Three nominated to succeed retiring Juneau Judge Levy

The next state judge for Juneau will either be Michael Franciosi, Kirsten Swanson or Julie Willoughby.

The Alaska Judicial Council on Tuesday nominated the three attorneys to succeed retiring District Court Judge Keith Levy in a meeting in Juneau.

Gov. Bill Walker will now have 45 days to appoint someone to the bench.


Michael Franciosi
Michael Franciosi

Franciosi works as a magistrate judge in Glennallen. He has practiced law for 25 years and lived in Alaska for 21 years. He has worked as an attorney in family law and juvenile issues, criminal defense, personal injury, business and employment law, and probate.


Kirsten Swanson
Kirsten Swanson

Swanson is a private attorney in Juneau who has practiced law for 21 years and lived in Alaska for 18 years. She started her law career in the U.S. Army as a judge advocate general or JAG officer.


Julie Willoughby
Julie Willoughby

Willoughby is a private attorney in Juneau who has practiced law for 18 years and been an Alaska resident for over 30 years. She has previously worked as a public defender and prosecutor.


The Alaska Judicial Council met in Juneau this week to consider 10 lawyers who applied for the seat. After interviews and background checks, council members usually select at least two candidates they believe would be most qualified for the job. The governor selects from that short list.

Susanne DiPietro, the council’s executive director, said whoever is picked for the job will have to consider the law and think about reaching a fair and impartial decision, instead of formally advocating for their clients.

DiPietro said Alaska judges also have to be careful about personal relationships and associations with other community members.

“When you’re a judge, you have to think when the lawyers and parties come into the courtroom and everyone’s looking at one of the people in the courtroom who everyone knows is very good friends with the judge and just had dinner at the judge’s house last night,” DiPietro said. “How is that going to look? Does that seem fair? The answer is: No, it doesn’t. So, that’s right, the judge has to be very careful about that.”

But DiPietro said there ways for judges to be involved in the community without violating their code of conduct.

“There are certainly things that judges can do socially,” DiPietro said. “The council might inquire, ‘Do you do those type of things?’ Like, you can be a member of a club or Rotary. … There are ways to get out in the community. In fact, judges are encouraged to get out in the community. But just in ways that are different than maybe they did as a lawyer.”

The District Court in Juneau usually has jurisdiction over state misdemeanors, and minor offenses and violations of City and Borough of Juneau ordinances. Domestic violence and emergency children’s cases usually go before the District Court. It’s also the court that hears civil claims under $100,000 and most small claims under $10,000. For felonies or serious criminal cases, a District Court judge will also preside over first appearances and preliminary hearings.

Judge Keith Levy is retiring this Halloween after 11 years on the bench.

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