List of Justices of the Alaska Supreme Court

This is a list of persons who have served as justices of the Alaska Supreme Court.

Contents

List of associate justices

Justice Hometown Born Died Began term Ended term Appt. by
Governor		 Replaced Notes
Nesbett, Buell ArthurBuell Arthur Nesbett Anchorage 01910-06-02 June 2, 1910 01993-08-17 August 17, 1993 01959-08 August 1959 01970-03 March 1970 Egan N/A State courthouse in Anchorage is named after him.
Dimond, John HenryJohn Henry Dimond Juneau 01918-12-28 December 28, 1918 01985-06 June 1985 01959-08 August 1959 01971-11-30 November 30, 1971 Egan N/A Son of Anthony Dimond. State courthouse in Juneau is named after him.
Hodge, Walter HartmanWalter Hartman Hodge Nome 01896-08-29 August 29, 1896 01975-07-12 July 12, 1975 01959-08 August 1959 01960-03 March 1960 Egan N/A Appointed to federal judgeship.
Arend, Harry OscarHarry Oscar Arend Fairbanks 01903-10-26 October 26, 1903 01966-06-28 June 28, 1966 01960-05 May 1960 01965-01 January 1965 Egan Hodge Lost retention election in 1964, the only justice to have done so.
Rabinowitz, Jay AndrewJay Andrew Rabinowitz Fairbanks 01927-02-25 February 25, 1927 02001-06-16 June 16, 2001 01965-03-08 March 8, 1965 01997-02-28 February 28, 1997 Egan Arend Appointed to what has become known colloquially as "the Fairbanks seat." Longest-serving justice. State courthouse in Fairbanks is named after him.
Connor, Roger GeorgeRoger George Connor Anchorage[1] 01926-04-23 April 23, 1926 01999-07-04 July 4, 1999 01968-12-02 December 2, 1968 01983-05-01 May 1, 1983 Hickel N/A
Boney, George FrankGeorge Frank Boney Anchorage 01930-07-03 July 3, 1930 01972-08-30 August 30, 1972 01968-12-02 December 2, 1968 01972-08-30 August 30, 1972 Hickel N/A Died in office as a result of a boating accident near Houston. State courthouse in Anchorage (one of two, and the one in which the court's sessions are held) is named after him.
Erwin, Robert CecilRobert Cecil Erwin Anchorage[2] 01934-12-29 December 29, 1934 still living 01970-08 August 1970 01977-04 April 1977 Miller Nesbett Younger brother of William Matthews Erwin, who represented the eastern Kenai Peninsula in the 1st and 2nd state legislatures. Was the only Alaskan-born justice until the 2007 appointment of Daniel Winfree.
Boochever, RobertRobert Boochever Juneau 01917-10-02 October 2, 1917 02011-10-09 October 9, 2011 01972-03-22 March 22, 1972 01980-10 October 1980 Egan Dimond Appointed to what has become known colloquially as "the Juneau seat." Appointed to federal judgeship.
Fitzgerald, James MartinJames Martin Fitzgerald Anchorage 01920-10-07 October 7, 1920 02011-04-03 April 3, 2011 01972-12 December 1972 01975-03 March 1975 Egan Boney Appointed to federal judgeship.
Burke, Edmond WayneEdmond Wayne Burke Anchorage 01935-09-07 September 7, 1935 still living 01975-04-04 April 4, 1975 01993-12 December 1993 Hammond Fitzgerald
Matthews, Jr., Warren W.Warren W. Matthews, Jr. Anchorage 01939-04-05 April 5, 1939 still living 01977-05-26 May 26, 1977 02009-04-05 April 5, 2009 Hammond Erwin Second-longest-serving justice.
Compton, Allen T.Allen T. Compton Juneau 01938-02-25 February 25, 1938 02008-10-11 October 11, 2008 01980-12-12 December 12, 1980 01998-11 November 1998 Hammond Boochever Appointed to what has become known colloquially as "the Juneau seat."
Moore, Jr., Daniel AltonDaniel Alton Moore, Jr. Anchorage 01934 1934 still living 01983-07-10 July 10, 1983 01995-12 December 1995 Sheffield Connor
Eastaugh, Robert LaddRobert Ladd Eastaugh Anchorage 01943-11-12 November 12, 1943 still living 01994-04-18 April 18, 1994 02009-11-02 November 2, 2009 Hickel Burke Grandson of R. E. Robertson.
Fabe, Dana AndersonDana Anderson Fabe Anchorage 01951-03-29 March 29, 1951 still living 01996-01 January 1996 incumbent Knowles Moore First female justice.
Bryner, Alexander OstroumovAlexander Ostroumov Bryner Anchorage 01943 1943 still living 01997-02 February 1997 02007-10 October 2007 Knowles Rabinowitz Original member of the Alaska Court of Appeals. Previous to that, was U.S. Attorney for Alaska.
Carpeneti, Walter L.Walter L. Carpeneti Juneau 01945-12-01 December 1, 1945 still living 01998-11 November 1998 incumbent Knowles Compton Commonly known by the nickname "Bud." Appointed to what has become known colloquially as "the Juneau seat."
Winfree, Daniel EdwardDaniel Edward Winfree Fairbanks ca. 01953-02 February 1953 still living 02008-01 January 2008 incumbent Palin Bryner Appointed to what has become known colloquially as "the Fairbanks seat."
Christen, Morgan BrendaMorgan Brenda Christen Anchorage 01961-12-05 December 5, 1961 still living 02009-04-05 April 5, 2009 incumbent Palin Matthews
Stowers, Craig F.Craig F. Stowers Anchorage 01954 1954 still living 02009-12-03 December 3, 2009 incumbent Parnell Eastaugh

List of chief justices

The Supreme Court had only one chief justice, Buell Nesbett, during its first decade of existence. Alaska voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1970, months after Nesbett's retirement, which set the current limits for chief justices, namely that they are allowed to serve three-year non-consecutive terms. Chief Justices have included:

Name Term started Term ended Notes
Buell A. Nesbett 1959 1970
George Boney May 8, 1970 August 30, 1972 Was the youngest chief justice of any state supreme court at the time.[3] Died in office.
Jay Rabinowitz September 25, 1972 1975
Robert Boochever 1975 1978
Jay Rabinowitz October 1978 1981
Edmond W. Burke 1981 1984
Jay Rabinowitz 1984 1987
Warren Matthews 1987 1990
Jay Rabinowitz 1990 1992
Daniel A. Moore, Jr. 1992 1996
Allen T. Compton 1996 1997
Warren Matthews 1997 2000
Dana Fabe 2000 2003
Alex Bryner 2003 2006
Dana Fabe 2006 2009
Walter L. Carpeneti 2009 incumbent

Retention election history

Election Year Justice Name Yes Votes Percentage No Votes Percentage
1962 Nesbett 37,872 72.07 14,679 27.93
Dimond 38,873 73.41 14,083 26.59
1964 Arend 29,884 46.74 34,055 53.26
1968 Rabinowitz 48,484 65.27 25,802 34.73
1972 Connor 63,502 72.78 23,752 27.22
1974 Erwin 54,907 67.48 26,460 32.52
1976 Boochever 73,062 67.31 35,476 32.69
1978 Burke 73,841 68.60 33,806 31.40
Rabinowitz 72,978 67.76 34,729 32.24
1980 Matthews 75,991 53.48 66,095 46.52
1982 Connor 104,275 61.51 65,240 38.49
1984 Compton 125,759 54,968
1986 Moore 107,420 48,159
1988 Burke 124,827 46,124
Rabinowitz 100,789 69,707
1990 Matthews 110,036 58,897

Next retention election for incumbents

It's uncertain as to whether Fabe will actually stand for retention in this election, as she will reach the mandatory retirement age for judges in Alaska the following year.

References

  1. ^ Was raised in Juneau and resided there until just months before his appointment to the court.
  2. ^ Was born and raised in Seward.
  3. ^ Mitchell, Elaine B., ed (1973). "Alaska Court System". Alaska Blue Book (First ed.). Juneau: Alaska Department of Education, Division of State Libraries. p. 99. 

External links

The justices of the Alaska Supreme Court on Judgepedia