Hawai‘i State Chief Justice Vladimir P. Devens honored in formal investiture ceremony

The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court held an investiture ceremony at Aliʻiōlani Hale for Chief Justice Vladimir Devens.

Devens was sworn in on May 5, when he took the oath of office administered by then-Acting Chief Justice Sabrina S. McKenna. Monday’s ceremony formally acknowledged his commission and provided an opportunity for the Judiciary, his colleagues, and his family and friends to celebrate this milestone.

“To the people of Hawaiʻi: I am here to serve you,” Devens told the gathered crowd. “Your trust is both a privilege and a responsibility that I will carry each and every day.”

Devens succeeds Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, who stepped down in September 2025 due to the state’s mandatory retirement age of 70 for justices and judges.

McKenna administered the ceremonial oath of office, formally recognizing Devens as the sixth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaiʻi since statehood.

Gov. Josh Green, who appointed Devens to serve as Chief Justice, attended the ceremony along with First Lady Jamie Green, Senate President Ronald Kouchi, Hawai‘i Island Rep. David Tarnas, Judicial Selection Commission Chair Florence Nakakuni, Hawaiʻi State Bar Association President Mark Murakami, Associate Justices Todd Eddins and Lisa Ginoza, Intermediate Court of Appeals Chief Judge Karen Nakasone, and many sitting and retired judges, attorneys, Judiciary employees, family members, and friends.

“The office of Chief Justice carries tremendous responsibility, not only in interpreting the law, but also in leading one of the three coequal branches of government. I am confident Chief Justice Devens will continue to serve the people of Hawaiʻi with integrity, independence, and fairness,” Green said.

As Chief Justice, Devens serves as the administrative head of the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary, overseeing court operations statewide while also leading Hawaiʻi’s highest court.