Judge Cutler to hang up robe

By Andrew Wellner
Frontiersman
Published on Monday, February 2, 2009 8:41 PM AKST

PALMER — After 27 years in Palmer and 32 as a judge, Beverly Cutler is retiring this year from the Superior Court.

“I have been in the job for 32 years, all of which have been wonderful to me,” Cutler said Monday. But, “it’s probably a good thing to let someone else have a chance to do it.”

She said it’s not a matter of having lost her patience for the job or being tired of the work.


“I feel like I could do it for another 30 years and every day would be new and interesting,” Cutler said. But, “we all have families, we all have that book in us that we want to write,” Cutler said.

The Alaska Judicial Council is accepting applications for the seat from qualified lawyers until 3 p.m. March 2. Cutler plans to have her last day as a judge Sept. 15, five days after her 60th birthday.

Cutler was the first Superior Court Judge sent to the Valley when she came here in 1982.

“When I came to Superior Court there wasn’t any District Court judge,” she said. Those duties fell to her.

There also wasn’t a courthouse that in any way resembled the one there is now.

“The first court building was the building that’s right next to the Pioneer Home,” she said.

The ceiling leaked. There was only one courtroom. As operations in the Valley grew, she said, they had to expand into a landlord’s apartment in the back of the building. They put the criminal division there.

“We called it the penthouse apartment and we kept files in the bathtub up there,” she joked.

When she got the job, Cutler said, the presiding judge in Anchorage called to congratulate her and told her not to worry when she saw the court building — that within two years she’d have brand new accommodations.

“Two years later to the day I called him up and said, ‘Hey, about that new courthouse you promised me?’” Cutler said.

Six years after she came to the Valley she was in a new building, which is the current courthouse, expanded last year to include three new courtrooms and moving soon into two wings of the old Valley Hospital building.

Cutler, in addition to her duties on the bench, has the job of administrative judge — basically the court’s supervisor.

She said she’s not sure how the court system will go about replacing her in that position but hopes whoever takes it over will make a point of continuing their traditions of regular judges meetings and other efforts among the building’s seven judges and one magistrate to work as a team.

“It’s been a true pleasure to see all the solidarity of the people out here wanting to be a very functional working unit here,” she said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.

Copyright © 2010 Frontiersman

Comments

32 comment(s)

    Emily wrote on Apr 9, 2009 5:48 PM:

    " I have only been around this judge a couple of times. She really fooled me because I thought she was fair and balanced. Guess again. I'm wondering how often I'lll see my grandchildren because of the unfair calls she made on my son. A man who has paid all of his child support and went by the rules.
    Wonder where justice is when you need it. "

    Connie wrote on Feb 14, 2009 11:15 PM:

    " I am surprised to hear that Judge Cutler liked her work. If you have ever watched her much (in person or on the news) she ALWAYS has her eyes closed and is rubbing her forehead and has her eyes pinched shut as if in pain...all the while she is STILL talking. The woman should have retired a long time ago. "

    wasillaresident wrote on Feb 14, 2009 11:12 PM:

    " I am very pleased that Judge Cutler is stepping down. Her biased conclusions ruined a LOT of lives. "

    bill wrote on Feb 12, 2009 4:15 PM:

    " It's about time, she had no business being on the bench. "

    Jared wrote on Feb 11, 2009 1:04 PM:

    " Beverly, there are some very negative things being posted, I'm sorry to see that. But in all seriousness, they are probably the same people who get a kick out of bashing the President and Governor as well. You have done your community a great service and you have my utmost respect. Godspeed-Jared "

    enough said wrote on Feb 10, 2009 12:46 PM:

    " The only person that Cutler served was herself. “I have been in the job for 32 years, all of which have been wonderful to me,”. She said it best--it was wonderful for her. Enough said. "

    mgr wrote on Feb 10, 2009 9:59 AM:

    " Thank God! She was only just if she liked you. Dissed people who were trying to work out problems. Believe untruths and should have taken herself off of cases that she new the people involved and had a one way view. YOU Won't be Missed!! Oh wait..why don't you finish up the cases you should have taken care of along time ago? Why wait for the supreme court to make u do your job eh? "

    RahRah wrote on Feb 10, 2009 5:13 AM:

    " We wish you all the best Judge Cutler, thank you for serving Mat-Su, you will be missed. "

    hplar wrote on Feb 9, 2009 12:09 PM:

    " Bev,
    You served with style and grave. Thank you for your service to Alaska and enjoy your well deserved retirement. "

    grateful wrote on Feb 9, 2009 7:54 AM:

    " I and all Alaskan's should be grateful that one of Alaska's most corrupt judges is finally stepping down from the bench. Maybe the grass roots campaign to preempt her off of enough cases worked. Thank you Bev for getting the message. She is a joke amongst the law community. So good bye and you will not be missed. I hope the new judges will take a lesson from Cutler and not follow in her foot steps. "

    AKMom wrote on Feb 8, 2009 7:51 PM:

    " Wow. After reading these ill-mannered and angry posts, I can only conclude that Judge Cutler must have done her job very well. My family's experience was decidedly more positive. She took personal time to assist my husband in researching the law regarding adult guardianship. I am happy to say that we were successful and my family member is on their way to recovery. Thank you, Judge Cutler, for your honorable service to the State of Alaska. "

    Mitch wrote on Feb 8, 2009 6:40 AM:

    " If all you folks that are complaining about Judge Cutler are so innocent,why did you end up in court in the first place?
    Thanks Judge Cutler for your service to the State.
    Enjoy your retirement! "

    thank god wrote on Feb 7, 2009 5:20 PM:

    " ByeBye,

    Cutler made up the law. She has been reversed more than any other Judge in the history of Alaska.

    She had no respect for the law. Just did whatever her liberal mind wanted.

    A disgrace. If more people could afford to appeal she might have set the world record for reversasl.

    Cutler is a good example of why so many people have little respect for the legal system.

    However, she cared and had compassion. She was willing to abuse her authority to help those who she thought needed it. "

    FRA wrote on Feb 7, 2009 10:45 AM:

    " As someone who is in the know in regards to that case I can assure anyone and everyone that "Scum_Bag-vet" did not leave his kids in a bad home. The kids were taken by a non-custodial parent and the court watched and let it happen. It took a higher court to put that family back together and they are still together today, happily might I add. "

    gbrax wrote on Feb 5, 2009 9:41 PM:

    " Scum_Bag_vet - First thank you for your service. I have 2 sons in active service myself and do understand the military quite well. Secondly, when you enlisted (volunteered) you committed yourself to serve your country, you also had to designate a legal guardian for your children if you were deployed as a single parent during your processing in. Don't blame Cutler for your loss, your circumstances must have found that you did not provide proper care for you children or guardianship. I am sorry for your loss, I wish you the best. "

    Scum_Bag_Vet wrote on Feb 5, 2009 7:13 PM:

    " Gbrax you haven't a clue. Can you tell me where a single parent should lose his/her kids because of the aweful crime of being deployed to Iraq? "

    gBrax wrote on Feb 5, 2009 6:00 PM:

    " From the comments you can sure pick out the ones who were in her court and not to just observe! She was fair and will be missed. "

    trish wrote on Feb 5, 2009 9:53 AM:

    " Good Riddens! Worst judge in Palmer finally retires!! "

    shayla wrote on Feb 5, 2009 9:43 AM:

    " hey, thanxs for helping alaska and thanxs for comming to palmer high and helping us and talking to us you and estella were grate we will miss you "

    k911 wrote on Feb 4, 2009 6:36 PM:

    " At long last, a mediocore judge, at the most, is retiring. In the 20 elections in Alaska that I have voted in, I have never met anyone who voted to retain Cutler. One wonders how she kept her seat that long.

    Maybe now we will get a Judge that not only understands the law, but follows it. "

    JKM wrote on Feb 4, 2009 5:50 PM:

    " It's a sad day when the people of the Valley rejoice at the news that a judge is resigning. This judge should have been removed from the bench long ago. The best day I have had in a long time and the best news ever reported in the Frontiersman. Hooray! There is a God! "

    WRR wrote on Feb 4, 2009 5:45 PM:

    " I've heard her in court. Every other word is "you know." Can't make any sense of her rulings. She is the worst of the worst and yes, she set a standard -- passing a school bus with lights flashing (while unloading our children), running stop signs -- check it out on Court View, the site that posts civil and criminal cases. You'll find her there. Shameful! 32 years on the bench was 32 years too long. Shame on the Supremes and the Judicial Ethics Committee for letting that monster rein terror 32 yrs. "

    DH wrote on Feb 4, 2009 5:36 PM:

    " Thank you Jesus! Very, very, very long overdue! Babbling Beverly is finally out the door! We are planning a huge Valley celebration for 9/15/2009, her last day on the bench. Yeah! No more long, babbling, unintelligible renditions she calls "findings of fact" and "conclusions of law" that make no sense, whatsoever. Good bye to the worst judge in the State (whose preemption record supports the fact). I'll bet "the 32 years was good for you." But, bad for the Valley. Good riddance, that's what many say. "

    Wayne Thom wrote on Feb 4, 2009 2:51 PM:

    " Bev

    Congrats Judge! You dun good! See you next time I'm in AK. BTW, it Sounds like a couple a couple of your "fans" had an axe to grind..... Tough! Wayne T. "

    Single_Dad wrote on Feb 4, 2009 1:35 PM:

    " Goodbye Judge Cutler, on behalf of the many single fathers who have endured your slanted judgements over the years I say we won't miss you one bit. No more will you affect the lives of hardworking fathers or their kids, no longer will you give the advantage to deadbeat and criminal mothers. Hopefully a judge with common sense will fill your long ago proven empty robe. "

    ss wrote on Feb 3, 2009 8:26 PM:

    " To the person who posted as Rob, If that is true and he killed his kids, wife and himself then why keep him in jail??? lol, think about it dude!! "

    Ss wrote on Feb 3, 2009 8:24 PM:

    " Thank you Cutler for what you have done for our case!! You are fantastic and I have cases with the other judges. You really consider the children as a priority when you made the orders in our very difficult case. Your the only judge that actually seams to read the motions and considers all points. Thank you for keeping my family safe :) you were inspirational and will be missed. Hope you enjoy your retirement. I love that you put so much thought into your rullings. "

    rob wrote on Feb 3, 2009 1:34 PM:

    " It's about freaking time. Now we need to get rid of the others, that are just as poor as she is. Why thank her? She is a biased judge, and doesn't care about facts. Hey, she even let a man ouf jail, who killed his kids, wife, and himself, because she just doesn't listen anyone. She is a dangerous person, and I am glad to see her go. Time for a judge that isn't biased. "

    Allen Mitchell wrote on Feb 3, 2009 1:20 PM:

    " We hate to see you go Beverly, but surely you deserve a little time for other endeavors. I hope to see you on the golf course later this summer. "

    RZ wrote on Feb 3, 2009 12:02 PM:

    " Too bad. I was really looking forward to voting against this criminal-coddling judge's retention the time she came up. Don't let the door hit you in the rear on the way out. "

    Jane wrote on Feb 3, 2009 10:21 AM:

    " I have seen Judge Cutler on the job and respect her for her caring manner. She has set the standard for other judges. "

    jess wrote on Feb 3, 2009 9:35 AM:

    " congratulations Bev you have earned

    your retirment and now you and hubby

    spend a lot of time together and grow

    big veggies , and we have to play a

    lot of golf "

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