Alaska’s Judicial Selection & Retention System (2024)

 
 
Alaska’s Judicial Selection & Retention System
Co-sponsored with AK Bar New Lawyer Section,  Alaska Judicial Council & Committee on Fair and Impartial Courts 
 
Recorded: Thursday, October 10, 2024 
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1.0 Ethics CLE Credits 
CLE# VOD_2024069
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Registration fee: Free
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Alaska’s judicial selection system is a nonpartisan process designed to ensure a skilled, fair, and impartial judiciary. The Alaska Judicial Council carefully reviews applicants for judicial positions, nominating only the most qualified candidates based on their legal expertise, integrity, temperament, and legal and life experience. Once appointed by the governor, judges periodically face public retention elections, allowing Alaskans to vote on their continued service.
This system promotes accountability while safeguarding the independence of the judiciary, ensuring that judges remain dedicated to upholding the rule of law and serving the public with impartiality.

This session will explore:
1) How the Alaska Judicial Council evaluates and nominates applicants for the bench;
2) How judges are evaluated by the Judicial Council in advance of public retention elections;
3) How Alaska’s merit-based system promotes judicial impartiality and protects the judiciary from political pressures, contributing to fair and unbiased decision-making in the courts;
4) Your ethical obligations when evaluating fellow Bar members seeking appointment to the bench, and judges who are standing for retention.

Faculty:
Susanne DiPietro, Executive Director, Alaska Judicial Council
Matt Widmer, Chair, Committee on Fair and Impartial Courts 

Explore More AK Bar Programs: Don’t miss out on our other upcoming events and CLE opportunities! Click here to view our full calendar and register for additional programs. 
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Learn more about the Alaska Judicial Council: The AJC screens and nominates judicial applicants; evaluates the performance of judges and makes evaluation information and recommendations available to the voters; and conducts studies and makes recommendations to improve the administration of justice. - https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/