Thirteen attorneys have applied for a soon-to-be vacant position on the Alaska Supreme Court, according to an Alaska Judicial Council announcement on Thursday. Justice Walter L. Carpeneti, who now holds the position, is set to retire in January 2013.
Applicants will be evaluated by the Judicial Council's seven members: The chief justice, three attorneys, and three non-attorney public members. Applicants will be subject to comprehensive background investigations, personal interviews, and a survey of Alaska Bar members; a public hearing will be held in Anchorage, which has not yet been scheduled. The Council will then select at least two nominees to send to the governor, who will have 45 days to make the appointment from the Council's list.
The Alaska Judicial Council encourages public comment on the qualifications of the applications. To comment, or for more information, contact Larry Cohn, executive director at Alaska Judicial Council, 1029 W. Third Ave., Ste. 201, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-1969 or call (907) 279-2526.
The applicants, in alphabetical order by last name, are as follows:
Joel H. Bolger: Judge Bolger graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1978. He has been an Alaska resident for 32 years, and has practiced law for 34 years. He is a judge on the Alaska Court of Appeals.
Susan D. Cox: Cox graduated from the University of California at Davis, King Hall School of Law in 1982. She has practiced law for 29 years, and has been an Alaska resident for 30 years. She is the Chief Assistant Attorney General in Juneau.
Jeffrey Friedman: Friedman graduated from the University of Maryland, School of Law in 1984; he has been an Alaska resident for 24½ years, and has been practicing law for 24 years. He is an administrative law judge in Anchorage.
Andrew Guidi: Judge Guidi graduated from U.C.L.A. School of Law in 1982. He has been an Alaska resident for 30 years, and has practiced law for 29 years. He is a superior court judge in Anchorage.
Andy Harrington: Harrington graduated from Harvard University Law School in 1980. He has been an Alaska resident for 32 years, and has practiced law for 31 years.
Peter J. Maassen: Maassen graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1980. He has has been an Alaska resident for 31½ years, and has practiced law for 30½ years. He is currently in private practice in Anchorage.
Michael A. MacDonald: Judge MacDonald graduated from the University of New Mexico, School of Law in 1988. He has been an Alaska resident for 31½ years, and has been practicing law for 22½ years. He is a superior court judge in Fairbanks.
Philip Pallenberg: Judge Pallenberg graduated from the University of Washington Law School in 1983. He has been an Alaska resident for 28½ years, and has practiced law for 28 years.
Eric Smith: Judge Smith graduated from Yale Law School in 1979. He has been an Alaska resident for 30½ years, and has practiced law for 33 years. He is a superior court judge in Palmer.
Trevor N. Stephens: Judge Stephens graduated from Willamette University College of Law in 1985. He has been an Alaska resident for 52 years, and has practiced law for 27½ years. He is a superior court judge in Ketchikan.
Terry L. Thurbon: Judge Thurbon graduated from the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 1986. She has been an Alaska resident for 21 years, and has practiced law for 25 years. She is Chief Administrative Law Judge in Juneau.
Daniel Westerburg: Westerburg graduated from the Ohio State University College of Law in 1978. He has been an Alaska resident for 33½ years, and has practiced law for 33 years. He is in private practice in Homer.
Russ Winner: Winner graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 1975. He has been an Alaska resident for 32 years, and has practiced law for 32 years. He is in private practice in Anchorage.