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Senate Judiciary Committee recommends forwarding Mike Miller to joint session for Alaska Judicial Council
Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee reviewed Mike Miller's nomination to the Alaska Judicial Council, questioned him about judicial independence and past litigation involvement, and unanimously recommended forwarding his name to a joint session for consideration.
The Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee on May 13 reviewed Mike Miller, the governor's appointee to the Alaska Judicial Council, and recommended his name be forwarded to a joint session for consideration.
Mike Miller, calling from Fairbanks, identified himself as a former state representative and state senator and described a long career of public service. He told the committee he views the council as a body that should remain independent and said its role is to help ensure the governor receives qualified judicial candidates.
Senator Illegible Clayman, chair of the committee, asked whether Miller would follow the Judicial Council bylaws' direction to nominate the "most qualified" applicants to the governor. Miller said he had not yet fully reviewed the binders he received but affirmed that, if the bylaws require that standard, it would guide him: "If that's what it states, that would be my guiding principle." He added he is a "big believer in rule of law" and would evaluate nominees on whether they decide according to law rather than personal views.
Committee members asked about past litigation in which Miller's name appeared. Clayman referenced a 2004 federal suit (Alaska Right to Life and Mike Miller v. Feldman et al.) that sought to question judges about their positions on abortion. Miller acknowledged his involvement and said he has since changed his position: "I've since changed that position," and emphasized that judges should "judge upon what the law says." When asked whether he would ask applicants about their stance on abortion, Miller said plainly, "I would not ask that question."
After questions and a short public-testimony period with no speakers, Senator Tobin stated the committee had reviewed Miller's qualifications and recommended forwarding his name to a joint session for consideration. The committee did not record a formal roll-call vote on the recommendation during the hearing; Tobin said the recommendation did not reflect how members would vote in the later confirmation process.
Next steps: Miller's name was forwarded to a joint session for consideration; the joint session will address confirmation procedures and any subsequent votes.
