Retired Hawaiʻi Supreme Court chief justice honored with Sandra Day OʻConnor Award

Former Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald has been recognized with the National Judicial College’s highest honor, the Sandra Day O’Connor Award.

The award, named in honor of the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, recognizes Rechtenwald for his leadership and contributions to the administration of justice, access to the courts and civic education.

He will receive the award Nov. 12 during the Appellate Judges Education Institute Summit in Philadelphia, according to a news release.

“If Hawaiʻi’s civic education movement has a superhero, it is Chief Justice Recktenwald, who acts with a quiet, sincere conviction: no cape, no fanfare, staying until the last question is answered,” said Justice Lisa M. Ginoza, chair of the Hawaiʻi Commission to Promote and Advance Civic Education.

Rechtenwald helped to establish the commission in 2021 to strengthen public understanding of government, democracy and the rule of law.

Among his accomplishments was the establishment of self-help centers in all four judicial circuits, beginning with Kauaʻi in 2011. Through collaboration with the legal community and volunteer attorneys, these centers have provided free assistance to more than 40,000 individuals navigating civil legal matters without an attorney.

He retired Sept. 30, 2025, after 15 years as Hawaiʻi’s Chief Justice. During his tenure, he led efforts to modernize Hawaiʻi’s court system, expand access to legal services, strengthen community partnerships and promote public understanding of the judicial branch.

In collaboration with the legal community and volunteer attorneys, Rechtenwald established self-help centers in all four judicial circuits. Since 2011, the centers have provided free assistance to more than 40,000 people navigating civil legal matters without an attorney.

Under his leadership, the state Judiciary expanded electronic filing and remote court proceedings, improved language access, and developed programs to better serve individuals facing challenges with substance use, mental health and homelessness.

He established the “Courts in the Community” program in 2012, bringing Supreme Court oral arguments to high schools across the islands and providing thousands of young people with opportunities to observe the judicial process.

“Chief Justice Recktenwald has been the person who always shows up,” Ginoza said. “He shows up for students, teachers, librarians, and even the small rural school on a neighbor island that has never had a justice visit.”

Recktenwald joined the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court as an associate justice in 2009 and became chief justice in September 2010. He previously served as chief judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

Since retiring, he has continued to promote the rule of law through Keep Our Republic’s Alliance of Former Chief Justices, a national initiative involving former state Supreme Court leaders.

The National Judicial College, founded in 1963, provides education and professional development for judges throughout the world.