The nomination process for Associate Justice Vladimir Devens as the Chief Justice of the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court has encountered challenges. Devens has served on the court for two years and was chosen by Governor Josh Green to succeed retired Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, who stepped down in September due to age limitations for judges in Hawaiʻi.
Concerns Over Disclosure
If confirmed, Devens would serve a term of ten years. However, his past involvement with the political action committee (PAC) Be Change Now raised eyebrows. This connection was not disclosed in his confirmation application, leading to concerns from some Senate Judiciary Committee members.
- Committee members Sen. Karl Rhoads and Sen. Joy San Buenaventura opposed the nomination.
- Rhoads expressed disappointment over insufficient information from the nominee.
- He remarked that it was troubling to learn critical details from the media.
“It’s a sad day for me,” Rhoads stated. “This is my 70th judicial confirmation. I have always supported nominees, but this time I felt I lacked crucial information.”
Devens’ Response
Devens, who served on Be Change Now—a PAC linked to the Pacific Resource Partnership, which advocates for the state’s largest construction union—defended his actions. He argued that his involvement should not be perceived negatively. He explained he did not consider it a flawed reflection of his character.
Support for Devens
Despite the objections, Sen. Stanley Chang voted in favor of Devens’ confirmation. He emphasized that Devens’ judicial record and integrity far outweighed any undisclosed information.
- Chang highlighted that no complaints had been raised regarding Devens’ impartiality while serving on the court.
- His track record during his tenure has been one of independence and sound judgment.
The Senate Judiciary Committee ultimately voted 3-2 to advance Devens’ nomination for Chief Justice. The matter is set to be reviewed by the entire Senate soon.
