Hawaiʻi's Former Chief Justice on Defending the Rule of Law

Hawaiʻi's Former Chief Justice on Defending the Rule of Law

This week on Keepers of Our Republic, host Brooke Bergen sits down with former Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald for a wide-ranging conversation about judicial independence, accountability, and the unique role of state courts in American democracy. Justice Recktenwald takes us inside Hawaiʻi's distinctive merit-based system for selecting judges and explains how Native Hawaiian history, culture, and traditional law continue to shape the state's legal system today. He also discusses a developing fight over who has the authority to discipline federal prosecutors—and why state oversight of attorney ethics remains an important check on government power. The conversation also explores growing threats against judges, declining trust in the courts, attacks on the legal profession, and a difficult question facing the judiciary today: When the rule of law itself is being challenged, should sitting judges have greater freedom to speak out? Justice Recktenwald also shares why he joined the Alliance of Former Chief Justices and how retired judges can use their voices to defend judicial independence while remaining committed to nonpartisanship. Welcome back to Keepers of our Republic, a new weekly podcast from Keep Our Republic that takes listeners inside the institutions at the heart of American democracy.  Every week, Keepers of Our Republic features thoughtful conversations with election administrators and retired federal judges. We explore how elections are really run, discuss why an independent judiciary is essential to a strong republic, and separate fact from fiction in a fast-changing world.  Learn more about Keep Our Republic, a nonpartisan nonprofit, at our website, https://keepourrepublic.org [https://keepourrepublic.org] Follow Us on Social Media: X https://x.com/keep_republic [https://x.com/keep_republic] Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KeepOurRepublicAction/ [https://www.facebook.com/KeepOurRepublicAction/] LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/keepourrepublic/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/keepourrepublic/] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/keepourrepublic/ [https://www.instagram.com/keepourrepublic/]

Running an Election Is Like Planning the Super Bowl: Highs & Lows of Elections in GA

What does it actually take to run an election? And what happens when election officials are asked to do more without the time, staff, or funding to do it? In this episode of Keepers of Our Republic, host and former Georgia elections official Tate Fall sits down with Milton Kidd, Director of Elections and Voter Registration for Douglas County, Georgia, to talk about the enormous logistical operation behind every election. Milton shares why running an election can feel like planning the Super Bowl, the real-world consequences of constantly changing election laws, and why lawmakers need to listen to the professionals tasked with implementing them. He also opens up about facing threats and racial harassment as an election official, and why, despite it all, he continues to show up. His message to lawmakers: If we say we value secure, well-run elections, we need to fund them accordingly. And his message to voters? Extend a little grace, pack your patience, and remember that the people running your elections are your neighbors. Welcome back to Keepers of our Republic, a new weekly podcast from Keep Our Republic that takes listeners inside the institutions at the heart of American democracy.  Every week, Keepers of Our Republic features thoughtful conversations with election administrators and retired federal judges. We explore how elections are really run, discuss why an independent judiciary is essential to a strong republic, and separate fact from fiction in a fast-changing world.  Learn more about Keep Our Republic, a nonpartisan nonprofit, at our website, https://keepourrepublic.org [https://keepourrepublic.org] Follow Us on Social Media: X https://x.com/keep_republic [https://x.com/keep_republic] Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KeepOurRepublicAction/ [https://www.facebook.com/KeepOurRepublicAction/] LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/keepourrepublic/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/keepourrepublic/] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/keepourrepublic/ [https://www.instagram.com/keepourrepublic/]

America's 250th Birthday: Hope, Democracy & What Comes Next

America turns 250 this week, but what does that milestone mean at a moment of deep political division? In this special Independence Day episode of Keepers of Our Republic, host Brooke Bergen shares a collection of reflections from retired federal judges, legal scholars, civic educators, and leaders from across the legal profession, recorded during a symposium at the University of Washington School of Law. Rather than discussing a single legal issue, this episode pauses to reflect on the American experiment itself. Guests offer birthday wishes for the nation, celebrate the enduring ideals of liberty and the rule of law, acknowledge the country's unfinished work, and share their hopes (and fears) for the next 250 years. From the importance of judicial independence and civic education to the dangers of political polarization, these conversations explore what it means to preserve a constitutional democracy across generations. Featuring reflections from: Meg Satterthwaite, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Greg Nunziata, Executive Director, Society for the Rule of Law Mary Smith, Past President, American Bar Association Stephen Rosenbaum, UC Berkeley School of Law John Day, President, American College of Trial Lawyers Judge Mark Wolf (Ret.), U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts Corey Paulson, TVW Civic Education Louise Dubé, CEO, iCivics Judge Thomas B. Griffith (Ret.), U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Whether you're celebrating Independence Day, thinking about the future of American democracy, or simply looking for thoughtful conversation beyond today's headlines, we hope these reflections leave you with renewed appreciation for the responsibilities of citizenship—and the work still ahead. Welcome back to Keepers of our Republic, a new weekly podcast from Keep Our Republic that takes listeners inside the institutions at the heart of American democracy.  Every week, Keepers of Our Republic features thoughtful conversations with election administrators and retired federal judges. We explore how elections are really run, discuss why an independent judiciary is essential to a strong republic, and separate fact from fiction in a fast-changing world.  Learn more about Keep Our Republic, a nonpartisan nonprofit, at our website, https://keepourrepublic.org [https://keepourrepublic.org] Follow Us on Social Media: X https://x.com/keep_republic [https://x.com/keep_republic] Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KeepOurRepublicAction/ [https://www.facebook.com/KeepOurRepublicAction/] LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/keepourrepublic/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/keepourrepublic/] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/keepourrepublic/ [https://www.instagram.com/keepourrepublic/]

The Election Director Who Loves Proving Conspiracy Theories Wrong

This week on Keepers of Our Republic, host Tate Fall sits down with Brook Schreiner, Elections Director for Chatham County, Georgia, to discuss what it takes to administer elections in one of the state's largest and most diverse counties. After spending more than a decade in election administration, everywhere from large metro counties to rural communities, Brook shares why she continues to do this work, how election offices adapt to changing laws and growing populations, and what voters rarely see behind the scenes.  The conversation explores everything from polling place planning and election audits to voter outreach, professional training, and the importance of meeting voters where they are. Whether you're curious about how local elections actually work or wondering what election officials do between Election Days, this episode offers an inside look at the people dedicated to making every election secure, accurate, and accessible. Guest: Brook Schreiner, Elections Director, Chatham County, Georgia Welcome back to Keepers of our Republic, a new weekly podcast from Keep Our Republic that takes listeners inside the institutions at the heart of American democracy.  Every week, Keepers of Our Republic features thoughtful conversations with election administrators and retired federal judges. We explore how elections are really run, discuss why an independent judiciary is essential to a strong republic, and separate fact from fiction in a fast-changing world.  Learn more about Keep Our Republic, a nonpartisan nonprofit, at our website, https://keepourrepublic.org [https://keepourrepublic.org] Follow Us on Social Media: X https://x.com/keep_republic [https://x.com/keep_republic] Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KeepOurRepublicAction/ [https://www.facebook.com/KeepOurRepublicAction/] LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/keepourrepublic/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/keepourrepublic/] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/keepourrepublic/ [https://www.instagram.com/keepourrepublic/]

"Judges Can't Defend Themselves." Why the Legal Profession Must Step Up

In this episode, we sit down with Judge Robert Henry, former judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, former Oklahoma Attorney General, and Jurist in Residence for Rule of Law at the University of Washington School of Law. Recorded at the University of Washington School of Law's *Neither Sword nor Purse* conference, Judge Henry reflects on why judicial independence has been essential since the nation's founding, and why he believes it faces unprecedented challenges today. He discusses declining public trust in the courts, the ethical responsibilities of lawyers and judges, growing attacks on members of the judiciary, and why former judges, attorneys, nonprofits, and everyday citizens all have a role to play in defending the rule of law. Drawing on decades of experience in public service and the judiciary, Judge Henry offers a thoughtful perspective on what is at stake if Americans lose confidence in an independent third branch of government, and why protecting the rule of law requires all of us. --- Welcome back to "Keepers of Our Republic", a weekly podcast from Keep Our Republic that takes listeners inside the institutions at the heart of American democracy. Every week, we feature thoughtful conversations with election administrators, retired federal judges, legal scholars, and civic leaders.  Together, we explore how elections really work, why an independent judiciary is essential to a strong republic, and how an informed public helps safeguard the rule of law. Learn more about Keep Our Republic, a nonpartisan nonprofit, at https://keepourrepublic.org [https://keepourrepublic.org]. Welcome back to Keepers of our Republic, a new weekly podcast from Keep Our Republic that takes listeners inside the institutions at the heart of American democracy.  Every week, Keepers of Our Republic features thoughtful conversations with election administrators and retired federal judges. We explore how elections are really run, discuss why an independent judiciary is essential to a strong republic, and separate fact from fiction in a fast-changing world.  Learn more about Keep Our Republic, a nonpartisan nonprofit, at our website, https://keepourrepublic.org [https://keepourrepublic.org] Follow Us on Social Media: X https://x.com/keep_republic [https://x.com/keep_republic] Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KeepOurRepublicAction/ [https://www.facebook.com/KeepOurRepublicAction/] LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/keepourrepublic/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/keepourrepublic/] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/keepourrepublic/ [https://www.instagram.com/keepourrepublic/]