Current Judicial Vacancies
Anchorage (two seats), Fairbanks, Palmer, Kotzebue, & Nome Superior Courts
Anchorage Superior Court Applicants:
Seth Beausang
Ryan Bravo
Mark Clark
Ben Muse
Sam Laffey
Fairbanks Superior Court Applicants:
Heather M. Brown
Jennifer Page Hite
Risa Leonard
Anna Elizabeth Ralph
Spenser Ruppert
Palmer Superior Court Applicants:
Seth Beausang
Mark Clark
Windy Hannaman
Judge Patrick McKay, Jr.
Sam Laffey
Brittany Occhipinti
Kotzebue Superior Court Applicants:
Daniel DalleMolle
Liz Mering
Nome Superior Court Applicants:
Molly Banas
Liz Mering
*Important Dates:
Meeting Date - February, 2027
Withdraw Deadline - December 24, 2026 @ 3 p.m.
Application Deadline - October 30, 2026 @ 3 p.m.
Documents:
- Press Release Announcing Applicants on the Superior Courts in Anchorage (two seats), Fairbanks, Palmer, Kotzebue, & Nome; 10/30/2026
- Press Release Announcing Vacancies on the Superior Courts in Anchorage (two seats), Fairbanks, Palmer, Kotzebue, & Nome; 9/25/2026
- Judicial Announcement Letter and Position Description; 9/25/2026
Alaska Public Defender
Applicants:
Molly Banas
Lars Johnson
Erika S. Kahill
Cait McFadden
Renee McFarland
Julia D. Moudy
Chong Min Yim
*Important Dates:
Meeting Date - February, 2027
Withdraw Deadline - December 24, 2026 @ 3 p.m.
Application Deadline - October 30, 2026 @ 3 p.m.
Documents:
- Press Release Announcing Alaska Public Defender Applicants; 10/30/2026
- Press Release Announcing Alaska Public Defender Vacancy; 9/25/2026
- Public Defender Announcement Letter and Position Description; 9/25/2026
Juneau District Court & Kotzebue Superior Court
Juneau District Court Applicants:
Kevin Andrew Higgins (nominated)
Margaret McWilliams (nominated)
Kotzebue Superior Court Applicants:
Position Postponed.
*Important Dates:
Meeting Date - Monday, November 2, 2026
Application Deadline - July 6, 2026 @ 3 p.m.
Documents:
- Press Release Announcing Nominees for the Juneau District Court; 11/3/2026
- Juneau District Court - Meeting Agenda
- Bar Survey Report for Juneau District Court
- Press Release Announcing Applicants for the Juneau District Court; 7/6/2026
- Press Release Announcing Vacancies for the Kotzebue Superior Court & Juneau District Court; 6/1/2026
- Judicial Announcement Letter and Position Description; 6/1/2026
Anchorage District Court & Nome Superior Court
Appointed:
Anchorage District Court
Matt Widmer - 7/25/26 by Governor Michael J. Dunleavy
Nome Superior Court Applicants:
Nicholas Adam Defreitas (withdrew)
Elisabeth Mering
John Revis
Anchorage District Court Applicants:
Eva Khadjinova (withdrew)
Julia Metzger (nominated)
Ben Muse (nominated)
Eric Salinger (nominated)
Sam Vandergaw (withdrew - appointed to prior Anchorage District Vacancy)
Matt Widmer (nominated)
*Important Dates:
Meeting Date - August 17-18, 2026
Anchorage District Court Application Deadline - May 1, 2026 @ 3 p.m.
Nome Superior Court Application Deadline - May 8, 2026 @ 3 p.m.
Documents:
- Press Release Announcing Nominees for the Anchorage District & Nome Superior Courts
- Press Release Announcing Public Hearings for the Nome Superior & Anchorage District Courts; 8/11/2026
- Bar Survey Report for Nome Superior Court
- Bar Survey Report for Anchorage District Court
- Press Release Announcing Applicants for the Nome Superior & Anchorage District Courts; 5/8/2026
- Press Release Announcing Vacancy for the Nome Superior Court; 3/30/2026
- Press Release Announcing Vacancy for the Anchorage District Court; 3/24/2026
- Judicial Announcement Letter and Position Description (Nome); 3/30/2026
- Judicial Announcement Letter and Position Description (Anchorage); 3/24/2026
Current Biographical Statements
Historical Selection Log
Historical Selection Log Page or (.pdf)
