Official Election Pamphlet - Alaska Elections State Division of Elections

Superior Court Judge
Michael I. Jeffery, Second Judicial District
SERVICE ORGANIZATION(S) MEMBERSHIP:
Rotary Club of Barrow-Nuvuk (Secretary, Past President)
SPECIAL INTERESTS:
Family activities; church elder; Bristol Bay commercial
set-net fishing; choir; Eskimo drumming/dancing;
volunteer in India (1971-1976); volunteer in Hong
Kong (summer, 1966).
OTHER:
Alaska Court System Community Outreach Award
(2011); Alaska Bar Association Judge Nora Guinn
Award (2008).
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 270
Barrow, AK 99723
AGE: 67
PLACE OF BIRTH:
NAME OF SPOUSE:
CHILDREN’S NAMES:
Los Angeles, California
Esther T. Jeffery
Christina, Nicole, Jordan
LENGTH OF RESIDENCY IN ALASKA: 35 years
ALASKAN COMMUNITIES LIVED IN:
Barrow (1977 to present)
EDUCATION:
Beverly Hills High School (1958-1962), Stanford
University (1962-1966), Yale Law School (1966-1969)
POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENT POSITIONS:
Alaska Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee; Statewide
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Steering Committee; Steering
Committee, Alaska FASD Partnership; Review Board
on Alcoholism.
STATEMENT:
It has been an honor to have been able to serve
Barrow and other Arctic communities since December
1982. I feel it is extremely important to respect each
person appearing before me and to try and make the
proceedings understandable to everyone. For me,
that goal has required me to slow down the hearings,
to speak in a clear way, and to have the basic forms
that I use be in clear, understandable English. Barrow,
Kotzebue and Nome are towns with many ethnic
groups, each having unique value to the richness of
each community. I have realized that those appearing
before me may have special challenges from language,
culture and the way that person’s mind works.
I believe that my decisions need to be as clear as
possible, whether announced in court or written down
later. Decisions must be based on respect for state
and federal constitutions and laws, local cultures, and
a continuing recognition of God’s unfailing love for
each person.
I enjoy opportunities to have outreach to students in the
community, either in classrooms or during courthouse
visits. I also coordinate monthly meetings of the justice
system in Barrow (including the dedicated members of
the tribal court) to foster mutual respect.
State law requires that I retire from this position by age
70. I am on the retention ballot in an effort to continue
to serve the communities of North and Northwest
Alaska until that day comes.
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS:
Superior Court Judge; Presiding Judge; Legal
Services Attorney (Barrow & Boston); Criminal Justice
Assessment Commission; Alaska Supreme Court
CINA/Delinquency Rules Committee; editorial staff
Yale Law Journal
The views expressed in this statement are from the candidate and not endorsed by the Division of Elections.
The text of this statement was provided and paid for by the candidate in accordance with AS 15.58.030 and 6 AAC 25.690.
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2012 REGION III