Four nominees to the Kenai Superior Court were selected from a field of nine candidates by the Alaska Judicial Council in a public hearing held Tuesday at the Kenai Courthouse.
The four selections will be submitted to Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, who through the authority of the Governor’s office, will select one of the nominees to fill a Kenai Superior Court vacancy left with the pending retirement of current Judge Jennifer K. Wells.
The Alaska Judicial Council nominated Katherine Ann Elsner, Kelly J. Lawson, Elizabeth Leduc and William Montgomery for a vacancy on the Kenai Superior Court. Elsner, Leduc and Montgomery were selected unanimously by the Council; Lawson was selected via a tie-breaker by Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Daniel E. Winfree.
Under state law, Governor Dunleavy has a 45-day period to select from the four names submitted for the judge position.
According to the Council’s Executive Director, Susanne DiPietro, comprehensive background investigations, a survey of Alaska Bar members, and personal interviews with the applicants are all part of the evaluations. The Council will nominate two or more applicants to send to the governor, after which the governor will have 45 days to make an appointment from the Council’s list of nominees.
Eleven applicants were initially received, with two withdrawing. Kenai Superior Court applicants included: Katherine Ann Elsner, Kelly J. Lawson, Elizabeth Leduc, William T. Montgomery, Lacey Jane Brewster, Amanda L. Browning, Gustaf W. Olson, Curtis Patteson, Nicholas Torres,, Alicia Porter (withdrew), William W. Taylor (withdrew)
The Alaska Judicial Council’s mission is to screen and nominate judicial applicants, evaluate the performance of judges and make evaluation information and recommendations available to the voters, and conduct studies and make recommendations to improve the administration of justice.
For more information, please go to the Council’s website at www.ajc.state.ak.us or call (907) 279-2526.
Kenai Superior Court Applicant Bios (provided through ajc.state.ak.us.) in alphabetical order:
Lacey Jane Brewster: Ms. Brewster has been an Alaska resident for 12 years and has practiced law for 6 years. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 2016 and is currently an assistant public defender in Kenai.
Amanda L. Browning: Judge Browning has been an Alaska resident for 11 years and has practiced law for 17½ years. She graduated from Roger Williams University Ralph R. Pappito School of Law in 2005 and is currently a district court judge in Palmer.
Katherine Ann Elsner: Ms. Elsner has been an Alaska resident for 9 years and has practiced law for 14 years. She graduated from Northwestern University School of Law in 2008 and is currently in private practice in Kenai.
Kelly J. Lawson: Ms. Lawson has been an Alaska resident for 45½ years and has practiced law for 19 years. She graduated from the University of Montana School of Law in 2002 and is currently a Victim Rights’ Attorney in Anchorage.
Elizabeth Leduc: Ms. Leduc has been an Alaska resident for 15½ years and has practiced law for 15 years. She graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in 2007 and is currently an assistant public advocate and supervisor of the Kenai Office of Public Advocacy.
William T. Montgomery: Judge Montgomery has been an Alaska resident for 11 ½ years and has practiced law for 1 O½ years. He graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in 2010 and is currently a district court judge in Bethel.
Gustaf W. Olson: Mr. Olson has been an Alaska resident for 44 years and has practiced law for 18½ years. He graduated from Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law in 2003 and is currently the District Attorney in Kodiak.
Curtis Patteson: Mr. Patteson has been an Alaska resident for 30½ years and has practiced law for 17 years. He graduated from the Regent University School of Law in 2002 and is currently in private practice in Anchorage.
Alicia Porter: Ms. Porter has been an Alaska resident for 50 years and has practiced law for 23 years. She graduated from the Seattle University School of Law in 1999 and is currently in private practice in Sitka.
William W. Taylor: Mr. Taylor has been an Alaska resident for 15½ years and has practiced law for 26 years. He graduated from Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law in 1995 and is currently an assistant public defender in Kenai.
Nicholas Torres: Mr. Torres has been an Alaska resident for 10 years and has practiced law for 8 ½ years. He graduated from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2011 and is currently an assistant attorney general in Kenai.
