Eight Alaska attorneys have submitted applications to the Alaska Judicial Council for a vacancy on the Anchorage District Court, following the upcoming retirement of 62-year-old Judge Pamela Washington, who announced her retirement this year. Washington was appointed to the seat in 2010 by then-Gov. Sean Parnell.
The Alaska Judicial Council, composed of seven members — the chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court, three non-attorney members, and three attorney members — will vet the applicants.
According to Susanne DiPietro, executive director of the council, this evaluation will include comprehensive background investigations, a survey of Alaska Bar members, and personal interviews with each candidate.
The application deadline was April 18. Public interviews and hearings are scheduled for August. After evaluations are complete, the Council will nominate at least two applicants for the vacancy, sending the list to the governor, who will have 45 days to appoint a judge from among the nominees.
The applicants for the Anchorage District Court position are:
- John Haley: An Alaska resident for over 11 years, Haley has practiced law for the same length of time. A 2013 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, he currently serves as a senior assistant attorney general in the Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Unit. He is a registered Nonpartisan. Bio here.
- Dustin Pearson: Pearson, a municipal prosecutor training specialist with the Municipality of Anchorage’s Department of Law, has been an Alaska resident and practicing attorney for 14 years. He earned his law degree from Seattle University School of Law in 2008. He is a registered Undeclared. Bio here.
- Eric Salinger: Salinger, who has lived in Alaska for 12 years, is an administrative law judge in Anchorage. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2013. He is a registered Undeclared. Bio here.
- Peter A. Scully: A private practice attorney in Anchorage, Scully has been an Alaska resident for over 11 years and has 15 years of legal experience. He graduated from Vermont Law School in 2010. He is a registered Undeclared. Bio here.
- Jonathan Stinson: Currently serving as a magistrate judge in Anchorage, Stinson has been a lifelong Alaska resident for 34 years. He graduated from the University of California Irvine School of Law in 2020 and has been practicing law for about 4½ years. He is a registered Republican. Bio here.
- Matt Stinson: An assistant attorney general with the Department of Law, Matt Stinson has lived in Alaska for 31 years and has practiced law for about 4½ years. He earned his degree from Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law in 2020. He is a registered Republican. Bio here.
- Sam Vandergaw: Vandergaw, an assistant attorney general in the Office of Special Prosecutions, has been an Alaska resident for over 40 years and has 15 years of legal practice. He graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law in 2009. He is a registered Nonpartisan. Bio here.
- Matt Widmer: A private practice attorney in Anchorage, Widmer has lived and practiced law in Alaska for nearly 20 years. He is a 2005 graduate of William & Mary Law School. He is a registered Nonpartisan. Bio here.
The Alaska Judicial Council takes public comment on the qualifications of these applicants during the evaluation phase. Members of the public can submit comments or request additional information by contacting DiPietro at the Alaska Judicial Council office, 510 L Street, Suite 450, Anchorage, AK 99501-1295, or by calling (907) 279-2526.
Come on Conservatives: let’s flood DiPietro with positive comments on conservative judges!
I don’t trust anyone that say “nonpartisan” “undeclared” That tells me they are too scared to tell us they are Democrats
So 6 D’s and 2 R’s. (NP /undeclared = D)
I see some judges registering as Republican, most are “non partisan” or “undeclared.” Hmm, wonder why…
The typical Undeclared voter in Alaska leans to the right whereas the typical nonpartisan leans to the left.
To the senior and assistant attorneys general, for your roles in saying and doing nothing while judicial misconduct paralyzes Alaska’s grand juries, while Thomas Jack rots in jail because proof of his innocence never made it from your colleague’s office to the all-white jury, you’ve got chutzpah, we’ll give you that.
.
An assistant attorney general in the Office of Special Prosecutions, an Alaska resident for over 40 years, with 15 years’ legal practice couldn’t fix either of these things, but thinks he’s good enough to be a judge?
.
To the “non-partisans” and “undeclared’s”, do you really believe we’re dumb enough to believe you just can’t be radical-Left Democrats in disguise, dedicated to doing what today’s radical left judges do best?
.
Remind again how well “vetting” works when it’s done secretly by an unelected Council who aren’t acoountable to anyone for anything.
.
Must work pretty well when judges whose misconduct disrupts the grand-jury process can get themselves “vetted” right into The Club, no?
I vote for either of the 30+ year Alaskans who are registered Republicans, you know the Party who actually believe in law and order.