NAWJ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARIE KOMISAR COMMENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF A DIVERSE BENCH

"Each judge brings his or her own life experience to the bench and that diversity of life experience strengthens the justice system and the confidence that people have in it," remarked Marie Komisar, NAWJ Executive Director, in response to news on a report on women judges in Alaska.

According to the Fairbanks Daily News -Miner, in Fairbanks, Alaska the last time a woman was selected for a judgeship was in 1988. Nine judges have been appointed in Fairbanks since 2002. Across the state of Alaska the proportion of women on the bench is 18.8 percent; of its 69 judges, 13 are women.

A study by the Alaska Judicial Council shows an increasing number of women are applying for judgeships in Alaska. Between 1984 and 1988, 15 percent of all applicants were women. The rate was 28 percent between 2003 and 2007.

"When I started in 1981, I was the only sitting woman judge," District Court Judge Jane Kauvar said, "and then for a period of time there were two others here. And now I'm back to being the only one. It just seems incredible that in 2010 I am back to being the only one. I feel it's a shame for the public. The public has a right to feel that there is diversity."

Retired pro tem Judge Mary Greene when asked about women on the bench offered: "I don't have any problem with the selection process," she said. "I think it has to do with the governors we've had. They are the ones making the choices. Many of the last several governors have placed a premium on private-practice experience. That leaves out many women, since many women work in the public sector most or much of their careers. We have had many good judges from the public sector, including (Alaska Supreme Court) Justice Dana Fabe, so I have never been convinced that that criteria is useful." Read more in Amanda Bohman's article in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - click here.

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The National Association of Women Judges' mission is to promote the judicial role of protecting the rights of individuals under the rule of law through strong, committed, diverse judicial leadership; fairness and equality in the courts; and equal access to justice. NAWJ is a non partisan, non-profit organization of more than 1,200 federal, state, administrative, tribal and military judges from across the country. For more information contact Marie Komisar at NAWJ, Tel: 202-393-0222.