Alaska Employment Law

Wayne Anthony Ross, Governor Palin’s pick for Attorney General of Alaska, has twice faced the poll of Alaskan lawyers.  He applied to be a Justice on the Alaska Supreme Court in 2007.  He was not among the four applicants nominated by the Council and sent on to Governor Palin.  Gov. Palin selected Dan Winfree. 

Ross used the same application to apply to be a Judge on the Alaska Court of Appeals in 2008.  Again, he was not among the three applicants nominated for that position, which Palin filled with Superior Court Judge Joel Bolger.

Mr. Ross’ bar survey scores for his 2007 application for the Supreme Court seat (368 replies) show the following:

Professional Competence - 3.2

Integrity - 3.5

Fairness - 3.1

Judicial Temperament - 2.7

Suitability of Experience for Vacancy - 3.0

Overall Rating - 2.8

Ross’ bar survey scores for his 2008 application for the Court of Appeals seat (294 replies) show:

Professional Competence  - 3.2

Integrity - 3.5

Fairness - 3.1

Judicial Temperament - 2.7

Suitability of Experience for Vacancy - 3.1

Overall Rating - 2.9

The survey score definitions are as follows: 

1- poor
2- deficient
3- acceptable
4- good
5- excellent 

The “Overall Rating” is a separate rating in the bar survey; it is not an average of ratings on the other criteria. 

While Mr. Ross marginally improved his “Overall Rating” from 2007 to 2008 (from 2.8 to 2.9), his Overall Rating for both years fell below “Acceptable” in the eyes of Bar respondents.

Palin has recently criticized the Judicial Council for placing too much emphasis on the Bar poll.

Addendum:  Here’s Ross’ application for the judicial positions.  The list of his publications (including “Politically correct is not for me!”) goes on for pages.  His memberships (including 1970’s service on the board of the Alaska Junior Miss Scholarship Project, and his 1990’s membership in the Congress of Racial Equality) are equally interesting.