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 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.
Applicants for Palmer District Court
Chris Darnall: Mr. Darnall has been an Alaska resident for 32½ years and has practiced law for 6 years. He graduated from State University of New York Buffalo Law School in 2016 and is currently an assistant attorney general with the Office of Special Prosecutions in Anchorage.
Derek M. Koehler: Magistrate Judge Koehler has been an Alaska resident for 39 years and has practiced law for 10½ years. He graduated from Widener University School of Law in 2013 and is currently a magistrate judge in Palmer.
Glenn J. Shidner: Mr. Shidner has been an Alaska resident for 8 years and has practiced law for 8 years. He graduated from Florida State University College of Law in 2015 and is currently an Assistant United States Attorney 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 26½ years. She graduated from Temple University, Beasley School of Law in 1996, and is currently a magistrate judge in Kotzebue.
Jessica Ruth Haines: Ms. Haines has been an Alaskan resident for 7½ years and has practiced law 7½ years. She graduated from Emory University School of Law in 2016 and is currently an assistant district attorney in Bethel.
Applicants for Palmer Superior Court
Amanda L. Browning: Judge Browning has been an Alaskan resident for 12 ½ years and has practiced law for 18 ½ years. She graduated from Roger Williams University Ralph R. Pappito School of Law in 2005 and is currently a district court judge in Palmer.
Tom V. Jamgochian: Judge Jamgochian has been an Alaska resident for 19½ years and has practiced law for 19½ years. He graduated from the University of California, Hastings College of Law, in 2004 and is currently a district court judge in Palmer.
Patrick J. McKay, Jr.: Mr. McKay, Jr., has been an Alaskan resident for 32 years and has practiced law for 12 ½ years. He graduated from Western State University College of Law in 2011, and is currently an assistant district attorney.
William T. Montgomery: Judge Montgomery has been an Alaskan resident for 13 years and has practiced law for 11 ½ years. He graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in 2010 and is currently a district court judge in Bethel.
Applicants for Anchorage District Court
Marika Athens: Magistrate Judge Athens has been an Alaskan resident for 42 years and has practiced law 19 ½ years. She graduated from Duke University School of Law in 2004 and is currently a magistrate judge in Anchorage.
Chris Darnall: Mr. Darnall has been an Alaskan resident for 32 ½ years and has practiced law for 6 years. He graduated from State University of New York at Buffalo Law School in 2016 and is currently an assistant attorney general with the Office of Special Prosecutions.
Monica Elkinton: Magistrate Judge Elkinton has been an Alaskan resident for 17 ½ years and has practiced law for 17 years. She graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in 2006 and is currently a magistrate judge in Anchorage.
Lindsay Ingaldson: Ms. Ingaldson has been an Alaskan resident for 35 years and has practiced law for 4 ½ years. She graduated from Mitchell Hamline College of Law in 2017 and is currently an assistant attorney general with the Office of Special Prosecutions.
Larry Monsma: Mr. Monsma has been an Alaskan resident for 11 ½ years and has practiced law for 22 years. He graduated from John F. Kennedy University, School of Law, in 2001 and is currently an assistant municipal prosecutor.
Sam Vandergaw: Mr. Vandergaw has been an Alaskan resident for 39 years and has practiced law for 13 ½ years. He graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law in 2009 and is currently an assistant attorney general with the Office of Special Prosecutions.
Applicants for Juneau Superior Court
Roberta C. Erwin: Ms. Erwin has been an Alaska resident for 55 years and has practiced law for 27½ years. She graduated from the University of Puget Sound School of Law in 1994 and is currently in private practice in Anchorage.
Margaret McWilliams: Ms. McWilliams has been an Alaska resident for 16 years and has practiced law for 24 years. She graduated from Harvard Law School in 1999 and is currently an assistant public advocate and supervisor for the Office of Public Advocate’s Juneau Civil Section.
William T. Montgomery: Judge Montgomery has been an Alaska resident for 12 years and has practiced law for 11 years. He graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in 2010 and is currently a district court judge in Bethel.
Christopher Orman: Mr. Orman has been an Alaska resident for 11½ and has practiced law for 13 years. He graduated from the University of Montana, Alexander Blewett III School of Law in 2010 and is currently an assistant attorney general in Juneau.
Larry Raymond Woolford: Mr. Woolford has been an Alaska resident for 52½ years and has practiced law for 25½ years. He graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 1998 and is currently in private practice in Juneau.
Emily L. Wright: Ms. Wright has withdrawn her application as of 11/3/2023.
Applicants for Sitka Superior Court
Amanda L. Browning: Judge Browning has been an Alaska resident for 12 years and has practiced law for 18½ years. She graduated from Roger Williams University Ralph R. Pappito School of Law in 2005 and is currently a district court judge in Palmer.
William T. Montgomery: Judge Montgomery has been an Alaska resident for 12 years and has practiced law for 11 years. He graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in 2010 and is currently a district court judge in Bethel.
Michael Thomas Schwaiger: Mr. Schwaiger has been an Alaska resident for 43 years and has practiced law for 17½ years. He graduated from Duke Law School in 2005 and is currently a supervising attorney for the Office of Public Advocacy in Anchorage.
Applicants for Bethel Superior Court
Mark Clark: Mr. Clark has been an Alaska resident for 6½ years and has practiced law for 7 years. He graduated from Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law in 2016 and is currently the Bethel District Attorney.
William T. Montgomery: Judge Montgomery has been an Alaska resident for 12 years and has practiced law for 11 years. He graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in 2010 and is currently a district court judge in Bethel.
Sam Turner: Ms. Turner has been an Alaska resident for 7 years and has practiced law for 7 years. She graduated from New York University School of Law in 2016 and is currently a staff attorney for the Alaska Court of Appeals.
