HAWAIʻI STATE LEGISLATURE TO HOLD INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING ON RULE OF LAW

WHO/WHAT:

The Senate Committee on Judiciary (JDC) will convene an informational briefing to hear from the Honorable Mark E. Recktenwald, retired Chief Justice, Hawaiʻi Supreme Court, and a member of the Alliance of Former Chief Justices, on the rule of law and the role of an independent judiciary.

WHEN/WHERE:

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

10:00 a.m.

Conference Room 229 & Videoconference

Hawaiʻi State Capitol

415 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813

PRESENTER:

• The Honorable Mark E. Recktenwald (Retired), Chief Justice, Hawaiʻi Supreme Court

PURPOSE:

U.S. presidential executive orders and policies have challenged the powers of the judicial branch and tested the limits of the rule of law. The briefing will examine these issues and discuss the role of an independent judicial system in maintaining the rule of law.

Following the presentation, committee members will have the opportunity to ask questions of the Retired Chief Justice. Questions will be limited to five minutes per member.

As is customary for informational briefings, no public testimony will be accepted.

Members of the public and the news media are encouraged to attend. The hearing notice, agenda, and additional meeting information, including the link to the live stream, are available here:

HEARING NOTICE: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/hearingnotices/HEARING_JDC_09-15-26_INFO_.HTM

This informational briefing is part of a series of informational briefings on the rule of law in relation to actions of the Trump Administration and how its decisions are impacting Hawaiʻi. Information about other briefings can be accessed on the Senate Judiciary Committee webpage HERE.