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
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 |
Total votes: 159,319 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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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 |
Total votes: 156,819 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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2022
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
General election candidates
- Susan Carney (Incumbent) (Nonpartisan) ✔
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 | |
![]() | 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 | |
![]() | 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 | |
![]() | 62.21% | |
Source: Alaska 2016 General Election, Official Results |
2014
Retention
Judge | Election Vote |
---|---|
Craig Stowers | 62.9% ![]() |
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
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.
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