Order reassigns all but eight of Judge Roetman's open Alaska cases

All but eight of the open cases assigned to Judge Paul Roetman in Alaska's Second Judicial District were reassigned to "Not Assigned 2KB." Presiding Judge David L. Roghair ordered the reassignments effective July 6. He signed the order two days later at Utqiagvik.

Eight cases remain with Roetman: 2BA-20-00287CI, 2BA-23-00094CI, 2BA-24-00043CI, 2BA-24-00057CI, 2BA-24-00108CI, 2BA-25-00013CI, 2NO-23-00232CI and 2NO-24-00242CI. The order lists them by number and gives no reason for moving the rest. It does not say when the reassigned cases will draw a new judicial officer. It also does not say how hearing dates will be affected in a district that serves Utqiagvik, Nome and Kotzebue.

The order places the notice burden on all law firms and attorneys serving the Second Judicial District, not only those with cases directly affected. "It is the responsibility of all law firms and attorneys serving the Second Judicial District to notify any associate counsel or opposing counsel who are outside the Second Judicial District or the State of Alaska of the foregoing reassignments for peremptory challenges or any other purposes," Roghair wrote in Administrative Order No. 26-03.

The Alaska Judicial Council has announced an impending superior court vacancy in Kotzebue due to Roetman's retirement. The council is seeking applicants for the seat.