Current Judicial Vacancies

Anchorage District Court

Applicants:

TBD

*Important Dates:

Meeting Date - Week of Auguest 17, 2026

Application Deadline - May 1, 2026 @ 3 p.m.

Documents:

Press Release Announcing Vancancy for the Anchorage District Court; 3/24/2026
Judicial Announcment Letter and Position Description; 3/24/2026

Alaska Court of Appeals, Kotzebue Superior,
Anchorage Superior & Anchorage District Courts

Alaska Court of Appeals Applicants:

Mark Clark

Patricia L. Haines

Kelly Taylor

Matt Widmer

Kotzebue Superior Court Applicants:

Nicholas Adam Defreitas

Daniel DalleMolle

Anchorage Superior Court Applicants:

Loren Patrick Hildebrandt

Matt Widmer

David Wilkinson

Anchorage District Court Applicants:

Michael John Branson

Ronald Dupuis

Lindsay Ingaldson (withdrew)

Eva Khadjinova

Julia Metzger

Ben Muse

Eric Salinger

Patrick Sherry

Hannah Steketee

Sam Vandergaw

Matt Widmer

*Important Dates:

Meeting Date - Week of May 18, 2026

Withdraw Deadline - April 1, 2026

Application Deadline - February 6, 2026 @ 3 p.m.

Documents:

Press Release Announcing Applicants for the Alaska Court of Appeals, Kotzebue Superior, Anchorage Superior & Anchorage District Courts; 2/6/2026
Press Release Announcing Vacancies for the Alaska Court of Appeals, Kotzebue Superior, Anchorage Superior & Anchorage District Courts; 1/2/2026
Judicial Announcement Letter and Position Descriptions; 1/2/2026

Anchorage District & Bethel District Courts

Anchorage District Court Appointee:

TBA

Bethel District Court Appointee:

TBA

Anchorage District Court Applicants:

Michael John Branson

Ronald Dupuis (nominated)

John Haley (Appointed to prior Anchorage District Court position)

Lindsay Ingaldson

Julia Metzger (nominated)

Ben Muse (nominated)

Eric Salinger (nominated)

Erin White

Matt Widmer (nominated)

Christopher Yandel (withdrew)

Bethel District Court Applicants:

Joy Anderson (nominated)

David R. Boyer (nominated)

Jason Conrad

Roberta C. Erwin

*Important Dates:

Meeting Date - Week of February 16, 2026

Application Deadline - November 14, 2025 @ 3 p.m.

Documents:

Press Release Announcing Nominees for the Bethel District & Anchorage District Courts; 2/19/2026
Bethel District Court & Anchorage District Court Meeting Agenda; 1/26/2026
Bar Survey Report for Bethel District Court
Bar Survey Report for Anchorage District Court
Press Release Announcing Applicants for the Bethel District and Anchorage District Courts; 11/14/2025
Press Release Announcing Vacancies for the Bethel District and Anchorage District Courts; 10/10/2025
Judicial Announcement Letter and Position Descriptions; 10/10/2025

Alaska Court of Appeals and Bethel District Court

Alaska Court of Appeals Appointee:

RuthAnne Beach - 12/5/25 by Governor Michael J. Dunleavy

Alaska Court of Appeals Applicants:

RuthAnne Beach (nominated)

Lacey Jane Brewster

Patricia L. Haines (nominated)

Chris Peloso

Bethel District Court Applicants:

Position Postponed.

*Important Dates:

Meeting Date - November 3-7, 2025

Application Deadline - June 27, 2025 @ 3 p.m.

Documents:

Press Release Announcing Nominees for the Alaska Court of Appeals; 11/7/2025
Alaska Court of Appeals & Anchorage District Court Meeting Agenda; 10/21/2025
Bar Survey Report for Alaska Court of Appeals
Press Release Announcing Applicants for the Alaska Court of Appeals and Bethel District Court; 5/23/2025
Press Release Announcing a Vacancy for the Alaska Court of Appeals and Bethel District Court; 5/23/2025
Judicial Announcement Letter and Position Description; 5/23/2025

Anchorage District Court

Anchorage District Court Appointee:

John Haley - 12/5/25 by Governor Michael J. Dunleavy

Anchorage District Court Applicants:

John Haley (nominated)

Dustin Pearson

Eric Salinger (nominated)

Peter A. Scully

Jonathan Stinson

Matt Stinson (withdrew)

Sam Vandergaw

Matt Widmer (nominated)

*Important Dates:

Meeting Date - Postponed to November 3-7, 2025

Application Deadline - April 18, 2025 @ 3 p.m.