---
title: "Mark E. Recktenwald | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-e-recktenwald-4131"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-09"
---

# Mark E. Recktenwald

Supreme Court of Hawaii · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Supreme Court of Hawaii
- State: Hawaii
- Role: Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-08-22

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## 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

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### extended coverage notice

Scope: 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.

Evidence excerpt: 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](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/news_and_reports/media_guidelines/cameras_and_audio_equipment)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### camera microphone placement

Scope: statewide

Hawaii leaves courtroom camera and microphone placement to the judge and cautions that judges may differ on placement rules.

Evidence excerpt: 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](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/news_and_reports/media_guidelines/cameras_and_audio_equipment)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4131/mark-e-recktenwald/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4131/mark-e-recktenwald/)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4131/mark-e-recktenwald/)
- [Cameras and Audio Equipment](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/news_and_reports/media_guidelines/cameras_and_audio_equipment)
- [Remote Court Hearings via Zoom](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/remote-court-hearings-via-zoom-or-webex)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4131/mark-e-recktenwald/)
- [TESTIMONY OF MARK E. RECKTENWALD TO THE SENATE ...](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2009/testimony/GM439_TESTIMONY_JGO_03-06-09.pdf)
- [Mark Recktenwald](https://ballotpedia.org/Mark_Recktenwald)
- [Wikidata: Mark E. Recktenwald](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6767466)
- [www.courts.state.hi.us](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/courts/supreme/justices/chief_justice_mark_e_recktenwald)
- [www.courts.state.hi.us](https://www.courts.state.hi.us/news_and_reports/2025/09/mark-e-recktenwald-concludes-service-as-hawai%ca%bbi-supreme-court-chief-justice)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4131/mark-e-recktenwald/)
- [TESTIMONY OF MARK E. RECKTENWALD TO THE SENATE ...](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2009/testimony/GM439_TESTIMONY_JGO_03-06-09.pdf)
- [Mark Recktenwald](https://ballotpedia.org/Mark_Recktenwald)
- [Wikidata: Mark E. Recktenwald](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6767466)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-e-recktenwald-4131",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-e-recktenwald-4131",
      "name": "Mark E. Recktenwald | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Mark E. Recktenwald, Supreme Court of Hawaii. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-09",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-e-recktenwald-4131#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-e-recktenwald-4131#judge",
      "name": "Mark E. Recktenwald",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-e-recktenwald-4131",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Supreme Court of Hawaii"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/4131/mark-e-recktenwald/"
      ],
      "birthDate": "1955-10-08",
      "birthPlace": "Detroit",
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Chicago Law School in 1986. [...] Recktenwald worked as the advance man for John Anderson's (R) campaign for president in 1980"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Chicago Law School in 1986"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Harvard University"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Chicago"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Deerfield Academy"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Hawaii",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/hawaii"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Mark E. Recktenwald",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mark-e-recktenwald-4131"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```