Since January 2024, Micah W.J. Smith has served as a U.S. District Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaiʻi. Before taking the bench, he built a distinguished career in public service as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Hawaiʻi, where he held key leadership roles, including Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, Chief of Appeals and Legal Strategy, and Criminal Civil Rights Coordinator. Previously, Judge Smith served for six years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, handling complex and high-profile matters. Earlier in his career, he practiced at O’Melveny & Myers LLP in Washington, DC.

Judge Smith clerked for Justice David H. Souter of the U.S. Supreme Court and for Judge Guido Calabresi of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He earned his JD, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School and his BA, summa cum laude, from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania.

During his keynote, Judge Smith will explore the power of empathy, connection, and service—what Hawai‘i calls “aloha”—as a model for leadership, highlighting how law librarians are uniquely positioned to wield influence responsibly, advance access to justice, and guide the legal profession through emerging challenges like generative AI.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

• Judge Micah W. J. Smith, U.S. District Court for the District of Hawai'i

SPEAKER:

• Jenny Foster, 2025-2026 AALL President

AALL BODY OF KNOWLEDGE DOMAINS: Professionalism + Leadership At Every Level, Research + Analysis, Information Management, Teaching + Training, Marketing + Outreach, Management + Business Acumen

CANCELLATION AND OTHER POLICIES:

No refunds will be given for any purchased AALL conference recording. This applies to non-AALL members only as the recordings are free for AALL members.

The opinions shared during this program represent the views of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL). Recording, capturing, or using AI tools to duplicate, transcribe, or otherwise reproduce an AALL program in any form is strictly prohibited without prior written consent from AALL. This includes, but is not limited to audio, video, or any other content shared. By accessing an AALL recording, you agree to adhere to this policy.