Alaska Judicial Council Denies Judge Retention Recommendation
The council failed to reach a consensus on Juneau Superior Court Judge Marianna Carpeneti for the first time in history.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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For the first time in its history, the Alaska Judicial Council failed to issue a retention recommendation for Juneau Superior Court Judge Marianna Carpeneti. The decision follows a split vote by the seven-member panel, which requires a minimum of four votes to act.
Why it matters
The council's inability to reach a consensus reflects the internal threshold required to influence judicial retention. While the panel simultaneously recommended against retaining two judges in Kenai, the lack of a formal position on Judge Carpeneti leaves her record officially unreviewed by the body.
Judge Carpeneti received 2 yes votes and 3 no votes, falling short of the 4 votes required by the seven-member council to issue a formal recommendation. Two members abstained from the process due to identified conflicts of interest.
The players
Alaska Judicial Council
This body consists of seven members responsible for evaluating judges and making recommendations for their retention in the state court system.
Marianna Carpeneti
She serves as a Superior Court Judge in Juneau and has held the position since her appointment in 2021.
The details
Council members determine their positions based on performance evaluations from various stakeholders, including jurors, attorneys, law enforcement, and court staff. This instance marks the first time since the council's founding that a judge has not received a formal recommendation during a retention cycle.
Timeline
Marianna Carpeneti became a Juneau Superior Court Judge in 2021.
Dennis DeWitt joined the Alaska Judicial Council in 2023.
Savannah Fletcher joined the Alaska Judicial Council in 2025.
The deadline for voters to decide on judge retention is November 3, 2026.
Legal Context
The Alaska Judicial Council retention recommendation process requires a four-vote consensus to formalize a stance on a judge's performance. This event marks a historic departure from the typical outcomes established by the council's standard voting procedures over the last decade.
Voters will decide on the retention of Judge Carpeneti and other judges during the election ending November 3, 2026. Residents should review the council's final report to understand the specific performance metrics for all twenty-one judges up for retention.
The takeaway
The council's historic deadlock highlights the critical role of member participation and conflict disclosures in the judicial evaluation process. Voters are encouraged to research the specific performance evaluations of local judges ahead of the upcoming retention election.
Further reading
Learn more about the state's oversight process on the Criminal Justice section page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KTOO.
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