Monday, the local crowd threw its support behind Bethel District Court Judge Nathaniel Peters' bid to replace retiring Bethel Superior Court Judge Charles Ray. The testimony came at a meeting held by the Alaska Judicial Council in Bethel to interview applicants and hear public comments before making their nominations to the governor. The other nominee for the job is Fairbanks Magistrate Judge Romano DiBenedetto.
Almost everyone who testified said the same thing:
“We want someone who’s committed to public safety and community safety, and who’s willing to be a part of this community," said Nicole Kass, a legal advocate at Tundra Women’s Coalition, the domestic violence and sexual assault agency for the Delta.
“Because that’s something that’s so important when we come to the courtroom," Kass continued, "to see someone who understands the way that people might communicate, the way that people might see the world, and to be able to work with that.”
With community involvement and cultural knowledge as top concerns, Bethel residents gave their support to the only applicant who lives in the region: Bethel District Court Judge Nathaniel Peters. They praised his character, work ethic, and community investment.
One of those supporters was Ana Hoffman, President and CEO of the Bethel Native Corporation. Hoffman worked with Peters when she was a magistrate judge, and he a public defender.
“At times, legal professionals view living in Bethel as assignments to endure. Judge Peters understands that living and working in Bethel is a source of enrichment for him and for his family,” Hoffman said.
The pubic also wants a judge who understands the area’s recidivism rates, institutional racism, and trauma.
Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Craig Stowers chairs the council that nominates the judges. He says the court system is looking for ways to provide better training for judges amid shrinking budgets.
He agrees that judges work best when connected to the community but added that they have many ethical boundaries to consider.
“You can’t have a judge who comes to work, and does a judge’s work, and goes home, and not be connected to the community," Stowers said. "That is not what judging is about. You have to know the community. You have to know the culture of the community that you serve, because ultimately it is a service job, first and foremost.”
Besides being the only applicant who lives in Bethel, Judge Peters is the only applicant who applied solely for the Bethel position. DiBenedetto also applied for the Kenai and Nome positions and did not get nominated in Kenai. The council has not yet made its nominations for Nome. No one in Bethel mentioned DiBenedetto in their testimony.
The Alaska Judicial Council uses many sources to determine their nominations, including a survey offered to all Alaska attorneys rating each of the applicants. Governor Walker will receive the nominations and select a judge in February.
