Current Biographical Statements Submitted by Applicants
Click on an applicant's name to read the biographical statement submitted by the applicant. If you have difficulty accessing these documents, please contact the Council at (907) 279-2526.
Applicants for Anchorage Superior Court
Marika Athens: Magistrate Judge Athens has been an Alaska resident for 42 years and has been practicing law for 20 years. She graduated from Duke University School of Law in 2004 and is currently a magistrate judge in Anchorage.
Kate Demarest: Ms. Demarest has been an Alaska resident for 14 years and has practiced law for 16 years. She graduated from University of Minnesota Law School in 2008 and is currently an assistant attorney general in Anchorage.
Kari McCrea: Judge McCrea has been an Alaska resident for 18 years and has been practicing law for 23 years. She graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in 2001 and is currently a district court judge in Anchorage.
Patrick J. McKay, Jr.: Mr. McKay has been an Alaska resident for 33 years and has been practicing law for 13 years. He graduated from Western State University College of Law in 2011 and is currently an assistant district attorney in Anchorage.
Danée Lynn Pontious: Ms. Pontious has been an Alaska resident for 20½ years and has been practicing law for 20 years. She graduated from University of Denver College of Lawin 2004 and is currently in private practice in Anchorage.
James Stinson: Mr. Stinson has been an Alaska resident for 40½ years and has practiced law for 11 years. He graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 2013 and is currently the Director of the Office of Public Advocacy.
Applicants for Kodiak Superior Court
Colleen Baxter: Magistrate Judge Baxter has been an Alaska resident for 54½ years and has practiced law for 27 years. She graduated from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 1996 and is currently a magistrate judge in Kotzebue.
Andrew Ott: Mr. Ott has been an Alaska resident for 35 years and has practiced law for 35 years. He graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 1989 and is currently in private practice in Kodiak.
Dawson Williams: Magistrate Judge Williams has been an Alaska resident for 19½ years and has practiced law for 19½ years. He graduated from University of Michigan School of Law in 2005 and is currently a magistrate judge in Kodiak.
Applicants for Palmer District Court
Krista Anderson: Ms. Anderson has been an Alaska resident for 42 years and has been practicing law for 16 years. She graduated from Willamette University College of Law in 2006 and is currently an assistant district attorney in Palmer.
James Bauman: Mr. Bauman has been an Alaska resident for 40 years and has been practicing law for 9½ years. He graduated from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 2011 and is currently in private practice in Wasilla.
Patrick J. McKay, Jr.: Mr. McKay has been an Alaska resident for 33 years and has been practicing law for 13 years. He graduated from Western State University College of Law in 2011 and is currently an assistant district attorney in Anchorage.
Elliet Revis: Mr. Revis has been an Alaska resident for 5 years and has practiced law for 5 years. He graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law in 2019 and is currently a human rights attorney at the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights in Anchorage.
John Revis: Mr. Revis has been an Alaska resident for 31 years and has practiced law for 5½ years. He graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law in 2019 and is currently in private practice in Wasilla.
Glenn J. Shidner: Mr. Shidner has been an Alaska resident for 8½ years and has practiced law for 8½ years. He graduated from Florida State University College of Law in 2015 and is currently an assistant United States attorney in Anchorage.
Jonathan Stinson: Magistrate Judge Stinson has been an Alaska resident for 34 years and has been practicing law for 4 years. He graduated from University of California Irvine School of Law in 2020 and is currently a magistrate judge in Anchorage.
Matt Widmer: Mr. Widmer has been an Alaska resident for 19 years and has practiced law for 19 years. He graduated from William and Mary Law School in 2005 and is currently in private practice in Anchorage.
Applicants for Alaska Supreme Court
Kate Demarest: Ms. Demarest has been an Alaskan resident for 14 years and has practiced law for 16 years. She graduated from University of Minnesota Law School in 2008, and is currently a Senior Assistant Attorney General at the Alaska Department of Law in Anchorage.
Josie Garton: Judge Garton has been an Alaskan resident for 24 years and has practiced law for 24 years. She graduated from Lewis and Clark Law School in 2000, and is currently a Superior Court Judge in Anchorage.
Aimee Anderson Oravec: Ms. Oravec has been an Alaskan resident for 25 ½ years and has practiced law for 25 ½ years. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in 1998, and is currently General Counsel for Doyon Utilities, LLC in Fairbanks.
Margaret O. Rogers: Ms. Rogers has been an Alaskan resident for 23 years and has practiced law for 21 years. She graduated from Vermont Law School in 2001, and is currently in private practice in Fairbanks.
Kate Vogel: Ms. Vogel has been an Alaskan resident for 12 ½ years and has practiced law for 18 years. She graduated from Yale Law School in 2006, and is currently the First Assistant United States Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Anchorage.
Holly C. Wells: Ms. Wells has been an Alaskan resident for 19 years and has practiced law for 20 years. She graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in 2004, and is currently in private practice in Anchorage.
Laura Wolff: Ms. Wolff has been an Alaskan resident for 7 ½ years and has practiced law for 11 years. She graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 2013, and is currently a Senior Assistant Attorney General at the Alaska Department of Law in Anchorage.
Applicants for Bethel District Court
Colleen Baxter: Magistrate Judge Baxter has been an Alaska Resident for 54 years and has practiced law for 26 ½ years. She graduated from Temple University, Beasley School of Law in 1996, and is currently a magistrate judge in Kotzebue.
Sam Cason: Mr. Cason has been an Alaska resident for 64 ½ years and has practiced law for 33 years. He graduated from the University of Arkansas, Leflar School of Law in 1991, and is currently in private practice in Anchorage.
