Our Mission
Alaskans deserve – and want – fair, highly qualified judges who follow the law, serve with integrity, and remain independent of partisan pressures. Alaskans for Fair Courts provides nonpartisan information to all Alaskans about the quality and integrity of Alaska’s judiciary and its judicial selection and retention processes. We will support and defend Alaska’s fair and independent judiciary.
Why It Matters
The most important expectation Alaskans have of our courts is that judges will treat everyone fairly, protect due process, and guarantee equal justice for all – by following the law. Alaskans need to protect the independence of our judiciary so that our state judges can make decisions based only on the law and the evidence, not on pressure from partisan or other special interest groups.
Justice is the safe harbor that all of us seek when we find ourselves in a storm - whatever our political stripe. How would it feel to any of us to enter that harbor only to find out that our political views will determine whether we are protected? Support Fair and Impartial Courts and join me.
Why should Alaska voters care about judicial retention elections?
Alaska’s state judges make important decisions that affect the day-to-day lives of Alaskans, including issues affecting individual health, community and family safety, parental custody disputes, and property rights, to name but a few. Alaskans have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to be informed about judges on their ballots.
It is important to learn about Alaska’s state judges who are up for retention and to cast informed votes.
Join us in the fight to keep Alaska’s state courts fair
Your support will help us meet the goal of protecting Alaska’s fair and independent courts.
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Who We Are
We are Alaskans who believe that justice should not be for sale, that judges should be selected and retained on the basis of integrity and professionalism, and that the framers of the Alaska Constitution got it right when they kept partisan politics out of the courtroom.
Meet Our Board
Alaskans benefit from a unique opportunity to participate in the evaluation of a judge’s job performance. It is both a privilege and a responsibility to be able to participate in this process and vote in judicial retention elections. By focusing on a judge’s job performance, Alaskans are assured that our judges cannot be bought and sold by individuals or special interests who might have more money or influence than other Alaskans. Our people depend on fair judges who follow the law – protecting justice for all.
Alaska should be celebrated for our ability to maintain an independent judiciary of highly qualified judges. We keep politics out of the judiciary better than any other state in the Nation.
I read Alaska’s judicial decisions every year and am certain that there is no state that has a finer set of judges than Alaska, many of whom have demonstrated over the years that they are among the best in the United States. This is a direct result of the method of judicial selection and retention in Alaska. It ensures that Alaskans are able to count on their judges to protect their fundamental rights and deliver justice without fear of retribution for potentially unpopular decisions. The ability to render decisions based only on the law without fear of political consequences is at the core of a truly great and independent judiciary.