Alaska Supreme Court elections
There are five justices on the Alaska Supreme Court. For more information about these elections, visit the Alaska judicial elections page.
Judicial selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Alaska
The five justices on the Alaska Supreme Court are selected through the assisted appointed method. Each justice is appointed from a list of two or more nominees compiled by the Alaska Judicial Council.[1]
The initial term of a new justice is at least three years, after which the justice stands for retention in an uncontested yes-no election. Subsequent terms last ten years.[2] For more information on these elections, visit the Alaska judicial elections page.
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a justice must be:
- a U.S. citizen;
- a state resident for at least five years;
- licensed to practice law in the state;
- active in law practice for at least eight years; and
- under the age of 70.[3][4]
Chief justice
The chief justice is chosen by a vote of the other supreme court justices and serves a three-year term.[5]
Vacancies
The process of filling interim judicial vacancies is identical to that of filling ones that would occur at the end of a justice's term. The governor appoints a justice from a pool of names provided by the nominating commission. After occupying the seat for at least three years, the appointee runs in an uncontested yes-no retention election and, if retained, will serve a subsequent term of ten years.[6][7]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
Elections
See also: Alaska Supreme Court elections, 2030
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Alaska Supreme Court elections, 2028
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Alaska Supreme Court elections, 2026
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Alaska Supreme Court elections, 2024
Jennifer Henderson's seat
Alaska Supreme Court
Jennifer S. Henderson was retained to the Alaska Supreme Court on November 5, 2024 with 60.1% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 60.1 | 156,819 |
| No | 39.9 | 103,919 | |
| Total Votes | 260,738 |
 | The results have been certified. Source |
Dario Borghesan's seat
Alaska Supreme Court
Dario Borghesan was retained to the Alaska Supreme Court on November 5, 2024 with 60.6% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 60.6 | 159,319 |
| No | 39.4 | 103,541 | |
| Total Votes | 262,860 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
See also: Alaska Supreme Court elections, 2022
General election
The general election scheduled for November 8, 2022, was canceled.
See also: Alaska Supreme Court elections, 2020
Alaska Supreme Court
Susan Carney was retained to the Alaska Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 63.0% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 63.0 | 200,598 |
| No | 37.0 | 117,660 | |
| Total Votes | 318,258 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Alaska Judicial Council, "Selection Law - Constitutional and Statutory Provisions Concerning Judicial Selection: Alaska Constitution Article IV, Section 5. Nomination and Appointment," accessed March 23, 2023
- ↑ Alaska Judicial Council, "Constitutional and Statutory Provisions Concerning Judicial Retention/Evaluation: AS 15.35.030. Approval or rejection of supreme court justice," accessed March 23, 2023
- ↑ Alaska Judicial Council, "AS 22.05.070. Qualifications of justices," accessed March 23, 2023
- ↑ Alaska Judicial Council, "AS 22.25.010. Retirement of Justices and Judges," accessed March 23, 2023
- ↑ Alaska Court System, "Court System Information," accessed March 23, 2023
- ↑ Alaska Judicial Council, "Constitutional and Statutory Provisions Concerning Judicial Retention/Evaluation: AS 15.35.030. Approval or rejection of supreme court justice," accessed March 23, 2023
- ↑ Alaska Judicial Council, "Selection Law - Constitutional and Statutory Provisions Concerning Judicial Selection: Alaska Constitution Article IV, Section 5. Nomination and Appointment," accessed March 23, 2023
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Alaska • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Alaska
State courts:
Alaska Supreme Court • Alaska Court of Appeals • Alaska Superior Court • Alaska District Court
State resources:
Courts in Alaska • Alaska judicial elections • Judicial selection in Alaska
