Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Alaska Judges up for Retention Election in 2010
| Judge | Court Level | Date Appointed | Prior Retention Elections | District or Court |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dana A. Fabe | N/A | 01/26/96 | 1992, 2000 | Supreme Court |
| David Mannheimer | N/A | 10/11/90 | 1994,2002 | Court of Appeals |
| David V. George | Superior | 10/25/07 | None | First Judicial District - Sitka |
| Philip M. Pallenberg | Superior | 08/31/07 | None | First Judicial District - Juneau |
| Trevor Stephens | Superior | 07/31/00 | 2004 | First Judicial District - Ketchikan |
| Kevin G. Miller | District | 08/30/99 | 2002, 2006 | First Judicial District - Ketchikan |
| Eric A. Aarseth | Superior | 11/30/05 | None | Third Judicial District - Anchorage |
| Carl Bauman | Superior | 08/03/07 | None | Third Judicial District - Kenai |
| Sharon L. Gleason | Superior | 02/19/01 | 2004 | Third Judicial District - Anchorage |
| Kari Kristiansen | Superior | 11/17/06 | None | Third Judicial District - Palmer |
| Patrick J. McKay | Superior | 11/30/05 | None | Third Judicial District - Anchorage |
| Anna M. Moran | Superior | 03/05/07 | None | Third Judicial District - Kenai |
| Mark Rinder | Superior | 10/20/00 | 2004 | Third Judicial District - Anchorage |
| Jack W. Smith | Superior | 11/17/06 | 2006 | Third Judicial District - Anchorage |
| Michael Spaan | Superior | 11/17/06 | None | Third Judicial District - Anchorage |
| Vanessa H. White | Superior | 11/17/06 | None | Third Judicial District - Palmer |
| Brian K. Clark | District | 01/23/03 | 2006 | Third Judicial District - Anchorage |
| Catherine Easter | District | 06/05/08 | None | Third Judicial District - Anchorage |
| William L. Estelle | District | 06/11/03 | 2006 | Third Judicial District - Palmer |
| Sharon A.S. Illsley | District | 06/14/07 | None | Third Judicial District - Kenai |
| Gregory Motyka | District | 07/26/91 | 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 | Third Judicial District - Anchorage |
| Richard W. Postma, Jr. | District | 06/14/07 | None | Third Judicial District - Anchorage |
| Stephanie Rhoades | District | 07/30/92 | 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 | Third Judicial District - Anchorage |
| John W. Wolfe | District | 11/01/04 | 2006 | Third Judicial District - Palmer |
| Douglas L. Blankenship | Superior | 03/10/06 | None | Fourth Judicial District - Fairbanks |
| Marvin Charles Hamilton III | Superior | 03/05/07 | None | Fourth Judicial District - Bethel |
| Michael A. MacDonald | Superior | 06/01/07 | None | Fourth Judicial District - Fairbanks |
| Jane F. Kauvar | District | 02/18/81 | 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 | Fourth Judicial District - Fairbanks |
Judicial Conduct During a Retention Election
The Alaska Judicial Code of Conduct sets down guidelines for judges seeking retention. Alaska judges are prohibited from engaging in political activity except to seek retention. When seeking retention, a judge may
a) Submit profile information for the election pamphlet printed by the state.
b) Speak at public events and give interviews, but these must be unsolicited.
c) Form a committee to campaign
d) Reserve advertising space
When a judge faces active opposition, a judge may advertise through media and distribute pamphlets and promotional literature in support of his or her retention. Active opposition is a broad term, and can mean anything from a negative recommendation from the Alaska Judicial Council to a letter sent by an individual urging all recipients to vote against retaining all judges.[1]
Retention Election Campaign Committee
Many activities that judges seeking retention are prohibited from doing may be carried out by their campaign committee. For instance, a judge that seeks retention may not personally accept or solicit funds for his or her campaign, but the campaign committee that the judge sets up may solicit and accept funds.
The campaign committee may also solicit public support for a judge's retention from lawyers. Though not prohibited, campaign contributions of which a judge has knowledge, made by lawyers or others who appear before the judge, may be disqualified.
The judge's campaign committee can solicit contributions any time before the election and 90 days after the election.[1]
Footnotes