HB 339 Summary

• Eliminates public retention elections for court of appeals and district court judges and magistrates, replacing them with legislative confirmation only.

• Requires court of appeals judges and district court judges and magistrates to be confirmed by majority vote of the legislature in joint session at the first legislative session more than two years after appointment, then every second year thereafter.

• Changes judicial qualifications to require supreme court justices and superior court judges to have prior legislative confirmation and service as court of appeals or district court judges.

• Removes state residency requirements for district court judges and magistrates, and reduces magistrate experience requirement from seven years to four years as a magistrate.

• Repeals multiple statutes governing court of appeals judge selection and eliminates Rule 19.1 of Alaska Rules of Administration.