Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice formally acknowledged to lead Hawaiʻi’s highest court
Chief Justice Vladimir Devens was formally sworn in as the sixth chief justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaiʻi since statehood.
Although he took his oath on May 5, the investiture 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. Your trust is both a privilege and a responsibility that I will carry each and every day,” Devens said during the ceremony.
Gov. Josh Green appointed him for the job, and Associate Justice Sabrina McKenna administered the ceremonial oath of office.
“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,” Gov. Josh Green said. “I am confident Chief Justice Devens will continue to serve the people of Hawaiʻi with integrity, independence, and fairness.”
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.
Public Utilities Commission expands Hawaiʻi Universal Service Fund
The Public Utilities Commission has established a source of funding to permanently expand no-cost access to newspapers and magazines for qualified individuals who are blind, have low vision, or have other print disabilities.
In its order, the commission requires all telecommunication providers operating in Hawaiʻi to contribute 0.095% of their gross annual revenue to the Hawaiʻi Universal Service Fund to support the program. Providers may pass on this cost to customers as a small charge if they file an updated tariff with the commission.
If applied, customers’ telecommunication bills may increase by about 10 cents per every $100 of charges as early as Sept. 2, or 30 days after the company files an updated tariff with the commission (if the updated tariff wasn’t filed before Sept. 2).
Since 2023, the print disability program has been run under a contract with the National Federation of the Blind as a pilot project. The establishment of permanent funding now ensures long-term stability for the program and the people who depend on it for timely access to critical information, including public notices, emergency alerts, and other essential updates.
Qualified individuals with print disabilities may learn more about how to apply for the print disability assistance program on the National Federation of the Blind-Newsline website.
The Hawaiʻi Universal Service Fund supports programs that help ensure statewide access to essential telecommunications services, including no-cost telephone relay service for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Expanding the use of the fund strengthens communications access for individuals with print disabilities and reinforces the state’s commitment to equitable access to important information.
The decision and order are available on the commission’s eServices website.
