 September 22, 2004
"I am proud to appoint Craig Stowers to the superior court bench in the Third Judicial District," Murkowski said. "While the process of nominating judges has been much debated during this appointment, that debate should in no way take away from the experience and skills that Craig Stowers possesses." Stowers, 49, is a partner in the Anchorage law firm of Clapp, Peterson & Stowers and has been in the firm since 1995. Before that, he was an attorney with the Anchorage firm Atkinson, Conway & Gagnon. Stowers has also been a law clerk for both the Alaska Supreme Court and the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Stowers is a 1985 graduate of the University of California Davis School of Law and has practiced law for more than 18 years. He has been an Alaska resident for more than 26 years. Other candidates considered for the position were Jonathon A. Katcher and Sidney K. Billingslea, both of Anchorage. The Superior Court has authority to hear all cases, both civil and criminal, properly brought before the state courts with the limited exception of matters taken directly to the Alaska Supreme Court. Stowers will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge John Reese. According to a news release
from the Office of the Governor, the Murkowski administration
used this vacancy to highlight what it sees as the need for more
transparency in the process of nominating judicial candidates.
Governor Murkowski looks forward to further public and legislative
debate about the process established for nominating judges found
within the Judicial Council bylaws.
Source of News Release:
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