Alaska Judicial Council Recommendation Judge Michael L. Wolverton, Superior Court, Anchorage

Transcription

1 Alaska Judicial Council Recommendation Judge Michael L. Wolverton, Superior Court, Anchorage Judicial Council Recommendation The Alaska Judicial Council, a non-partisan citizens commission established by the Alaska constitution, evaluates judges on a number of criteria, including their legal ability, demeanor, their diligence, their ability to manage their caseloads, and their fairness and integrity. The Judicial Council finds Judge Wolverton to be Qualified and recommends unanimously that the public vote "YES" to retain him as a superior court judge. Judicial Council Evaluation The Judicial Council surveyed 3,036 attorneys, 1,492 peace and probation officers, social workers/guardians ad litem, and child advocates, jurors, and court employees about the judges on the ballot. Respondents were asked to rate judicial performance and to submit comments. The Council also reviewed the ratings and observations of the Alaska Judicial Observers, independent community-based volunteers. The Council reviewed court system records concerning peremptory challenges, recusals, and appellate affirmance and reversal rates; any civil or criminal litigation involving the judge; APOC and court system conflict-of-interest statements; any disciplinary files; and whether a judge s pay was withheld for an untimely decision. The Council investigated judicial conduct in specific cases. The Council interviewed some judges, attorneys, court staff, and others. The Council held a statewide public hearing to obtain comments about judges. Attorney Survey Peace Officer Survey Juror Survey Court Employee Survey Social Workers Guardians ad Litem CASAs Legal Ability Impartiality Integrity Temperament Diligence Overall Ratings are based on a one to five scale. Five is the best rating and three is acceptable. Rating Scale 5.0 = Excellent 4.0 = Good 3.0 = Acceptable 2.0 = Deficient 1.0 = Poor Summary of Survey Information Attorneys in Alaska rated Judge Wolverton on the six categories summarized in the table above, using 5 as the highest rating possible. The attorney rating for Judge Wolverton on overall performance was 4.2. Peace and probation officers rated Judge Wolverton on five categories, using the 5-point scale above. They gave Judge Wolverton a rating of 3.6. Four other groups also evaluated Judge Wolverton s performance, using the same 5-point scale with 5 as the highest rating. Jurors rated him 4.9, court employees gave him 4.7, and social workers, guardians ad litem and CASA volunteers rated him at 4.0. The Alaska Judicial Observers rated him 3.5. Recommendation: Vote YES to retain Judge Michael L. Wolverton Contact the Judicial Council at 1029 W. Third Avenue, Suite 201, Anchorage, AK (telephone: (907) ) for more detailed information, or review the information on our Internet site at: November 2006

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9 44. SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE MICHAEL L. WOLVERTON A. Alaska Bar Association Demographic Description (N=452) Type of Practice Length of Alaska Practice Gender Cases Handled Location of Practice N % No Response 6 1.3% Private, Solo % Private, 2-5 Attorneys % Private, 6+ Attorneys % Private, Corporate Employee % State Judge or Judicial Officer % Government % Public Service Agency or Organization (not govt) % Other % No Response 7 1.5% 5 Years or fewer % 6 to 10 years % 11 to 15 years % 16 to 20 years % 21 years or more % No Response 9 1.9% Male % Female % No Response 7 1.5% Prosecution % Mainly Criminal % Mixed Criminal & Civil % Mainly Civil % Other % No Response 7 1.5% First District % Second District 4 0.8% Third District % Fourth District % Outside of Alaska 9 1.9% 205

10 Evaluation of Judge Michael L. Wolverton: Alaska Bar Association Members Summary of Findings Judge Michael L. Wolverton was evaluated by 376 Alaska Bar Association members who reported having direct professional experience with the judge. The mean score on overall evaluation was 4.2. The highest mean score was obtained on integrity (4.4) and the lowest scores were obtained on legal ability (4.0) and diligence (4.0). Details are present in the two tables that follow. Poor Deficient Accept Good Excellent N % N % N % N % N % Mean Legal Ability 4 1.0% % % % % 4.0 Impartiality/Fairness 7 1.8% % % % % 4.2 Integrity 5 1.3% 3 0.8% % % % 4.4 Judicial Temperament 8 2.1% 7 1.8% % % % 4.3 Diligence % % % % % 4.0 Overall Rating 8 2.1% % % % % 4.2 Note: Ratings for only those respondents who reported direct professional experience with the judge. 206

11 Judge Michael L. Wolverton: Detailed Information Responses Alaska Bar Association Members Legal Ability Impartiality/ Fairness Integrity Judicial Temperament Diligence Overall Rating Mean N Mean N Mean N Mean N Mean N Mean N Basis for Evaluation of Judge No Response Direct Professional Professional Reputation Other Personal Contacts Type of Practice No Response Private, Solo Private, 2-5 Attorneys Private, 6+ Attorneys Private, Corporate Employee State Judge or Judicial Officer Government Public Service Agency or Organization (not govt) Other Years Experience No Response Years or fewer to 10 years to 15 years to 20 years years or more Gender No Response Male Female Majority of Practice Consists of No Response Prosecution Mainly Criminal Mixed Criminal & Civil Mainly Civil Other Location of Practice No Response First District Second District Third District Fourth District Outside of Alaska Note: Ratings for only those respondents who reported direct professional experience with the judge. 207

12 44. SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE MICHAEL L. WOLVERTON B. Peace and Probation Officers Demographic Description (N=77) Type of Work Length of Alaska Experience Gender Location of Practice Community Population N % No Response -- 0 State Law Enforcement Officer % Municipal/Borough Law Enforcement Officer % Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) -- 0 Probation/Parole Officer % Other 1 1.2% No Response Years or fewer % 6 to 10 years % 11 to 15 years % 16 to 20 years % 21 years or more % No Response -- 0 Male % Female % No Response -- 0 First District 2 2.5% Second District 1 1.2% Third District % Fourth District 1 1.2% Outside of Alaska -- 0 No Response -- 0 Under 2, Between 2,000 and 35, % Over 35, % 208

13 Evaluation of Judge Michael L. Wolverton Peace and Probation Officers Summary of Findings Judge Michael L. Wolverton was evaluated by 57 Peace and Probation Officers who reported having direct professional experience with the judge. The mean score on overall evaluation was 3.6. The highest mean score was obtained on integrity (3.9) and the lowest scores were obtained on impartiality/fairness (3.6), judicial temperament (3.6) and diligence (3.6). Details are present in the two tables that follow. Poor Deficient Accept Good Excellent N % N % N % N % N % Mean Impartiality/Fairness 3 5.2% % % % % 3.6 Integrity 1 1.8% 4 7.4% % % % 3.9 Judicial Temperament 4 7.0% % % % % 3.6 Diligence 2 3.6% % % % % 3.6 Overall Rating 2 3.5% % % % % 3.6 Note: Ratings for only those respondents who reported direct professional experience with the judge. 209

14 Judge Michael L. Wolverton: Detailed Information on Responses Peace and Probation Officers Impartiality/ Fairness Integrity Judicial Temperament Diligence Overall Rating Mean N Mean N Mean N Mean N Mean N Basis for Evaluation of Judge No Response Direct Professional Professional Reputation Other Personal Contacts Type of Work No Response State Law Enforcement Officer Municipal/Borough Law Enforcement Officer Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) Probation/Parole Officer Other Years Experience No Response Years or fewer to 10 years to 15 years to 20 years years or more Gender No Response Male Female Location of Practice No Response First District Second District Third District Fourth District Outside of Alaska Community Population No Response Under 2, Between 2,000 and 35, Over 35, Note: Ratings for only those respondents who reported direct professional experience with the judge. 210

15 44. SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE MICHAEL L. WOLVERTON C. Social Workers, Guardians ad Litem, and CASA Volunteers Demographic Description (N=3) Type of Work Length of Alaska Experience Gender Location of Practice Community Population N % No Response -- 0 Social Worker % Guardian ad Litem % CASA Volunteer -- 0 Other -- 0 No Response Years or fewer to 10 years % 11 to 15 years to 20 years % 21 years or more -- 0 No Response -- 0 Male % Female % No Response -- 0 First District -- 0 Second District -- 0 Third District % Fourth District -- 0 Outside of Alaska -- 0 No Response -- 0 Under 2, Between 2,000 and 35, Over 35, % 211

16 Evaluation of Judge Michael L. Wolverton Social Workers, Guardians Ad Litem, and CASA Volunteers Summary of Findings Judge Michael L. Wolverton was evaluated by two Social Workers, Guardians Ad Litem, and CASA volunteers who reported having direct professional experience with the judge. The mean score on overall evaluation was 4.0. The highest mean scores were obtained on impartiality/fairness (4.0), integrity (4.0) and diligence (4.0) and the lowest score was obtained on judicial temperament (3.5). Details are present in the two tables that follow. Poor Deficient Accept Good Excellent N % N % N % N % N % Mean Impartiality/Fairness % % 4.0 Integrity % % 4.0 Judicial Temperament % % Diligence % % 4.0 Overall Rating % % 4.0 Note: Ratings for only those respondents who reported direct professional experience with the judge. 212

17 Judge Michael L. Wolverton: Detail Information on Responses Social Workers, Guardians Ad Litem, and CASA Volunteers Impartiality/ Fairness Integrity Judicial Temperament Diligence Overall Rating Mean N Mean N Mean N Mean N Mean N Basis for Evaluation of Judge No Response Direct Professional Professional Reputation Other Personal Contacts Type of Work No Response Social Worker Guardian ad Litem CASA Volunteer Other Years Experience No Response Years or fewer to 10 years to 15 years to 20 years years or more Gender No Response Male Female Location of Practice No Response First District Second District Third District Fourth District Outside of Alaska Community Population No Response Under 2, Between 2,000 and 35, Over 35, Note: Ratings for only those respondents who reported direct professional experience with the judge. 213

18 Superior Court Judge Michael L. Wolverton Average Ratings from All Groups Surveyed Legal Ability* Impartiality Integrity Judicial Temperament Diligence Overall Evaluation Alaska Bar Association Peace and Probation Officers Social Workers/ GALS/CASA Volunteers *Legal Ability items are only completed by Alaska Bar Association members.

19 Alaska Judicial Council Juror Survey Memo, April 17, 2006 Page 33 Juror Survey Results 2006 Retention Evaluation Michael L. Wolverton Distribution of Ratings Survey Category Mean Excellent % (n) Good % (n) Acceptable % (n) Deficient % (n) Poor % (n) Total Returned = 124 Impartiality/Fairness % % 17 0% 0 0% 0 1% Respectful/Courteous % 115 6% 7 0% 0 0% 0 1% Attentive during Proceedings % % 13 1% 1 0% 0 1% Control over Proceedings % 112 9% 11 0% 0 0% 0 1% Intelligence/Skill as a Judge % % 0 0% 0 1% Overall Evaluation % % 12 0% 0 0% 0 1% 1 124

20 Alaska Judicial Council Court Employee Survey Memo, April 17, 2006 Page 33 Court Employee Survey Results 2006 Retention Evaluation Michael L. Wolverton Distribution of Ratings Survey Category Mean Excellent % (n) Good % (n) Acceptable % (n) Deficient % (n) Poor % (n) Total Returned = 70 Impartiality/Fairness % 48 24% 17 4% 3 0% 0 0% 0 68 Integrity % 51 20% 14 4% 3 0% 0 0% 0 68 Judicial Temperament % 52 17% 12 6% 4 0% 0 0% 0 68 Diligence % 48 23% 16 6% 4 0% 0 0% 0 68 Overall Evaluation % 52 19% 13 4% 3 0% 0 0% 0 68

21 Judge Michael L. Wolverton Prior Scores Summary Retention 2006 Appointed 12/04/96 to Anchorage Superior Court Appointed 8/26/88 to Anchorage District Court Bar Survey 2006 Retention Interim Retention Retention Retention Legal Ability Impartiality Integrity Judicial Temperament Diligence Overall Performance Peace & Probation Officer Survey 2006 Retention Interim Retention Retention Retention Impartiality Integrity Judicial Temperament Diligence Overall Performance