The Alaska Judicial Council is now accepting applications for a position on the Alaska Supreme Court. The impending vacancy on the Alaska Supreme Court is due to the forthcoming retirement of Chief Justice Daniel E. Winfree.

Those interested in applying may obtain an application form by calling the Judicial Council office or online at the Council’s website (www.ajc.state.ak.us). Completed applications for these positions must be returned by 3 p.m. on July 22.

For more information, call Alaska Judicial Council Executive Director Susanne DiPietro at (907) 279-2526 or email sdipietro@ajc.state.ak.us.

The Alaska Judicial Council is a small but powerful group that controls placement of all judges in Alaska. The Judicial Council has exclusive power to select who the governor can choose from when appointing any and all state judges. This unelected, seven-member body includes three members appointed by the governor and approved by the Legislature, three members appointed by the Alaska Bar Association, and the chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court – also a member of the Bar.

Conservatives have long complained it’s nearly impossible to seat a constitutionalist judge because the left-leaning Bar Association always enjoys a 4-3 majority in the Judicial Council. This is one of the reasons many conservatives have called for a statewide constitutional convention to change the way Alaska seats judges.

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