Council nominates two Juneau lawyers for district judge seat

The names of three candidates to take over a judicial seat soon to be vacated in Juneau are now before Gov. Bill Walker for his consideration.

Prominent criminal defense attorneys Julie Willoughby and Kirsten Swanson, and Glennallen Magistrate Michael Joseph Franciosi were named Wednesday by the Alaska Judicial Council as the most qualified candidates out of an applicant pool of 10 candidates. The seven-member council interviewed each of the candidates on Monday and Tuesday — eight attorneys and two magistrates from across the state — and they also heard public testimony from Juneau residents before reaching their decision.

[Juneau district court judge to retire later this year]

That public testimony session took place Monday at the Dimond Courthouse, and Juneau attorney Swanson received resounding support from her fellow law practitioners.

“(Swanson) is level-headed, she is a straight shooter, she knows district court inside and out, and she is a thoughtful person,” Juneau Assistant District Attorney Amy Paige told the council on Monday. “She respects everybody that she deals with, but she’s a person who will cut to the chase when it’s appropriate to do so.”

Juneau District Attorney James Scott shared Paige’s sentiment, even recounting for the council members a time when he prosecuted a case as Swanson worked for the defendant. He said he observed the defendant verbally abuse Swanson and the presiding judge during a weeklong trial.

Although he worked against her in that case, Scott said to this day he remains impressed with the poise she demonstrated.

“Kirsten Swanson comported herself with such grace, and such ease and such professionalism. … She left an impression on me that is such, that as I walked in, not planning on testifying (today) … I realized I had to come up and just make reference to that story. She’s a remarkable person with remarkable composure,” Scott said.

Private Juneau attorney Mary Alice McKeen also addressed the council in favor of Swanson, praising her for taking pro bono cases and for other good acts in the community.

The Alaska Judicial Council is only required to send two names to the governor’s office for consideration. With two of the three names sent up belonging to women, there stands a great chance that in November, after Juneau District Court Judge Keith Levy vacates his seat, a woman could again become a judge in the First Judicial District. The last, and only, female justice in Juneau’s First Judicial District was Patricia Collins in 1999.

[Of the 7 local lawyers vying to become Juneau’s next judge, 4 are women]

Gov. Walker now has 45 days to make his decision among the nominated candidates, but Levy will be gone Oct. 31, so waiting that long could leave Juneau shy one district court judge for a few days.

The council also nominated candidates for a second Alaska judgeship on Wednesday. Walker may consider John C. Cagle, Lance Joanis, Paula A. Maslakowski and Johnathan Woodman to fill the Palmer Superior Court judicial seat.

• Contact reporter Paula Ann Solis at 523-2272 or paula.solis@juneauempire.com.