Alaska judicial elections, 2012

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Judicial Elections
Judicial elections, 2012
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The Alaska judicial elections consisted of a retention election on November 6, 2012. There were 26 judges on the ballot for retention.

Alaska judicial elections summary, 2012

Supreme Appellate Trial Total candidates 1 1 24 Unopposed candidates 0 Judges facing retention 1 1 24 Judges retained 1 1 24 Judges re-elected Judges not re-elected New judges elected Partisan or Nonpartisan   Retention

Supreme Court

Candidate	Court	Retention vote:	Retention Vote %
WinfreeDaniel Winfree   A	Supreme Court	165,777	64.93%A

Court of Appeals

Candidate	Court	Retention vote:	Retention Vote %
BolgerJoel Bolger   A		166,208	65.24%A

District Courts

Alaska First District

See also: Alaska judicial elections, 2012

Candidate	Court	Retention vote:	Retention Vote %
LevyKeith Levy   A	District	22,112	76.50%A
NaveThomas Nave   A	District	21,698	75.73%A
CareyWilliam Carey   A	Superior	21,148	74.60%A

Alaska Fourth District

See also: Alaska judicial elections, 2012

Candidate	Court	Retention vote:	Retention Vote %
McConahyMichael McConahy   A	Superior	30,327	67.62%A
HammersPatrick Hammers   A	District	30,854	68.79%A
LylePaul Lyle   A	Superior	29,961	66.67%A

Alaska Second District

See also: Alaska judicial elections, 2012

Candidate	Court	Retention vote:	Retention Vote %
JefferyMichael I. Jeffery   A	Superior	4,978	74.04%A

Alaska Third District

See also: Alaska judicial elections, 2012

Candidate	Court	Retention vote:	Retention Vote %
SwiderskiAlex Swiderski   A	District	101,654	64.09%A
HugueletCharles Huguelet   A	Superior	100,419	62.99%A
SchallyDaniel Schally   A	District	101,193	63.90%A
WallaceDavid Wallace (Alaska)   A	District	104,538	65.94%A
ZwinkDavid Zwink   A	District	103,514	65.03%A
SmithEric Smith (Alaska)   A	Superior	101,035	63.27%A
PfiffnerFrank Pfiffner   A	Superior	100,523	63.23%A
HeathGregory L. Heath   A	Superior	102,614	64.06%A
HanleyJames Hanley   A	District	106,106	66.91%A
SuddockJohn Suddock   A	Superior	98,357	61.60%A
MurphyMargaret L. Murphy   A	District	103,576	64.81%A
WolvertonMichael Wolverton   A	Superior	102,931	64.69%A
WashingtonPamela S. Washington   A	District	105,616	66.20%A
VollandPhilip Volland   A	Superior	101,897	63.78%A
TanSen Tan   A	Superior	91,415	55.06%A
ColeSteve W. Cole   A	Superior	104,070	64.48%A
MorseWilliam Morse   A	Superior	99,826	62.67%A

In the news

Alaska's Judicial Council recommends retention for all 26 judges on 2012 ballot

As featured in JP Election Brief: Judges seeking retention are judged on September 13, 2012.

All 26 judges up for retention on November 6th have received a positive recommendation from the Alaska Judicial Council. When a judge is recommended for retention, that means the Council finds the judge's legal ability, diligence, temperament, and fairness to be in order.

This typical occurrence for Alaska's retention elections was interrupted two years ago when the Council voted 5-1 to not recommend Judge Richard W. Postma, Jr. for retention. After failing to receive the Council's positive recommendation, 54.81 percent of voters voted against Postma's retention.

Alaska 2012 retention elections

As featured in JP Election Brief: 2012 Retention Elections on July 5, 2012.

The Alaska Constitution and statutes require that judges stand for retention at the end of their term, which varies from 4 to 10 years depending on the court. The Alaska Judicial Council is responsible for evaluating judicial performance and making a recommendation to voters on whether or not to retain a judge. They make their recommendation using evaluations from attorneys, peace and probation officers, jurors, social workers and public hearings.

On November 6th, Alaskan voters will choose to retain or not retain each of the 26 judges standing for retention. Justice Daniel Winfree of the Alaska Supreme Court, Judge Joel Bolger of the Alaska Court of Appeals, 10 judges on the Alaska District Court, and 14 judges on the Alaska Superior Court will stand for retention this year.

External links

• Alaska Judicial Council Press Release, "Alaska Judicial Council Public Hearing to Solicit Comments about Judges on the Ballot in November," May 3, 2012

Footnotes

1. Alaska Judicial Council, Judges Eligible to Stand for Retention Election in 2012

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