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.

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. 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.

Chief justice

The chief justice is chosen by a vote of the other supreme court justices and serves a three-year term.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts

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.

The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.

2024

See also: Alaska Supreme Court elections, 2024

Dario Borghesan's seat

General election

General election for Alaska Supreme Court

Incumbent Dario Borghesan won election in the general election for Alaska Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dario Borghesan (Nonpartisan)	100.0	159,319

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 159,319
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Jennifer S. Henderson's seat

General election

General election for Alaska Supreme Court

Incumbent Jennifer S. Henderson won election in the general election for Alaska Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer S. Henderson (Nonpartisan)	100.0	156,819

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 156,819
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2022

See also: Alaska Supreme Court justice vacancy (February 2023)

The term of one Alaska Supreme Court justice expired on February 1, 2023. The seat was scheduled to be up for retention on November 8, 2022. The election was not required after Justice Daniel Winfree did not file for retention. Winfree reached the court's mandatory retirement age in February 2023. The filing deadline was August 1, 2022.

2020

See also: Alaska Supreme Court elections, 2020

Candidates and results

Carney's seat

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

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It has been certified. Source

2016

Justices who faced retention

■ Joel Bolger
■ Peter J. Maassen

Election results

Joel Bolger was retained in the Alaska Supreme Court, Bolger's seat election with 57.87% of the vote.

Alaska Supreme Court, Bolger's seat, 2016
Name	Yes votes
Joel Bolger	57.87%
Source: Alaska 2016 General Election, Official Results

Peter J. Maassen was retained in the Alaska Supreme Court, Maassen's seat election with 57.47% of the vote.

Alaska Supreme Court, Maassen's seat, 2016
Name	Yes votes
Peter J. Maassen	57.47%
Source: Alaska 2016 General Election, Official Results

Marjorie Allard was retained in the Alaska Court of Appeals, Allard's seat election with 62.21% of the vote.

Alaska Court of Appeals, Allard's seat, 2016
Name	Yes votes
Marjorie Allard	62.21%
Source: Alaska 2016 General Election, Official Results

2014

Retention

Judge	Election Vote
StowersCraig Stowers	62.9% A

2012

See also: Alaska judicial elections, 2012

Daniel Winfree, Alaska Supreme Court Justice Retention 2012 General election results
Candidates		Votes	Percent
For retention		165,777	64.93%
Against retention		89,553	35.07%

2010

See also: Alaska judicial elections, 2010 and Alaska Judges up for Retention Election in 2010

Dana Fabe, Alaska Supreme Court Justice Retention 2010 General election results
Candidates		Votes	Percent
For retention		126,885	54.4%
Against retention		106,524	45.6%

• Click here for 2010 General Election Results from the Alaska Secretary of State.

2002

Walter Carpeneti, Alaska Supreme Court Justice Retention 2002 General election results
Candidates		Votes	Percent
For retention		130,566	66.7%
Against retention		65,117	33.3%

• Click here for 2002 General Election Results from the Alaska Secretary of State.

Footnotes

Alaska courts

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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