Alaska judicial elections

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search

Judges in Alaska face retention elections in November of even-numbered years.[1]

Alaska is one of six states that use retention elections to determine whether judges should remain on the bench without using another type of election as an initial selection method. To read more about how states use judicial elections to select judges across the country, click here.

Supreme Court Courts of Appeal Superior Court District Court
Retention election - 10 year terms Retention election - Eight-year terms Retention election - Six-year terms Retention election - Four-year terms

Elections

Election rules

Retention election

In these elections, judges do not compete against another candidate, but voters are given a "yes" or "no" choice in deciding whether to keep the judge in office for another term. The judge must receive a majority of "yes" votes to remain in office. Judges must face their first retention at the next general election occurring at least three years after their appointment. The exception to this are the district court judges, who face retention two years after their appointment.[2]

Judges must file their intention to run for retention by August 1.[2] At least 60 days prior to the election, the Alaska Judicial Council publishes its evaluations of the judges up for retention.[3][4][5][6]

Under the Alaska Statutes, judicial terms following retention begin and end 90 days following the retention election.[7][8]

External links

See also

Alaska Judicial Selection More Courts
Seal of Alaska.png
Judicialselectionlogo.png
BP logo.png
Courts in Alaska
Alaska Court of Appeals
Alaska Supreme Court
Elections: 20242023202220212020201920182017
Gubernatorial appointments
Judicial selection in Alaska
Federal courts
State courts
Local courts

Footnotes