Juneau judge among 13 applicants to Alaska Court of Appeals

Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg closely watches an attorney during opening arguments in a recent civil trial.
Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg closely watches an attorney during opening arguments in a recent civil trial. (Photo by Matt Miller/KTOO)

A Juneau judge is among the potential candidates seeking to serve on the Alaska Court of Appeals.

Appeals Court Judge Doug Kossler decided not to seek retention, leaving that position vacant.

Kossler was a former assistant public defender and former state attorney with the Office of Special Prosecutions and Appeals before being named to the Court of Appeals.

But Susanne DiPietro, executive director of the Alaska Judicial Council, said Kossler wasn’t able to hear appeals immediately after his appointment.

“It’s kind of interesting with him because he had been working at OSPA that he had to wait,” DiPietro said. “He was not hearing Court of Appeals cases for, I think, a year or two while he waited for all his conflicts could clear. So he was actually, interestingly, doing pro tem work on the District Court bench while he waited for his conflicts to clear. He was actually doing a lot of interesting stuff. He just decided not to file for retention. So, we’re back to the drawing board for that seat.”

Superior Court Judge Philip Pallenberg, who also applied recently to the Alaska Supreme Court, is the only applicant from Juneau.

Other applicants include:

  • Fairbanks Magistrate Judge Romano DiBenedetto
  • Assistant District Attorney James Fayette from Anchorage
  • Beth Goldstein, supervising attorney in the Office of Elder Fraud and Assistance in Anchorage
  • Fairbanks Superior Court Judge Bethany Harbison
  • Assistant Public Advocate Carol Jacoby from Fairbanks
  • Assistant Public Defender Douglas Owen Moody from Anchorage
  • Assistant Public Defender Jude Pate from Sitka
  • Assistant Attorney General Timothy Terrell with the Office of Criminal Appeals in Anchorage
  • Assistant Public Defender Matt Widmer from Anchorage
  • Private attorney Joan Wilson of Anchorage
  • Palmer District Court Judge John Wolfe
  • Deputy Public Defender Tracy Wollenberg for the appellate division in Anchorage

The Court of Appeals is comprised of three judges who serve as the first-level appellate court dealing primarily with criminal cases. The Alaska Supreme Court is the next level up and is the final arbiter of both civil and criminal cases.

DiPietro says they plan to interview applicants in mid-December in Anchorage.

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