lawyers attended the program, a record-setting number.

This year’s distinguished panel, moderated by Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, included: 

• 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, and
• Hon. Karin L. Holma, Judge, First Circuit District Court.

The panel and CJ Recktenwald offered keen and pointed insights, and the attendees were able to participate in real-time via “clickers” to share their thoughts as to how the hypothetical issues might best be addressed. 

The panel discussion was followed by a reception where the attendees divided themselves into small groups and enjoyed unscripted time with the judges present, who talked about their career paths and experiences before the bench, as well as on the bench.

As was done in the past, all of those who registered for the program received a complimentary one-year membership in AJS, a $50 value.

Mahalo to the AJS Sidebar Committee (the Hon. Jeannette Castagnetti, the Hon. Todd Eddins, Calvert Chipchase, Carrie Okinaga, Hon. Dean Ochiai, and Jocelyn Chong) for putting on another excellent program!

About the Sidebar Program

An important priority of the American Judicature Society is to ensure that the next generation of judicial leaders value their responsibility for perpetuating a fair judicial system and are well prepared to address any related institutional challenges into the future.

Each summer for almost the past 30 years, AJS has set aside a day dedicated to supporting young, aspiring lawyers. The annual Sidebar Program is open to summer associates from law firms, judicial and government agency law clerks and other new lawyers for a day of education and networking with each other and veteran professionals.

Please join us on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm (HST) via Zoom for a presentation on the 2022-23 Supreme Court Term by Seth Waxman, Partner, WilmerHale. Universally considered to be among the country’s premier Supreme Court and appellate advocates, Mr. Waxman served as Solicitor General of the U.S. from 1997 through January 2001. Mr. Waxman has delivered over 85 oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court and many more in the lower federal and state courts. He served as president of Harvard’s Board of Overseers and is on the faculty of the Georgetown University Law Center.

Please register for this presentation by clicking here or the flyer below.

Young lawyers and summer associates are invited to participate in the 2023 Sidebar Program organized by AJS on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court. 

The Sidebar Program features a panel of Hawaiʻi state and federal court judges discussing issues often faced by young attorneys.  Small-group discussions and a reception follows the panel presentation.

The Honorable Mark E. Recktenwald, Chief Justice of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court, will moderate this year’s panel of distinguished jurists including United States District Judge Jill A. Otake, Intermediate Court of Appeals Chief Judge Lisa M. Ginoza, First Circuit Court Court Chief Judge R. Mark Browning, First Circuit Court Judge Gary W.B. Chang, and First Circuit District Court Judge Karin L. Holma. 

Summer associates, law clerks, summer externs, and attorneys in practice for three years or less are encouraged to attend this unique event. 

Click here or the flyer below to register.  The registration fee is $30.00 for Young Government Lawyers (including summer interns and judicial law clerks), $40 for Summer Associates, and $50.00 for Young Lawyers.  A one-year AJS membership is included in the registration fee.

A number of Hawai‘i organizations recently joined together to donate a total of $100,000 to the American Judicature Society (AJS).

BJ Kobayashi, who serves as the AJS finance committee chair, spearheaded the fundraising campaign to support AJS’s mission of promoting an independent, qualified judiciary and a fair system of justice. The companies and foundations that participated in this effort included:

• Alohilani Resort Waikiki
• BlackSand Capital, LLC
• Donald Carson
• Patrick Deming
• Eastdil Secured, L.L.C.
• The A.C. Kobayashi Family Foundation, Inc.
• James Muhlfeld
• Munger Tolles & Olson
• Louis Stervinou
• Sullivan Law Group, LLC;
• Van Konynenburg Foundation

“We are so grateful for the generosity of these great organizations and their desire to support our programs,” said AJS Chairman Lawrence Okinaga. “We appreciate BJ’s leadership and abiding aloha for AJS.”

“I was inspired by Larry, who made a substantial monetary pledge from the Okinaga Ohana Fund to support AJS,” Kobayashi said. “When I shared about Larry’s personal commitment and the important mission of AJS with my family and colleagues, they wanted to do their part to help out even though it is a challenging economic climate for everyone.”

AJS extends its heartfelt thanks to BJ for his efforts on this successful fundraising initiative.