Justices in Alaska and New Mexico announce retirement
June 18, 2012
Alaska and New Mexico: Chief Justice Walter Carpeneti and Justice Patricio Serna last week announced their retirements from the Alaska and New Mexico Supreme Courts, respectively.
Chief Justice Carpeneti submitted his retirement to the court on Friday, stating that he will step down on January 31, 2013. He has served on the court since 1988, and is currently wrapping up a three-year term as the head of the state's judiciary.[1]
Justice Serna will retire sooner, on August 31, 2012. He was elected to the court in 1996, and served as Chief Justice from 2001 to 2002.[2]
Both candidates will be succeeded by new judges found using the Commission-selection, political appointment method of judicial selection method referred to a merit selection. The major difference is that the justice Governor Sean Parnell chooses to succeed Carpeneti will serve a three-year term before standing for retention, while Serna's successor may only serve the rest of this year. In New Mexico, this September political parties will chose candidates to run for Supreme Court. If the new appointee is not one of those choices, she or he will only serve a temporary term following appointment by Governor Susana Martinez.[2]
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