Mark E. Recktenwald at a glance
- Current role
- Former Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Hawaii · State
- Judicial service
- Former
Mark E. Recktenwald
Former Judge · Supreme Court of Hawaii
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Hawaii Supreme Court, 2009-present
- Mark E. Recktenwald concluded service as Hawaii Supreme Court chief justice on September 30, 2025
- American lawyer and jurist who held the role of Chief Justice of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court from September 14, 2010, until his mandatory retirement on October 1, 2025
- Associate Justice: Appointed to the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court in May 2009 by Governor Linda Lingle
- Judge, Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals, 2007-2009
- Joined the Supreme Court as an associate justice on May 11, 2009 and earlier held the role of chief judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals from April 2007
- Served as Chief Judge of the Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals from April 2007 (Chief Judge)
- Earlier roles included director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Hawaii and private practice
- Under his leadership, the Judiciary modernized court administration, implemented electronic filing and remote proceedings statewide, expanded treatment courts, and opened self-help centers across Hawaiʻi to improve access to justice
- His tenure included electronic filing, statewide remote proceedings, access-to-justice initiatives and self-help centers that assisted more than 40,000 people
Education
- Deerfield Academy
- B.A. in anthropology from Harvard University
- Undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his law degree from the University of Chicago.
Additional information
- Practitioner, 2006-2006
- J.D. — University of Chicago Law School in 1986. [...] Recktenwald worked as the advance man for John Anderson's (R) campaign for president in 1980
- Born October 8, 1955, in Detroit, Michigan.
- Date of birth: 1955-10-08
- Recognized for integrity, compassion, and systemic reforms in Hawaiʻi’s justice system, including advancing judicial pay, transparency in government, and public engagement initiatives
- Birth place: Detroit
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Extended Coverage Notice
Statewide
Hawaii requires news media to notify a court coordinator before electronic or photographic coverage of a judicial proceeding, including audio recording, film, videotape, or still photography.
The news media must notify a court coordinator of their intent to provide any electronic or photographic coverage of a judicial proceeding.Cameras and Audio Equipment ↗
Camera Microphone Placement
Statewide
Hawaii leaves courtroom camera and microphone placement to the judge and cautions that judges may differ on placement rules.
The judge will decide where cameras and microphones can be placed in the courtroom. Judges differ on this - so please ask.Cameras and Audio Equipment ↗
Sources
Identity source checked August 22, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 22, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗Cameras and Audio Equipment
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Cameras and Audio Equipment ↗Remote Court Hearings via Zoom
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Remote Court Hearings via Zoom ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗TESTIMONY OF MARK E. RECKTENWALD TO THE SENATE ...
Identity source · PDF · Source checked August 2, 2026
View TESTIMONY OF MARK E. RECKTENWALD TO THE SENATE ... ↗Wikidata: Mark E. Recktenwald
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View Wikidata: Mark E. Recktenwald ↗www.courts.state.hi.us
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View www.courts.state.hi.us ↗www.courts.state.hi.us
Biography source · HTML · Source checked October 5, 2026
View www.courts.state.hi.us ↗