Backs Estelle

To the editor:

In the interest of getting the facts in the Judge William Estelle case, I attended the Alaska Judicial Conduct Commission hearing on this matter. The following is what I witnessed at that hearing:

Testimony showed that out of the more than 30,000 cases Estelle handled in a five-year period, the only two that went overdue with pay affidavits involved were the two he immediately self-reported when he realized the mistake. The Judicial Assistant, who used her own system of colored highlights to mark the cases for the judge to process, said that she knew Judge Estelle would not have signed them if he knew of any overdue cases. She didn’t tell him about the overdue cases because she was advised by the former Clerk of Courts to say nothing. When she took her concerns to the assigned mentoring judge for Estelle, he did nothing to alert Judge Estelle. I noticed this mentoring judge was also a member of the Judicial Conduct Commission conducting the hearing.

Several other judges in the same situation were not publicly disciplined. The usual warning steps taken escalate from a call or visit from a presiding judge, to an informal letter, then a formal letter of warning, and lastly — a hearing. All Judge Estelle received was the letter telling him to appear at the hearing.

It was shown that Judge Estelle had no dishonest or selfish motive, did not act intentionally or know the affidavits were inaccurate when he signed them. He has excellent character and reputation, is precise and thorough in his work and has a good legal mind. He provided full and free disclosure, and cooperated fully with a good attitude. He self-reported the problem and took corrective steps to safeguard office procedures. I was horrified when the commission went against their own attorney’s advice, and hammered this judge with a 45-day suspension, only to be outdone by the Alaska Judicial Council’s decision to recommend against retention!

What is going on here? What could have been prevented with a simple heads-up from a judicial colleague has turned into a vicious attempt to remove one of our best judges from office. My trust in Alaska’s Judicial System is under challenge, but not by the Honorable Judge William Estelle. I will vote “yes” to retain him.

Helen M. Hulbert

Palmer