On September 18, 2025, the Alaska Supreme Court issued Order No. 8064, Eleventh Amendment, appointing a special committee to revise the state’s Code of Judicial Conduct, last updated in 1998. Led by Retired Senior Justice Daniel E. Winfree, the committee has proposed a modernized Code aligning with the American Bar Association’s 2007 Model Code while addressing Alaska’s unique judicial needs. The revised Code, now open for public comment until November 20, 2025, introduces clearer rules and enhanced accountability for judges, aiming to boost public trust in the judiciary.
The proposed Code restructures the existing Canons into four Articles focusing on judicial independence, impartiality, competence, and ethical extrajudicial conduct.
Specific Changes for Alaska
The revised Code includes several provisions tailored to Alaska’s unique judicial context, departing from or supplementing the ABA Model Code as detailed in the Rule Comments:
- Disqualification (Rule 2.11): Incorporates AS 22.20.020, mandating disqualification for personal bias, involvement of close relatives, campaign contributions over $150 from parties, public statements prejudging cases, or prior roles as a lawyer, witness, or judge in the matter; includes waiver options.
- Senior Judges (Administrative Rule 23 revisions): Clarifies application to senior judges, with enhanced disqualification requirements.
- Workplace and Community Standards: New rules like 1.3 (Abuse of Judicial Office), 2.12 (Supervisory Duties), and 2.15 (Responding to Judicial Misconduct) align with Alaska Court System policies (e.g., Healthy Workplace Policy and Commitment to Civility). Rule 2.7 emphasizes community size in disclosure and disqualification decisions, relevant for Alaska’s smaller jurisdictions. These ensure the Code addresses local issues like judicial conduct in remote areas and workplace harassment.
The draft Code, comparison documents, and a cross-reference table are available at https://courts.alaska.gov/rules/index.htm#cjc. Public comments can be submitted to [email protected] or mailed to the Alaska Court System in Anchorage. The Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct will discuss the proposal on November 14, 2025, from 9:30–11:00 a.m. AKST, with public comments from 10:40–11:00 a.m., accessible via Zoom or in Anchorage (details at acjc.alaska.gov).