acjc.alaska.govAlaska Commission on Judicial Conduct

510 L Street, Suite #585 | Anchorage, AK 99501-1959 | (907) 272-1033 | or in Alaska (800) 478-1033 | FAX (907) 272-9309Home About ACJC How the Commission Operates Current Commission Members Historical Commission Roster Commission Actions Recent Commission Actions Published Alaska Judicial Conduct Court Opinions Filing a Complaint Commission Complaint Form Commission Complaint Process Frequently Asked Questions Resources Alaska Code of Judicial Conduct Judicial Disqualification Advisory Opinions Formal Ethics Opinions Commission Rules of Procedure Annual Reports LinksWEBSITE LINKS Our website is currently experiencing some technical difficulties with the dropdown menus found at the top of our pages. To assist with site navigation, you can use the direct links below. ABOUT ACJC How The Commission Operates Historical Commission Roster COMMISSION ACTIONS Recent Commission Actions Published Alaska Judicial Conduct Opinions FILING A COMPLAINT Commission Complaint Form Commission Complaint Process Frequently Asked Questions RESOURCES Alaska Code of Judicial Conduct Judicial Disqualification Advisory Opinions Formal Ethics Opinions Commission Rules of Procedure Annual Reports LINKS (to) State of Alaska Alaska Court System Alaska Judicial Council Alaska Bar Association National Center for State Courts U.S. District Courts - District of Alaska U.S. District Courts - 9th Cir. Judicial Complaint Form OFFICE HOURS UPDATE Current office hours are Monday-Friday 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. excluding State holidays, but may occasionally vary due to limited staffing. Appointments may be made outside of these hours. To reach the Commission directly, please leave a message at 907-272-1033 and staff working remotely will try to respond within one business day. If you are requesting a Complaint Packet, please provide the spelling of your name and a good mailing address. The Commission continues to accept complaints via e-mail, if signed, to administrator@acjc.state.ak.us . Marla Greenstein, Executive Director mgreenstein@acjc.state.ak.us The Alaska’s Commission on Judicial Conduct was created by amendment to the state constitution in 1968. The Commission is composed of three state court judges, three attorneys who have practiced law in the state for at least ten years, and three members of the public. This group of nine individuals from differing backgrounds and geographical areas addresses problems of judicial conduct and disability. Complaints alleging judicial misconduct can be filed by any member of the public. Click here for details on upcoming meetings Click here to view the 2023 Annual Report Email the Commission at administrator@acjc.state.ak.us Download Our Brochure Recent Commission Actions In re Martin Fallon: Supreme Court S-18873, September 21, 2023. Disciplinary Matter Involving Fallon , - P.3d - (Alaska 2024) The Commission Members Public Members Todd Fletcher Anchorage, Alaska (Term expires March 1, 2027) Aldean Kilbourn Fairbanks, Alaska (Term expires March 1, 2025) Robert Sheldon Anchorage, Alaska (Term expires March 1, 2028) Public members can be contacted through the commission office. Attorney Members Donald W. McClintock Anchorage, Alaska (Term expires March 1, 2025) Jane S. Mores Juneau, Alaska (Term expires March 1, 2024) Karla Taylor-Welch Fairbanks, Alaska (Term expires March 1, 2024) Attorney members can be contacted through the commission office. Judge Members Honorable Amy G. Mead Alaska Superior Court Box 114100 Juneau, Alaska 99811 (Term expires February 1, 2027) -Chairperson- Honorable Thomas I. Temple Alaska Superior Court 101 Lacey Street Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 (Term expires February 1, 2027) Honorable Ian Wheeles Alaska Superior Court 825 W. 4th Avenue Anchorage, Alaska 99501 (Term expires February 1, 2028)The Commission’s Role and Function Judicial Officers Who Come Under the Commission’s Authority Alaska’s Commission on Judicial Conduct oversees the conduct of justices of the Alaska Supreme Court, judges of the state court of appeals, state superior court judges, and state district court judges. The Commission cannot handle complaints against magistrates, masters, attorneys or federal judicial officers. Complaints against state magistrates and masters are handled by the presiding superior court judge for their respective judicial district: First Judicial District Honorable Amy G. Mead Alaska Superior Court BOX 114100 Juneau, Alaska 99811 Second Judicial District Honorable Paul A. Roetman Alaska Superior Court Box 317 Kotzebue, Alaska 99752-0317 Third Judicial District Honorable Thomas A. Matthews Alaska Superior Court 825 West 4th Avenue Anchorage, Alaska 99501-2004 Fourth Judicial District Honorable Brent E. Bennett Alaska Superior Court 101 Lacey Street Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 Complaints against attorneys can be directed to: Phil Shanahan, Bar Counsel Alaska Bar Association Box 100279 Anchorage, Alaska 99510 Complaints against federal judges in Alaska are handled by: Assistant Circuit Executive P.O. Box 193939 San Francisco, California 94119-3939 Telephone (415) 556-6100 Complaints against administrative law judges in Alaska are handled by: Chief Administrative Law Judge Office of Administrative Hearings Department of Administration 550 West Seventh Avenue Suite 1940 Anchorage, Alaska 99501Types of Complaints the Commission Can Address ("Jurisdictional") 1. Misconduct Perhaps the broadest category of conduct complaints against judges falls under the term "misconduct." Judicial misconduct has very specific meaning under the Code of Judicial Conduct. The Code of Judicial Conduct generally governs the activities of judges both on and off the bench. It is a comprehensive statement of appropriate judicial behavior and has been adopted by the Alaska Supreme Court as part of the Rules of Court. Judicial misconduct can be divided into several categories. (a) Improper Courtroom Behavior Often complaints against judges allege improper behavior in the courtroom during a trial. Allegations of improper courtroom behavior may include: improper consideration and treatment of attorneys, witnesses, and others in the hearing; improper physical conduct; or persistent failure to dispose of business promptly and responsibly. Examples of improper courtroom behavior include: racist or sexist comments by a judge, sleeping or drunkenness on the bench. Judges can also be disciplined for administrative failures such as taking an excessive amount of time to make a decision. (b) Improper or Illegal Influence Judges must be independent from all outside influences that may affect their abilities to be fair and impartial. Consequently, judges are restricted as to the types of activities in which they can participate. At a minimum, judges cannot allow family, social or political relationships to influence any judicial decision. Judges also should not hear a matter in which the judge has a personal interest in the outcome. Extreme examples of improper influence would include the giving or receiving of gifts, bribes, loans or favors. To help assure judicial independence, judges are required to file financial disclosure statements with the court and other financial statements with the Alaska Public Offices Commission. (c) Impropriety Off the Bench Judges are required to live an exemplary life off the bench, as well. Consequently, the Commission has the authority and responsibility to look at judges’ activities outside of the courtroom. Complaints dealing with off the bench conduct might allege: misappropriation or misuse of public employees, property or funds; improper speech or associations; interference with a pending or impending lawsuit; lewd or corrupt personal life; or use of the judicial position to extort or embezzle funds. Clearly, off the bench conduct includes a wide range of behavior from merely inappropriate actions to criminal violations. (d) Other Improper Activities Judges are also subject to restrictions in other aspects of their positions. These...