GOVERNOR GREEN CONSIDERS NOMINEES FOR CHIEF JUSTICE

News Release from Office of the Governor, March 16, 2026 (excerpt)

HONOLULU — Governor Josh Green today announced that he has received the list of nominees to fill Chief Justice, Supreme Court, State of Hawaiʻi ….

Under Article VI, Section 3 of the Hawaiʻi State Constitution, the Governor must appoint a judge from a list of nominees submitted by the Judicial Selection Commission within 30 days, to be followed by state Senate confirmation proceedings.

The Judicial Selection Commission submitted the following nominees for Chief Justice, Supreme Court, state of Hawaiʻi, listed in alphabetical order:

• Lance D. Collins, currently a President/Principal Attorney at the Law Office of Lance D. Collins. He is a graduate of William S. Richardson School of Law.
• Vladimir Devens, currently an Associate Justice at the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court. He is a graduate of the University of California Berkeley School of Law.
• David M. Forman, currently a Professor of Law at William S. Richardson School of Law. He is a graduate of William S. Richardson School of Law. 
• Benjamin E. Lowenthal, currently an Attorney at the Law Office of Benjamin E. Lowenthal. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law.
• Sabrina S. McKenna, currently the Acting Chief Justice at the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court. She is a graduate of William S. Richardson School of Law.

The public is invited to provide comments on the nominees via the Governor’s website https://governor.hawaii.gov/contact-us/contact-the-governor/.

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Judicial Selection Commission Press Release – Chief Justice, Supreme Court, State of Hawai’i Nominees (Release Date:  03/16/2026)

JSC Press Release, Mar 16, 2026

Under the Constitution of the State of Hawaiʻi, Article VI, Appointment of Justices and Judges, Section 3: “The governor, with the consent of the senate, shall fill a vacancy in the office of the chief justice, supreme court, intermediate appellate court and circuit courts, by appointing a person from a list of not less than four, and not more than six, nominees for the vacancy, presented to the governor by the judicial selection commission.”

The Judicial Selection Commission is pleased to announce a list of nominees for the judicial vacancy of Chief Justice, Supreme Court, State of Hawaiʻi.  The judicial office became vacant upon the retirement of Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald in October 2025.

The list of nominees selected by the Commission to fill the vacancy for the judicial vacancy of Chief Justice in the Supreme Court are listed as follows in alphabetical order:

Lance D. Collins
Vladimir Devens
David M. Forman
Benjamin E. Lowenthal
Sabrina S. McKenna

The Governor has 30 days from his receipt of the list today to make his appointment.

Statistics

Total Applicants: 5; 1 Females; 4 Males
First Time Applicants: 0

Government Attorneys: 0
Private Attorneys: 2
Justices: 2
Judges: 0
Per Diem Judges: 1
Other: 1

Age Range: 0 (31-40); 2 (41-50); 1 (51-60); 2 (61-70)

Years Licensed Range: 20 years to 44 years
Years Practiced Range: 11 years to 30 years

Additional Information

Days in Recruitment: 310 Days
One (1) Applicant withdrew in September 2025 and is not included in the statistics above.
Meetings held and decision made in February 2026 with 8 Commissioners present.