Judge Roetman reappointed as presiding judge

8ANCHORAGE8–8Chief Justice Peter J. Maassen of the Alaska Supreme Court re-appointed three of the four presiding judges:8 Superior Court Judge Amy Mead for the First Judicial District; Superior Court Judge Paul A. Roetman for the Second Judicial District; and Superior Court Judge Thomas A. Matthews for the Third Judicial District.

The Chief Justice is appointing Superior Court Judge Brent E. Bennett for the Fourth Judicial District.

The chief justice annually appoints a presiding judge for each of the four judicial districts.8 The appointments are for a calendar year, and incumbents are eligible for reappointment.8

In addition to regular judicial duties, the presiding judge has the administrative responsibility to review the trial court’s operations in the district to assure adherence to statewide court system objectives and policies.8 The presiding judge works also with the district’s area court administrator to ensure efficient administration of the district’s courts including hearing and trial schedules and staffing needs.

Judge Paul A. Roetman moved to Alaska in 1972 and has lived in Kotzebue for 17 years. He was appointed to the superior court in 2010. He earned a B.A. in economics from the University of Alaska-Anchorage and received his law degree from Regent

University School of Law. Prior to law school he worked out of Valdez as a commercial fisherman and as Executive Director of the Prince William Sound Economic Development Council. After law school, he worked for a civil law firm, the Alaska Legislature and as a prosecutor for the State of Alaska.

Judge Roetman currently serves as Chair of the Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct, and is a member of8the Three-Judge Sentencing Panel and the Statewide Security and Emergency Preparedness Committee. The Second District covers Kotzebue, Nome, Unalakleet, Utqiagvik and over 20 villages.