State of Justice: April 2026 Vacancies and Elections Updates
Vacancies
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green announced chief justice nomination
On April 2, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) nominated current state supreme court Justice Vladimir Devens to serve as the court’s next chief justice, succeeding former chief justice Mark Recktenwald, who retired from the court in September 2025. Devens has served on the court since Green’s nomination and subsequent senate confirmation in 2024. The state senate must confirm Devens to serve as chief justice.
Idaho Supreme Court chief justice to retire
Chief Justice G. Richard Bevan announced his intent to retire from the state supreme court in October of this year. Bevan first joined the court in 2017 following his appointment by former Gov. Butch Otter (R). Bevan’s retirement gives Gov. Brad Little (R) an opportunity to appoint a justice to the court. Little must select a nominee from a shortlist of candidates screened and provided by the Idaho Judicial Council. Little’s appointee will serve the remainder of Bevan’s term, which expires in January 2031. To remain on the court, Bevan’s successor will need to run in a nonpartisan election in 2030.
Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission screens applications
To fill the vacancy left by retired Justice Marla Luckert, the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission accepted applications through noon on April 17. The commission will evaluate the applicants and forward to Gov. Laura Kelly (D) a shortlist of three potential candidates from which she will make her appointment for supreme court justice. After the governor’s nominee serves at least one year on the bench, and assuming voters do not adopt a referendum seeking to alter the selection process for the state supreme court, they must run in an uncontested retention election, where voters cast a yes or no vote for the justice to remain on the bench.
Nominee for Maine Supreme Judicial Court unanimously confirmed by state senate
On March 13, 2026, Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) nominated Christopher Taub to replace retiring Justice Andrew Horton on the supreme judicial court. To serve on the court, Taub must be confirmed by the Maine Senate. Later that month, Taub was unanimously voted out of the judiciary committee and subsequently unanimously confirmed by the whole state senate. Taub will serve a seven-year term. To continue serving on the bench, Taub must be renominated by the governor and confirmed by the state senate.
Minnesota Supreme Court chief justice to retire
Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Natalie Hudson will retire from the court, allowing Gov. Tim Walz (D) to appoint another justice to the court. Minnesota has a mandatory retirement age of 70, and Hudson will turn 70 in January 2027. Hudson is the first Black chief justice on the court. She was first nominated as associate justice in 2015 by Gov. Mark Dayton (D), and then, in 2023, Walz nominated Hudson to serve as chief justice. Hudson’s retirement will give Walz the opportunity to nominate a fifth justice to the court, with four of the seven being nominated by him, including Hudson, to her chief justice position.
Elections
Michigan Republican Party announces party endorsements
The Michigan Republican Party held its endorsement convention in late March. The party endorsed Judge Michael Warren and Judge Cassandra Morris-Bills for state supreme court. The two judges are challenging incumbent and Democrat-backed Justice Megan Cavanaugh and Justice Noah Hood, respectively. While candidates are endorsed and nominated by parties, the general elections are nonpartisan.
North Carolina judge challenges supreme court justice
North Carolina Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins (D) will challenge incumbent Justice Phil Berger (R) for Berger’s seat on the state supreme court in 2028. Collins announced his intent to challenge Berger online in early April. Prior to becoming a judge in 2013, Collins was one of the founding attorneys for the Wake County public defender’s office, was one of a handful of attorneys qualified to defend capital murder cases, and served on various county and judicial circuit boards, bar associations, and practice-specializing organizations.
Challenger emerges against Nebraska Supreme Court Justice
Ariston Johnson, a civil litigator focused on oil and gas litigation, announced he will challenge incumbent Justice Jerod Tufte for his seat on the state supreme court. Johnson has spent his career in private practice. Tufte was first elected to the state supreme court in 2016.
Washington
Five seats on the Washington Supreme Court will be up for election this November. For one of the seats, King County Superior Court Judge Jamie Hawk announced her intent to run for the supreme court. Hawk is running for the seat being vacated by Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis, who is not seeking re-election. Gov. Jay Inslee (D) appointed Hawk to the superior court in 2022. Before serving as a judge, she was a public defender and an attorney with the ACLU of Washington.
West Virginia
This May 12, two seats on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals will be on the ballot. For the seat held by incumbent Justice Thomas Ewing, Republican state house Del. Bill Flanigan is challenging Ewing. In the other court contest, incumbent Justice Gerald Titus is being challenged by several candidates. Titus joined the court last November after being appointed by Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R). He must win this election to serve the remainder of the term he was appointed to fill, which expires in 2032. Titus’ challengers are 27th circuit Judge Lisa Faircloth,14th circuit Judge Todd Kirby, and retired Judge Harry Louis (H.L.) Kirkpatrick, III.
Wisconsin
Clark County Circuit Court Judge Lyndsey Brunette, a Democrat, announced her intent to run for Justice Annette Zeigler’s seat in 2027. Brunette first joined the circuit court in 2018. Prior to joining the bench, Brunette was elected as Clark County district attorney. She also worked as corporation counsel and county attorney for Clark County.
