Three attorneys have applied for a position on the Bethel Superior Court. Applicants for the judgeships will be evaluated by the Council’s seven members (the chief justice, three non-attorney members, and three attorney members). Comprehensive background investigations, a survey of Alaska Bar members, and personal interviews with the applicants are all part of the evaluations, according to the Council’s Executive Director, Susanne DiPietro. Interviews with applicants and public hearings will be held in January 2024. The Council will nominate two or more applicants for each vacancy to send to the governor, after which the governor will have 45 days to make appointments from the Council’s lists of nominees.
The applicants for the Bethel Superior Court are:
Mark Clark: Mr. Clark has been an Alaska resident for 6½ years and has practiced law for 7 years. He graduated from Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law in 2016 and is currently the Bethel District Attorney.
William T. Montgomery: Judge Montgomery has been an Alaska resident for 12
years and has practiced law for 11 years. He graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in 2010 and is currently a district court judge in Bethel.
Sam Turner: Ms. Turner has been an Alaska resident for 7 years and has practiced law for 7 years. She graduated from New York University School of Law in 2016 and is currently a staff attorney for the Alaska Court of Appeals.
Public comment on the qualifications of these applicants is encouraged during the evaluation phase of the council’s work. To comment, or for further information, contact Susanne Dipietro, Executive Director, Alaska Judicial Council, 510 L street, Suite 450, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-1295, (907) 279-2526.
