Maassen
JUNEAU, Alaska (Legal Newsline) - Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell on Wednesday appointed Anchorage attorney Peter Maassen to the state Supreme Court.
He replaces Justice Morgan Christen, who was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
"Peter's thoughtful, humble and articulate manner will be an asset to the Supreme Court and the Alaskans it serves," Parnell said in a statement.
"He has strong legal writing skills, intelligence and a background that includes operating a small business."
According to the Governor's Office, Maassen has been in private practice most of his career.
Maassen earned a bachelor's degree at Hope College in Holland, Mich., and his law degree at the University of Michigan before moving to Alaska in 1980 with his wife.
He is currently a partner at the general civil firm Ingaldson, Maassen and Fitzgerald PC, which represents individuals, businesses, government entities and non-profits in litigation.
Prior to that, he worked at Burr, Pease and Kurtz PC, practicing as an associate and eventually as a partner.
Parnell selected Maassen from a list of two applicants nominated by the Alaska Judicial Council.
The Alaska Supreme Court serves as the appeals court for the state's District and Superior Courts as well as the state Court of Appeals.
The chief justice and four associate justices hear cases in Anchorage on a monthly basis and in Fairbanks and Juneau on a quarterly basis. The court also administers the state's judicial system.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.