Two Alaska Superior Court judges serving Southeast Alaska are retiring, according to the Alaska Judicial Council.
Superior Court Judges Louis Menendez in Juneau and David George in Sitka will soon step down from the bench.
A longtime Juneau attorney, Menendez was sworn in as a judge in October 2011. He is nearing the age limit of 70 mandated by the Alaska Constitution.
George announced his retirement in August, and the Alaska Judicial Council is working to find his replacement. Menendez’s retirement was announced Friday by email.
The council will meet Monday, Jan. 8 to consider who may replace George. The council will hold a public meeting Monday in Sitka’s courthouse to interview candidates and take public comments.
Six people applied to replace George. One has since withdrawn his application. The remaining applicants are Lance Joanis of Kenai, Margaret McWilliams of Juneau, Jude Pate of Sitka, David Roghair of Barrow, and Julie Willoughby of Juneau.
Private interviews will take place that morning at the Sitka courthouse, and the council will take public comments at noon. Comments may also be submitted by email to SDiPetro@ajc.state.ak.us. Following the noon comments, the council will conduct public interviews for the job. After public interviews (which are expected to last until 3:30 p.m.), the Judicial Council will vote to forward the names of at least two applicants to the governor, who will select one for the job. A superior court judge in Sitka earns $194,724 per year, plus benefits.
For Menendez’s seat, the Judicial Council is accepting applications until 3 p.m. Feb. 2, according to a release. Susanne DiPietro, director of the Judicial Council, said a public hearing on the Juneau seat is tentatively set for May.
• Contact reporter James Brooks at james.k.brooks@juneauempire.com or call 523-2258.
Sitka Superior Court Judge David George confers with public defender Eric Hedland, left, and District Attorney David Brower during a hearing in Oct. 2012. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
