Category Archives: Alaska justice system

I’ve been a staff member at the Justice Center at University of Alaska Anchorage since 1990 — so I’ve learned a thing or two about the justice system, & occasionally blog about it.

My story of 2009

By Mel | Published: Friday, 1 January 2010

Not quite ALL about my 2009, because that would take a year to write. This only took several hours.

Also posted in About writing, Alaska politics, Cold, Depression, Journal, Long Dark, NaNoWriMo, Ordinance, True Diversity Dinner | Tagged Alaska Commons, Alaska Judicial Council, Alaska Legislature, Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage ordinance 2009-64, Anchorage Press, Arliss Sturgulewski, Bent Alaska, cave, Celtic Diva, Columbia Sussex, couch, Crossed Genres, Dad, Dan Sullivan, Dave, death, Eddie Burke, Floridana Alaskiana v2.5, Grandpa Claude, Green family, Green-Lieght family, grey, Grrlzlist, Heather Aronno, Hilton Anchorage, hotel workers, Identity Inc., Identity Reports, James Bopp Jr., Jane Angvik, Janson Jones, Jesse, John Aronno, Julius, lgbtq, LGBTQ allies, lima beans, Linda Kellen Biegel, Mark, Mark Begich, Melz published work, Mer, Miller v. Carpeneti, Mom, my apartment, NaNoWriMo 2009, Nicholas Hughes, One in 10, Palin ethics complaints, PrideFest, Progressive Alaska (blog), Ptery, Sarah Palin, Sean Cockerham, SOSAnchorage.net, Stef Gingrich, Summer of Hate, sunflowers, True Diversity Dinner 2009, Väi the cat, veto, Vic Fischer, violence against women, Wayne Anthony Ross (WAR), writing | 2 Comments

How to be a friend to an accused serial rapist

By Mel | Published: Friday, 9 October 2009

Accused serial rapist Anthony Rollins is an Anchorage police officer whose alleged crimes were perpetrated against at least 6 women while he was on duty. Members of his church, Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, are packing the court in droves. Are they helping him face the consequences of any crimes he committed? Or are they merely showing up in Christianist solidarity?

Posted in Alaska justice system | Tagged AKMuckraker, Alaska Commons, Anchorage Police Department, Anthony Rollins, Celtic Diva, Christianism, John Aronno, Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, Mudflats (blog), sexual assault, Standing Together Against Rape (STAR) | 7 Comments

Miller v. Carpeneti: Judge Sedwick’s opinion

By Mel | Published: Tuesday, 15 September 2009

Providing the order and opinion of Judge John W. Sedwick (U.S. District Court for Alaska) in Miller v. Carpeneti, which he dismissed on September 11, 2009. This post also provides copes of the original complaint and motions in the case.

Posted in Alaska justice system | Tagged Alaska Constitution, Alaska courts, Alaska Judicial Council, Miller v. Carpeneti | 1 Comment

Miller v. Carpeneti: Case dismissed

By Mel | Published: Friday, 11 September 2009

Judge Sedwick dismissed the plaintiff's complaint; lead attorney for the plaintiffs James Bopp, Jr. says he will appeal.

Posted in Alaska justice system | Tagged Alaska Constitution, Alaska courts, Alaska Judicial Council, James Bopp Jr., Miller v. Carpeneti | 6 Comments

Miller v. Carpeneti: The conservatives behind the attack on Alaska judicial independence and impartiality

By Mel | Published: Friday, 11 September 2009

Using Scott Christiansen's excellent article in the Anchorage Press as a jumping off point, this post goes deeper into why conservatives are attacking Alaska's merit-based system of judicial selection, and the part that the Miller v. Carpeneti case is playing in a much larger nationwide effort to politicize judicial selection in the U.S. -- with plaintiffs' lead attorney James Bopp, Jr. at the forefront.

Posted in Alaska justice system | Tagged Alaska Bar Association, Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct, Alaska courts, Alaska Judicial Council, James Bopp Jr., Ken Jacobus, Miller v. Carpeneti | 6 Comments

Miller v. Carpeneti: Where was the press?

By Mel | Published: Saturday, 29 August 2009

The lawsuit that calls for the federal courts to overturn major provisions of the Alaska Constitution with respect to judicial selection was filed on July 2. Why, then, did the Alaska press not report on it until August 26? Also included most important filings to date in the case.

Posted in Alaska justice system | Tagged Alaska Bar Association, Alaska Constitution, Alaska courts, Alaska Judicial Council, crossposted, James Bopp Jr., Miller v. Carpeneti | 9 Comments

Lawsuit asks feds to overrule Alaska Constitution

By Mel | Published: Thursday, 27 August 2009

When you can't get your own way under your state's Constitution -- why, just find some federal judge to declare your Constitution unconstitutional! So with righty-tighty Alaskans with regard to judicial appointments.

Posted in Alaska justice system | Tagged Alaska Bar Association, Alaska Constitution, Alaska courts, Alaska Judicial Council, Miller v. Carpeneti | 6 Comments