Alaska Voters Reject Two Kenai Judges in Initial Election Results

Alaska voters in the Third Judicial District rejected two state judges in the midterm election, voting against their retention by wide margins, Homer News reported.

The decision follows a rare move by the non-partisan Alaska Judicial Council, which recommended that voters not retain the two judges. Out of 21 judges standing for retention, these were the only two for whom the council issued a recommendation against retention.

If these initial results are certified, the judges will step down from the bench at the end of February, exactly 90 days after the election results are finalized under state law.

The initial results released by the Alaska Division of Elections show a large gap between those who supported the judges and those who did not. The voting split for the two Kenai judges is detailed below:

Judge	“No” Votes	“Yes” Votes	Vote Margin
Kelly Lawson (Superior Court)	58%	41.8%	16 points (19,939 votes)
Martin Fallon (District Court)	59%	40.9%	18% margin (21,853 votes)

While Lawson and Fallon faced rejection, the vast majority of other judicial candidates were successful. Voters opted to retain 19 of the 21 judges up for retention according to preliminary data.

The Alaska Judicial Council, which is responsible for vetting judicial nominees and conducting performance evaluations, provided the basis for the non-retention recommendations. The council’s findings varied by judge.

Kelly Lawson was appointed to the Kenai Superior Court in 2023, making this her first retention election. Following a performance evaluation, the council determined she did not meet established standards for judicial temperament and integrity.

Martin Fallon, who has served on the Kenai District Court since his appointment in 2019, was facing his second retention election. The council’s review found he failed to meet performance standards regarding integrity, diligence, and administrative skills, specifically noting a failure to resolve cases in a timely manner.

Lawson and Fallon did not respond to inquiries from the Alaska Beacon regarding the election results or the council’s specific recommendations by Friday.

The sudden removal of two judges creates immediate logistical challenges for the Kenai court system. To prevent a total collapse of the local docket, the state will rely on temporary judicial assistance.

“We are grateful to the pro tem judges who step in to help in times of need,” said Rebecca Koford, a spokesperson for the Alaska Court System, in an email.

Koford noted that the court expects pro tem judges to assist with caseloads for the two Kenai positions until permanent replacements are seated, though specific coverage details are still being finalized. The exact number of cases currently presided over by Lawson and Fallon was not immediately available as of Friday.

The process for filling these vacancies will follow a structured timeline overseen by the Alaska Judicial Council and the governor.

State of utah third judicial district courts sign

Susanne DiPietro, the executive director of the council, stated via email that the council intends to interview and nominate applicants for the two vacancies during its next meeting in May. Once the council produces its list of nominees, the new governor will be responsible for making the final appointments to the bench.

Voters can review the official initial election results through the Alaska Division of Elections to see the full breakdown of the Third Judicial District’s decisions.