Participation in our cherished democracy is fundamental to who we are as a nation, and as a state. We Alaskans pride ourselves on personal freedoms. We vigorously protect our freedom of thought, political and religious beliefs, independence and right to associate with others. At the core of those beliefs is our understanding that rule of law, grounded in our state and federal constitutions, will protect those freedoms. But laws do not guard or sustain themselves – judges do.

Alaska’s state judges, who are appointed through an independent, nonpartisan process, are tasked with the responsibility of deciding questions involving our rights. Every day they make vital decisions regarding access to health care, education of our children, child custody, property disputes, and perhaps most important of all, our right to participate in democracy. Alaskans’ right to vote depends upon neutral, impartial judges in Alaska’s state courts.

Over the past decade, we’ve seen politicians attempt to wield judges like weapons, and publicly ridicule and denigrate judges who remain impervious to influence. We have fought back against numerous attempts to dismantle the independence of the Alaska Judicial Council and the independent process established by Alaska’s Constitution to ensure that Alaska’s state judges remain free from partisan and other political influences. As a state, and as a nation, we must stem this trend before it’s too late.

We Alaskans are very lucky. We are served by judges who are not corrupted by outside influences, whose jobs do not depend upon those wielding the most money or the most power. Alaska’s state judges are nominated to the court because they have demonstrated an unyielding belief in the law.

Alaskans have been given the opportunity – and responsibility – to vote on whether the judges on our November ballot should remain on the court. Have they met their professional responsibilities? Performed their job well? Been respectful? Knowledgeable about the law? We won’t know first-hand how each judge has performed, but we have help to guide us. The nonpartisan, independent Alaska Judicial Council has thoroughly evaluated every judge on the ballot with input from thousands of Alaskans have interacted with the judge, and makes that information available to you here.

Democracy is a precious thing. Protect it by voting!