Dunleavy’s rule-bending nominee for Alaska Judicial Council should be rejected by Legislature

The Alaska State Capitol on Jan. 15, 2026. (Laurie Craig / Juneau Independent)

By Bruce Scandling

In this era of intense partisan acrimony, Alaskans can be proud of our independent, apolitical judiciary. Our system of picking judges is admired nationally as a model of fairness. 

Now that impartiality is under attack. Gov. Mike Dunleavy is once again monkeying with the Alaska Judicial Council, the constitutionally created panel that reviews and forwards judge nominees to the governor for final selection. 

The problem is the makeup of the seven-member council: Alaska’s chief justice, plus three attorneys selected by the Alaska Bar Association and three non-attorneys appointed by the sitting governor. Dunleavy’s latest nominee is a “retired” and suspended attorney financially beholden to his administration – chosen for a non-attorney slot.  

Why is this a big deal? Because the framers of Alaska’s constitution – the 70th anniversary of its adoption is this year – unequivocally intended our court system to be independent and free from partisan manipulation.

Their term of art was only “the best available timber” should serve on the bench.  They also stressed the importance of involving non-attorneys — laypeople — to represent the public and counterbalance the lawyers. 

The framers’ clear goal: Select our judges based on merit, and nothing else. 

Dunleavy has tried in the past to circumvent the constitution by ignoring the council’s recommendations. He introduced legislation and pushed for a constitutional convention to undermine how Alaska chooses judges. 

Let’s be clear: The governor’s purpose is to lower standards for the bench and stack our courts with partisans who would work to restrict reproductive rights and champion other conservative causes he favors. 

Thankfully this is a problem with a clear solution. Our legislators have complete and final say over the governor’s nominees to the judicial council. They should reject the nominee in question — John W. Wood — during end-of-session confirmation votes. 

I worked in Alaska journalism and politics for more than 30 years. I’m not an attorney, I don’t know Mr. Wood and I don’t object to any governor following the constitution to make his or her picks to the judicial council. 

But any attempt to subvert the cherished independence of Alaska’s courts is just plain wrong. Please urge your legislators to reject this nomination. 

• Bruce Scandling is retired and has lived in Juneau since 1982. He is a former Juneau Empire reporter and worked on health policy for Gov. Tony Knowles and U.S. Sen. Mark Begich.