OPINION: Is Alaska’s method of selecting judges unconstitutional?
By MICHAEL CHAMBERS – Alaska Freedom Alliance “All political power is inherent in the people. All government originates with the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the people as a whole.” –
Judicial Council to hear complaints on judges up for election
The Alaska Judicial Council, a small but extremely powerful group that controls placement of all judges in Alaska – says it wants to hear from rank-and-file Alaskans regarding the suitability of 30 judges up for retention elections this year. After hearing
Alaska’s chief justice denies only rural applicant and person of color from spot on Supreme Court
Chief Justice Joel Bolger, like many lawyers, is good with words, but the words have no real meaning. This is the lesson I learned during my first official session on the Alaska Judicial Council. I read the Chief Justice’s June 8, 2020 letter. Justice
Public testimony unanimously favors changing how Alaska chooses judges
Public testimony in a recent Senate Judiciary hearing was unanimously favored altering how Alaska selects appellate and district court judges. The Feb. 15 hearing dealt with Senate Bill 14, introduced by Sen. Mike Shower (R-Wasilla). The measure looks to curb
Dunleavy’s has a golden opportunity to finally put the court in its place
It’s time for Gov. Mike Dunleavy to take a decisive stand against the growing tyranny of Alaska’s court system. This third branch of government has gone unchecked and unchallenged by the other two branches for decades. It now sees no limit to its powers.
With Alaska’s chief justice to retire in 2021, judge selection process must be fixed
Chief Justice Joel Bolger will retire from Alaska’s Supreme Court on June 30 next year, creating yet another vacancy on Alaska’s highest court, which only has five members. On Nov. 30 Bolger announced his plan to step down five years before reaching the
Judicial Imperialism: Justice Carney & Judge Henderson abuse their power over Alaskans
Who decides? In an absolute monarchy, one person – the king – decides. In a pure democracy, the people decide, directly. In a constitutional republic, such as the United States, the elected representatives of the people decide — up to a point. Certain
Public safety officers: Justice Carney is ‘tone deaf’ to Alaska’s domestic violence crisis
Editor’s note: The following op-ed was written by two long-time Alaska State Troopers, a former U.S. marshal and head of the State Troopers, and 25-year veteran of the Alaska Department of Corrections. Their names appear at the end of this article. Susan
Alaska’s judge selection is ‘shrouded in secrecy’
The upcoming November elections are among the most consequential in American history. The outcome may well determine whether the American experiment continues or dies. In Alaska, there are state elections that are also of the highest importance for democracy
Recall Alaska’s judges? Yes!
We’re in the midst of a pandemic, our economy is in turmoil, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy and many other state officials are working around the clock in crisis-management mode. No matter: while the bombs are falling, the Alaska Supreme Court held a March 25
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