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Sharon L. Gleason

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Sharon L. Gleason
Image of Sharon L. Gleason
United States District Court for the District of Alaska
Tenure

2012 - Present

Years in position

13

Education

Bachelor's

Washington University, St. Louis, 1979

Law

University of California, Davis School of Law, 1983

Personal
Birthplace
Rochester, N.Y.

Sharon L. Gleason is the chief judge on the United States District Court for the District of Alaska. She joined the court on January 4, 2012, after a nomination from President Barack Obama (D). She became chief judge of the court on January 1, 2022, succeeding Timothy Burgess. Prior to her nomination to the District of Alaska, she was the presiding judge for the Third Judicial District Superior Court in Anchorage, Alaska.[1][2]

Early life and education

Gleason earned her Bachelor of Arts, Magna cum Laude from Washington University, St. Louis in 1979 and her J.D. from the University of California, Davis, School of Law in 1983.[2][3][4]

Professional career

Judge Gleason clerked for Justice Edmond W. Burke from 1983 to 1984. From 1984 to 1989, she was an associate attorney with Rice, Volland & Taylor, P.C. From 1995 to 2000, Gleason was a sole practitioner, general civil practice.[3][2]

Judicial career

District of Alaska

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Sharon L. Gleason
Court: District of Alaska
Progress
Confirmed 223 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: 4/6/2011
ApprovedAABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: 7/13/2011
QFRs: (Hover over QFRs to read more)
DefeatedAReported:  
ApprovedAConfirmed: 11/15/2011

On April 6, 2011, Obama nominated Sharon L. Gleason to the United States District Court for the District of Alaska to a seat vacated by John Sedwick.[5] Obama told the press, "Throughout their careers these individuals have shown a dedication to justice. I am proud to nominate them to serve the American people from the district court bench."[6]

Gleason was rated Unanimously Well Qualified by the American Bar Association. She had a hearing before the Senate Judiciary committee on July 13, 2011 and you can find her Committee Questionnaire available here and her Questions for the Record available here. She was reported by the committee on September 8, 2011.[7]

Gleason was confirmed by a Senate vote of 87-8 on November 15, 2011 and received commission on January 4, 2012.[8] She became chief judge on January 1, 2022.[2]

Noteworthy cases

Gleason rules Trump exceeded authority reversing offshore drilling bans

See also: United States District Court for the District of Alaska

On March 30, 2019, Judge Sharon Gleason reversed an executive order made by President Trump in 2017 that overturned drilling restrictions first introduced by former President Barack Obama. Gleason ruled that Trump exceeded his authority when he ordered the revocation of Obama's banning of drilling in most Arctic waters.[9]

“The wording of President Obama’s 2015 and 2016 withdrawals indicates that he intended them to extend indefinitely, and therefore be revocable only by an act of Congress,” Gleason wrote.[10]

Temporary injunction against Greenpeace (2012)

See also: United States District Court for the District of Alaska

In March 2012, Anchorage Judge Sharon Gleason ruled in favor of Shell Oil, granting a temporary injunction creating a 500-meter safety zone for offshore drilling vessels. This injunction prevented Greenpeace activists from entering within 500-meters of drilling ships.[11] The injunction request came after Greenpeace activists boarded the Shell drilling ship Noble Discoverer in February.[12]

Update On May 29, 2012, Judge Gleason extended previous restrictions against Greenpeace activists, preventing them from coming within a kilometer of Shell Oil's drilling ships. The original restriction applied only to ships within 12 miles of the coast while the newer restriction extended to cover ships up to 200 miles off the coast.[13]

Alaska Third District

Gleason joined the Third Judicial District Superior Court in Anchorage, Alaska on February 19, 2001 after an appointment by Governor Tony Knowles. She became the presiding judge of her court in 2009.

2010 election

Gleason was retained in 2010.[14] The Alaska Judicial Council supported her retention.[15][16]

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

See also

External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
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United States District Court for the District of Alaska
2012-Present
Succeeded by
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