The Alaska Judicial Council has recommended that Alaskans vote “yes” to retain all judges on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.
There are four judicial districts in Alaska. Southeast Alaska is the First Judicial District, where three judges are up for retention. Those judges are Ketchikan Superior Court Judge William Barker Carey, and Juneau District Court Judges Keith Levy and Thomas Nave.
All state voters will be asked whether they want to retain Alaska Supreme Court Justice Daniel Winfree, and Alaska Court of Appeals Judge Joel Bolger
In Alaska, voters decide whether judges should serve another term in office. Not all of Alaska’s judges are on the ballot, only those whose most recent terms are expiring.
Alaska law requires the Alaska Judicial Council to evaluate each judge eligible to stand for retention, and publicize its findings.
The Judicial Council was established in the state constitution. Its members comprise three non-attorneys, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature, and three attorneys appointed by the Alaska Bar Association.
Voters can learn more about Council evaluations by visiting the Council’s website at www.knowyouralaskajudges.com. The state elections pamphlets, which will be published by the Division of Elections in October, will include evaluation summaries.
Other state judges up for retention are:
Second Judicial District
Superior Court Judge Michael I. Jeffery, Barrow
Third Judicial District
Superior Court Judge Steve W. Cole, Kodiak
Superior Court Judge Gregory Louis Heath, Palmer
Superior Court Judge Charles T. Huguelet, Kenai
Superior Court Judge William F. Morse, Anchorage
Superior Court Judge Frank A. Pfiffner, Anchorage
Superior Court Judge Eric Smith, Palmer
Superior Court Judge John Suddock, Anchorage
Superior Court Judge Sen K. Tan, Anchorage
Superior Court Judge Philip R. Volland, Anchorage
Superior Court Judge Michael L. Wolverton, Anchorage
District Court Judge J. Patrick Hanley, Anchorage
District Court Judge Margaret L. Murphy, Homer
District Court Judge Daniel Schally, Valdez
District Court Judge Alex M. Swiderski, Anchorage
District Court Judge David R. Wallace, Anchorage
District Court Judge Pamela Scott Washington, Anchorage
District Court Judge David L. Zwink, Palmer
Fourth Judicial District
Superior Court Judge Paul R. Lyle, Fairbanks
Superior Court Judge Michael P. McConahy, Fairbanks
District Court Judge Patrick S. Hammers, Fairbanks