Hear From the HSBA Executive Director

Aloha,

I've just traveled home from Chicago, where I was able to attend the National Association of Bar Executives conference, followed by the American Bar Association's Bar Leadership Institute, along with President-Elect, Kristin Izumi-Nitao.

As any working parent knows, there are vast swaths of time where you either watched zero movies, or you only watched movies that included super heroes, dinosaurs, or Pokemon. On my flight to Chicago, I was finally able to watch "On the Basis of Sex" which tells the story of a young Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she navigates her post-law school life and her work with the ACLU as she worked to dismantle laws that were discriminatory based on gender. (Yes, this working parent is very cognizant that this movie came out almost ten years ago). Unbeknownst to me until after an in flight announcement, I learned that both pilots were female. It was a full circle moment, as we know the late Justice Ginsburg's legal work was instrumental in opening the field of aviation to women, in addition to paving the way for women to enter the law in meaningful and impactful ways.

Our work as lawyers has meaning and impact in the world around us and that work often has a ripple effect on generations to come. To that end, we all hold important roles in upholding the rule of law and the oaths we all swore to uphold. National conference discussions on the Rule of Law, while seemingly esoteric, are incredibly important as we navigate our ever-evolving roles within legal practice.

This year marks the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Our oaths call upon us to endeavor for a more perfect union that treats all individuals equitably under the law. We do this through our daily work, through important HSBA programs like Civics Education, Courts in the Community, and our partnership with the Judiciary and Legal Aid Society of Hawaii in the access to justice rooms and self help centers.

Taking an oath to uphold the Constitution is not a one time occurrence; it continues to call upon us to live it daily. I hope you recognize the myriad ways we can do this in our regular lives, as well as in our professional lives. Through this, we can ensure that the rule of law is alive, well, and respected. Mahalo for all you do

In service,
Cathy