Request for Public Comments for Applicants for Chief Justice, Supreme Court, State of Hawai’i (Release Date: 12/05/2025)

News release from Judicial Selection Commission, Dec 5, 2025

The Judicial Selection Commission, State of Hawaiʻi, is governed by Article VI of the State Constitution which requires that all of its “deliberations” be confidential.  The Judicial Selection Commission is committed to increasing the transparency of its activities to the extent permitted by law and consistent with its goal of choosing the best possible nominees from the broadest and most diverse pool of candidates it can obtain.  Until March 16, 2022, the Judicial Selection Commission Rules have prohibited the Judicial Selection Commission from sharing the names of applicants applying for judicial positions.

In accordance with the Judicial Selection Commission Rule 5, Section 2:  Confidentiality A. as further amended and effective March 16, 2022, the Judicial Selection Commission announces the applicants applying for the judicial office of Chief Justice in the Supreme Court, State of Hawaiʻi.

The list of applicants applying to fill the vacancy for the judicial office of Chief Justice in the Supreme Court, State of Hawaiʻi, is listed as follows in alphabetical order:

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

The Commission invites interested persons to submit written comments on the applicants applying for the judicial office of Chief Justice in the Supreme Court, State of Hawaiʻi.

Written comments should include the applicant’s name and information about the background, professional skills and character of the applicant in areas such as:

(1)  integrity and moral courage
(2)  legal ability and experience
(3)  intelligence and wisdom
(4)  compassion and fairness
(5)  diligence and decisiveness
(6)  judicial temperament
(7)  such other qualities that the commission deems appropriate
(See Judicial Selection Commission Rule 10)

Written comments should also include the following contact information:

Your signature;
Your printed name;
Your phone number, including area code; and
Your email address, if applicable.

All written comments will be kept CONFIDENTIAL.

Please submit written comments postmarked or faxed no later than January 5, 2026 to:

Commission Chair Florence T. Nakakuni, Esq.
Judicial Selection Commission
State of Hawaiʻi
417 South King Street
Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96813
Fax:  (808) 538-5205

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BACKGROUND: 

• Oct, 2023: Mafia News: Andy Winer Law Partner ‘a lock’ on Supreme Court Nomination
• Sept 2025: JSC: "Insufficient Applicants for Chief Justice"  --  

  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 vacancy was first announced on November 20, 2024 with a deadline of February 20, 2025 (90 days). The first extension was published on March 21, 2025, extending the deadline to September 11, 2025 (175 days)

• Oct 2, 2025: Corruption: New Acting Chief Justice immediately goes out of her way to Suggest Three Kealoha Convicts May Be Innocent
• Oct 5, 2025: Mafia News: Three Names for Hawaii Chief Justice
• Oct 7, 2025: Supreme Flip Flop: McKenna and Eddins Apologize, Withdraw Corrupt Kealoha Opinion