The Boney Courthouse building in Anchorage holds the Alaska Supreme Court chambers. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska Judicial Council has nominated an Anchorage judge, an assistant attorney general and an expert in utilities law for an upcoming vacancy on the Alaska Supreme Court.
When Gov. Mike Dunleavy picks one of the three, he will create the first majority-female Supreme Court in Alaska history.
Kate Demarest , Josie Garton and Aimee Oravec were each nominated in unanimous votes by the six-member council, which will forward their names to Dunleavy for a final selection within 45 days. One member of the council recused themselves from voting on Oravec, who was nominated 5-0.
One of the three nominees will replace Justice Peter Maassen, who is scheduled to retire at the start of 2025. Maassen currently serves as chief justice, a position that’s elected by the court’s five members to a three-year term.
As chief justice, Maassen sits on the judicial council but votes only in case of a tie. That rare occurrence happened Thursday when the council split 3-3 on approving attorney Holly Wells as a fourth nominee. Maassen voted no, and Wells’ nomination was rejected.