Judge Craig Stowers of the Anchorage Superior Court has been appointed to the Alaska Supreme Court. He will replace Associate Justice Robert Eastaugh, who retired on Nov. 2.
Stowers, 55, is the 21st justice appointed to the court. He was born in Florida and graduated from law school at the University of California at Davis. He clerked for Chief Justice Warren Matthews of the Alaska Supreme Court.
After his clerkship Stowers practiced malpractice and business law, and he opened his own trial law practice in 1995. In 2004 he was appointed as an Anchorage Superior Court judge.
"Judge Stowers' character, legal experience, his strong work ethic, his intellect, and his record of service to Alaska's people have prepared him to be an outstanding member of our state's highest court," Governor Parnell said in a press release that went out Wednesday afternoon.
Stowers is the president of the board of directors of Christian Health Associates, a non-profit faith-based organization. In the past he has served on the boards of the Brother Francis Shelter and the Alaska Natural History Association.
The Alaska Supreme Court serves as the court of appeals for the state's District and Superior Courts. The chief justice and four associate judges hear cases in Anchorage every month and in Fairbanks and Juneau four times a year.