Why It Matters
Hawaii’s judicial leadership is set for a significant transition as Governor Josh Green has nominated a sitting associate justice to lead the state’s highest court. The selection of the next Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice will shape the direction of legal decisions affecting millions of residents across the state for years to come.
The chief justice role carries broad authority over Hawaii’s court system, including administrative oversight of the entire state judiciary, in addition to participating in the court’s most consequential rulings.
What Happened
Governor Josh Green announced the nomination of Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice Vladimir Devens to serve as the next Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court. The announcement was made on April 2, 2026.
Devens was selected from a short list of candidates that included two Maui-based lawyers, a law professor, and an acting chief justice. Green ultimately chose the sitting associate justice over the other finalists.
Devens brings an uncommon professional background to the nomination. Before his legal career, he served as a police officer, and he later became a labor lawyer before ascending to the state’s highest court. He has served as an associate justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court for approximately two years.
By the Numbers
2 years — Length of time Devens has served as an associate justice on the Hawaii Supreme Court prior to the nomination.
5 candidates — The total number of individuals on the short list considered by Governor Green, including two Maui lawyers, a law professor, an acting chief justice, and Devens.
5 justices — The Hawaii Supreme Court is composed of a chief justice and four associate justices, making the chief justice position one of the most influential in the state’s legal system.
1 nomination — Governor Green has made one chief justice nomination, reflecting a singular executive decision that will require review and confirmation before Devens assumes the role.
Zoom Out
Judicial appointments at the state supreme court level have taken on heightened significance across the country as courts weigh in on issues ranging from housing and land use to criminal justice reform and labor rights. Hawaii’s nomination process, which involves a judicial selection commission providing the governor with a short list, is similar to merit-based selection systems used in roughly 20 other states.
Devens’ background as a former labor lawyer is notable given the range of labor-related disputes that reach state supreme courts, particularly in Hawaii, where public employee unions hold considerable influence. His prior experience in law enforcement also provides a perspective rarely seen at the chief justice level nationwide.
Hawaii has been navigating a number of high-profile legal and public safety matters in recent months. A recent incident involving a Hawaii man beaten while wearing an ICE uniform was confirmed by DHS to have no connection to the federal agency, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and public safety in the state.
The state’s courts have also faced broader infrastructure and environmental pressures. Earlier this year, a wastewater plant in Lahaina released 200,000 gallons of effluent into the Kāʻanapali Beach area, raising questions about regulatory oversight and environmental accountability — areas where judicial interpretation can play a defining role.
What’s Next
Following Governor Green’s formal nomination, the selection will move through the state’s judicial confirmation process. The Hawaii State Senate is expected to hold a confirmation hearing to review Devens’ qualifications and record before a full vote on whether to approve the appointment.
If confirmed, Devens would assume the role of Chief Justice and take on administrative leadership of the state’s judicial branch. No specific timeline for the confirmation hearing has been publicly announced as of this report.
Legal observers will be watching closely to see how Devens’ background in labor law and law enforcement shapes his approach to the court’s docket and administrative priorities once he assumes the chief justice seat.