The Hawaii Supreme Court has accepted a petition for writ of certiorari in *Martell v. Employee Retirement System*, a case that will examine disputes over state employee retirement benefits administered by Hawaii's Employee Retirement System.
In an order filed Feb. 5, 2026, the court agreed to review the case involving Linda S. Martell, who previously challenged decisions made by the Employee Retirement System of the State of Hawaii and its Board of Trustees. Martell filed her certiorari petition on Dec. 8, 2025, seeking review of an Intermediate Court of Appeals decision.
The case comes before a five-member panel of the Hawaii Supreme Court, with Acting Chief Justice Todd W. Eddins joined by Justices Lisa M. Ginoza and Vladimir P. Devens. Circuit Judge Wendy M. DeWeese is serving in place of Justice McKenna, who recused from the case, while Circuit Judge Rebecca A. Copeland was assigned due to a vacancy on the court.
The dispute originated in Hawaii's trial courts before proceeding through the state's appellate system. Court records indicate the case involves multiple appeal numbers, suggesting a complex procedural history that has moved through various levels of Hawaii's court system.
Hawaii's Employee Retirement System provides pension benefits to state and county employees, teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public workers. The system manages retirement, disability, and survivor benefits for more than 125,000 active and retired members across the state. Disputes over benefit calculations, eligibility requirements, and administrative decisions occasionally require court intervention when parties cannot resolve disagreements through the system's internal processes.
The Supreme Court's order indicates that oral arguments will not be automatically scheduled in the case. However, any party may request oral arguments within 10 days of the order by filing a motion under Rule 34(c) of the Hawaii Rules of Appellate Procedure. This procedural mechanism allows parties to seek face-to-face argument before the justices if they believe their case would benefit from oral presentation.
Retirement benefit disputes often involve complex questions about benefit calculations, service credit determinations, disability classifications, or survivor benefit eligibility. These cases can impact not only individual retirees but also establish precedents affecting thousands of other public employees and retirees throughout Hawaii's public sector.
The Employee Retirement System operates under state statutes that govern benefit formulas, vesting requirements, and administrative procedures. When disputes arise, they typically progress through the system's internal appeals process before reaching the courts. Cases that advance to the Hawaii Supreme Court often involve significant legal questions or substantial financial stakes for the parties involved.
Martell's status as both appellant-appellee and petitioner reflects the complex procedural posture of the case, suggesting multiple rounds of appeals and cross-appeals between the parties. This procedural complexity often indicates substantive disagreements about benefit entitlements or administrative decisions that have proven difficult to resolve at lower court levels.
The Hawaii Supreme Court's acceptance of certiorari means the justices determined the case presents issues of sufficient legal importance to warrant the court's review. The state's highest court exercises discretionary jurisdiction over most civil cases, choosing to hear only those that raise significant questions of law or have broad implications for Hawaii's legal system.
Public employee retirement systems nationwide face ongoing challenges related to funding levels, benefit sustainability, and administrative complexity. Legal disputes over individual benefits, while specific to particular cases, often reflect broader tensions within retirement systems as they balance statutory obligations to retirees against fiscal constraints and evolving legal interpretations.
The timing of the case, with certiorari accepted in early 2026, suggests the court will likely issue its decision later this year. Supreme Court decisions in retirement benefit cases can affect not only the immediate parties but also provide guidance for future administrative decisions by the Employee Retirement System and its Board of Trustees.
For current and future retirees in Hawaii's public sector, the case's outcome may clarify important aspects of benefit administration or establish new precedents governing how retirement disputes are resolved. The decision will also provide guidance to the Employee Retirement System on administrative practices and legal interpretations.
The case represents one of several retirement-related disputes that periodically reach Hawaii's appellate courts as the state's public workforce ages and retirement issues become increasingly complex. As the Hawaii Supreme Court prepares to review the matter, the decision will contribute to the evolving body of law governing public employee benefits in the state.