Palmer judge up for retention election

PALMER -- The Alaska Judicial Council has reviewed the credentials of longtime Palmer Superior Court Judge Beverly Cutler and recommended that voters retain her in the upcoming general election.

Superior court judges are evaluated every six years by the seven-member council, which then makes recommendations to voters on whether the judge should be retained or rejected.

The council draws on extensive surveys from lawyers, law-enforcement officers, court employees, as well as comments from the public, before making its recommendation.

The last time Cutler was up for consideration, in 1998, the council unanimously found her qualified and recommended that voters retain her.

Cutler was appointed to the Anchorage District Court in 1977 by Gov. Jay Hammond and then later appointed by Hammond in 1982 to serve on the Palmer Superior Court.

Only those voters living within the jurisdiction of the Third Judicial District are eligible to cast a vote on whether to retain or reject Cutler. The Third Judicial District covers areas from western Alaska to Mat-Su, Glennallen, Valdez, Cordova and Kodiak.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.