A retiring Arctic judge's cases are in limbo, with no one scheduling hearings

Nearly all the open cases before Superior Court Judge Paul Roetman in Alaska's Second Judicial District have been moved to an unassigned docket, leaving hearing schedules across the Arctic unresolved.

Presiding Judge David Roghair ordered the change effective July 6, transferring Roetman's open cases to "Not Assigned 2KB," the court system's placeholder for cases awaiting a judge. No judge has set new hearing dates for them. Eight civil cases stay with Roetman, leaving him a limited docket.

The order doesn't say why, or whether the move is temporary or permanent. It also doesn't tie the change to Roetman's retirement, though the Alaska Judicial Council has separately reopened recruitment for his Kotzebue Superior Court seat.

The order puts one duty on attorneys: firms in the Second Judicial District must notify any co-counsel or opposing counsel outside the district or the state of the reassignments, which can matter for peremptory challenges and other deadlines tied to who's hearing a case.