It’s showtime for getting two federal judgeships filled for Alaska. Currently, two positions on the three-member Alaska US District Court bench are vacant, and Judge Sharon Gleason has reached the age of retirement and may open up a vacancy if she moves to the “senior judge” status. That would mean three new federal judges for Alaska.
In the process used by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the list of applicants to the Alaska Bar Association for the two US District Court judgeships that are open included the following 12 names:
- Jessica Moats Alloway
- Joseph F. Busa
- Robert W. Corbisier
- Michael J. Heyman
- Ronald W. Opsahl
- Scott A. Oravec
- Danée Lynn Pontious
- Kyle Reardon
- Ian Wheeles
- Joan M. Wilson
- Justin R. Works
- Adolf V. Zeman
The Alaska Bar Association polled its members in February to see which of the judge applicants have the most support from Alaska attorneys to get a lifetime appointment to the federal bench.
Most of the names on the list received little support. Most of their qualifications were not known by the bar association attorney colleagues who took the poll.
Just one stood out: Activist Superior Court Judge Adolf Zeman was at the top of the attorneys’ internal poll.
Judge Zeman as the Bar Association’s favorite for promoting to the federal bench is an interesting pick and reveals much about the association process that Murkowski uses. The Alaska Bar Association is a liberal group and 24% of those who answered the poll said Zeman is extremely well qualified, while another 19% said he is well qualified and 12% said he is qualified. No other applicant even came close.
But Zeman may be Alaskans’ second-least favorite Adolf.
Last year, he decided that Alaska’s correspondence study students were second-class citizens and could not get state support for their education unless it came from a public institution — a government school. Typically people homeschool their students because they don’t want them in government schools.
Revealing about the judgment of the Alaska Bar Association members is that applicant Michael Heyman only received 1% support as “Extremely Well Qualified.” Heyman was appointed last month to run the Alaska office of the Department of Justice by US Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is a Trump appointment. Heyman is the current US District Attorney for Alaska. One 1% of the bar association members said Heyman is extremely well qualified.
The Alaska Bar Association poll is now in the hands of Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who relies on the association for recommendations that she will make to the president. Because of her poor standing with and dogged opposition to President Donald Trump, it’s unlikely that the names she forwards will be considered. She has already forwarded one name.
Sen. Dan Sullivan has developed a different process for recommending these judgeships, something Murkowski wants no part of because it cuts out the liberal bar association.
Sullivan set up the Alaska Federal Judiciary Council in 2023 to assist the senators in recommending candidates for federal judicial vacancies in Alaska. He sees it as an alternative to the bar association process, but Murkowski said it would only slow the process down.
Sullivan aimed to use this council to identify candidates with “character, experience, and an unflinching commitment to the rule of law,” reflecting his priorities for federal judgeships.
The council is chaired by attorney Sean Parnell, a former Alaska governor and current chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage.
The council consists of nine members including a mix of attorneys and non-attorneys with diverse professional experiences. Notable members include Jonathan Katchen, a former federal judicial nominee; Loren Leman, former lieutenant governor; Stephen Cox, a general counsel and former US Attorney in Texas; and Kim Reitmeier, president of the ANCSA Regional Association.
The council’s process involves soliciting applications, reviewing candidates, and providing Sullivan with advice on potential nominees. Applicants submitted a questionnaire available on Sullivan’s Senate website, and the council evaluated them before making recommendations.
Sullivan will forward his preferred candidates to the White House through the “blue slip” process by which senators have influence over the judge nomination process. Sullivan’s approach follows the pattern used in 25 other states.
While 12 attorneys are on the Alaska Bar Association poll, about double the number of attorneys applied to the Alaska Federal Judicial Council, which has yet to announce its recommendations to Sullivan. Here is the link to Sen. Sullivan’s web page for the AFJC.
The process continues with the senators’ recommendations to the president, who will pick his choices; those nominees are forwarded to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which then forwards its recommendations to the full Senate for the advice and consent process. Both senators are usually consulted in the “blue slip” process that goes along with advice and consent, which means they both must agree on the nominees before the Judiciary Committee chairman (Sen. Chuck Grassley) will take up the matter.
That could be tricky, with Murkowski increasingly moving to the left.
I need to bill Must Read Alaska for the dry cleaning bill. I laughed so hard my soup spilled all over me. It’s hard to believe that any of Lisa’s recommendations will make it farther than the nearest garbage can. Like the Trump administration will look at any of Lisa’s ideas. I don’t read this site for comedy. I now have to prepare for the next article. I now have on my bib.
I concur with Dan’s approach in selecting potential judges. I trust nothing from Lisa as she’s demonstrated many times over to not represent herself as a conservative Republican.
When vetting potential judges, various metrics should be considered to evaluate their suitability. These metrics often reflect conservative judicial philosophy, which typically emphasizes originalism, textualism, judicial restraint, and a limited role for the judiciary in policymaking.
Key metrics that should be used:
Judicial Philosophy
Does the candidate adhere to originalism (interpreting the Constitution based on its original meaning at the time it was written) or textualism (focusing on the plain text of statutes)?
Evidence of this can be found in past rulings, legal writings, or speeches where they articulate their approach to constitutional and statutory interpretation.
Track Record on Key Issues
How has the candidate ruled or opined on conservative priorities such as:
… Second Amendment rights (gun ownership).
… Religious liberty and free speech.
… Abortion and sanctity-of-life issues.
… Property rights and economic freedoms.
… Federalism (balance of power between federal and state governments).
… Consistency in applying conservative principles rather than activist tendencies.
Judicial Restraint
Does the candidate demonstrate a tendency to defer to legislatures rather than creating new law from the bench? Look for examples where they avoided overreach and respected precedent unless it clearly conflicts with constitutional text.
Legal Scholarship and Reputation
What is the candidate’s academic background? Have they published articles or books supporting conservative legal theories? Are they respected by peers in conservative legal circles (e.g., Federalist Society involvement)?
Past Decisions or Opinions
If the candidate has judicial experience, review their rulings for consistency with conservative principles.
For non-judges (e.g., lawyers or academics), examine briefs, arguments, or public statements they’ve made in legal contexts.
Commitment to Rule of Law
Do they prioritize legal consistency and predictability over personal ideology?
Evidence might include avoiding outcome-driven rulings in favor of process and principle.
Temperament and Character
Are they known for impartiality, professionalism, and resilience under political pressure?
Conservative vetting often values judges who won’t bend to public opinion or progressive activism.
Endorsements and Affiliations
Support from conservative legal organizations (e.g., Federalist Society, Heritage Foundation) or figures can signal alignment. Participation in conservative legal networks or events may also be a positive indicator.
Confirmation Viability
Practical metric: Can they withstand scrutiny in a confirmation process? This includes a clean personal record and the ability to articulate their philosophy persuasively.
Longevity and Impact
Age and health may be considered to ensure a long tenure on the bench, maximizing influence on jurisprudence.
Pretty good Rob!
Partially agree with this. Though anytime you see a board made up of unelected rich and moderately connected individuals making decisions on our behalf we should be worried from AK’s confounded judgeships to Dan’s board.
Further Zeman did quote the Alaska Constitution as his reason.
Article VII, Section I
The Alaska Constitution prohibits using public funds for private or religious schools in Article VII, Section I.
Perhaps this should be addressed. I would recommend a ballot measure allowing Alaskans the opportunity for decision verse the knuckleheads in Juneau.
Under a Progressive regime, challenging state authority is blasphemy. The state will teach your children what it wants them to perform. The world is a stage, and the Progressives are the puppet masters. Bow down to the stage actors; admission to the show is your soul. I am sitting in the back eating popcorn, after sneaking into the charade through the back door.
Being a card carrying communist gets you promotions within the communist community? I’m beyond shocked!
Homeschool is a private choice and should be considered like a private school. If you choose not to put your kid in a government funded system because of the government or religion, don’t expect money from the gubment either.
Then how about the ‘gubment’ stop taking my money to fund government propagandists in the Anchorage education system?
I’ll get you a bucket of sand; you figure out what to do with it.
Then quit taxing us to pay for a system that is failing. I have been paying taxes for the last 50 years plus, under threat of legal reprisal, which is the way our tax system works. Kids in my family deserve as much of that tax money as yours do.
Thank you Suzanne for an Amazing information expose. More fresh red meat from the MRAK Lioness. A call to Sullivan and a donation to MRAK is in store. We are blessed to have you.
Alaska Bar Association is run by FemiNazis.
“Feminism is a cancer that is responsible for the breakdown of the natural family, the rearing of pathetic men, and the genocide of children in the womb. …..traditional masculinity highlights the fact that these fascist feminists are fragile weaklings incapable of defending their position in the marketplace of ideas. Long live the First Amendment.” (Florida attorney).
No, on Adolf.
I’m sure Trump is just nervously awaiting The recommendations from Princessunless its to tear them up like Pelosi with a,speech
Having a judge that can read the Alaska Constitution goes against the wishes of MRA crowd.
The Alaska Bar association shouldn’t have a say about any judges. Tha Alaskan people should have the final say. We are seeing what happens when we don’t get a say with these federal judges.
My wife and I are doing our best to assist our daughter and son-in-law in teaching our grandson reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as fundamental matters of right and wrong. None of us trusts the government system, in spite of the fact that we know there are individual teachers who are good people. The government educational system long ago strayed far from its mandate to teach what kids need to know in order to be good citizens, and has failed said kids very badly. Our grandson is doing great, BTW.
Murkowski “increasingly moving to the left”????? She’s been far left for her entire tenure…
Instead of just commenting we each need to send an email to:
‘https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Tell him Lisa Murkowski does not accurately reflect Alaskans opinions on Judicial selection.
Tell him that he should listen instead to input from Dan Sullivan, our Republican Senator.
Do it now.
Our Republican Senator Dan S. Will have a say so on who gets appointed to Alaska federal Judgeships by Trump. Even though Sen Lisa M. is the senior senator in Alaska, she is pretty much wasting her time. I doubt, given her open hatred of Trump and her many votes against his agenda, Trump will pay much attention to her and her recommendations.
Alaska Bar Association has to have zero say on which judge’s are nominated.
The BAR Association Is a joke. The confidence they want us to have in them, laughable. This so called state and fed government let alone its keepers is becoming more comedy hourly… I’m loving every moment of watching clowns perform on stage! Keep it up!
The Bar Assn has TOO MUCH influence on judge selection. Since they are recommending their own, the process is too much of an incestuous realation IMO. I would prefer to set up a citizen’s advisory board – but how to get informed membrs and make sure its reasonably neutral, not one side or the other, and ultimately just another political football?
I didn’t vote for any of them at any time nor any election. Anyone of the names put forward by the senators or the Bar Association should be a NO!
Understanding the Alaska Constitution does not require a high school education. No Alaska judge has ever ruled against home schools. Judges have consistently ruled that equestrian lessons and religous instruction do not qualify for homeschool funding.
Why do we allow such a left leaning organization like the bar association decide what judges we should have. That should be determined by a vote of the people
I will offer that Judge Zeman’s high ratings were likely driven by Left-leaning attorneys that wanted to endorse him because he shares their political views. For decades, Leftist attorneys in Alaska have actively hired, promoted and celebrated other Leftist attorneys. For a time, virtually all attorneys hired by the State were selected by entrenched senior attorneys that shared the same views. The best judges seek to apply the law and seek justice – not promote a political philosophy or particular result. Hopefully the Senators and the President will recognize why the poll came out as it did.