Murkowski Lauds "Historic" Vote for Sharon Gleason, First Alaskan Woman on Federal Bench
Gleason's "Excellent Outlook," Careful Decision-Making Praised on the Senate Floor
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Murkowski today voted to confirm Alaskan Judge Sharon Gleason to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, in a overwhelming 87-8 vote preceded by a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate where the Senator praised the nominee.
Prior to today’s vote, Murkowski sought input from a few of her Alaska bar colleagues to gain additional insight into Gleason’s judicial approach – and shared some of the observations with the Senate:
“She insists upon litigants being respectful of one another in litigation and during hearings. She spends many hours evaluating herself to insure that she is not only meeting her own standards about being fair to all sides but also behaves in a manner that leads the parties to know she is being fair. She takes great pains to articulate to parties how she will run a hearing and why she is ruling as she does. She has tremendous control of her own demeanor so that she maintains control of proceedings. As a result, parties almost universally leave a hearing or case feeling that she has understood them and thought carefully about her decision. She acts with an appreciation that for the litigants involved, the case she has before her is the most important thing in their lives at the time.
“She is and will continue to be a superb judge.”
Senator Murkowski's entire floor speech
Senator Murkowski's excerpt from floor speech
Judge Gleason was nominated to serve as a US District Court Judge for the District of Alaska, filling a vacancy that arose when Judge John Sedwick accepted the role of Senior Judge on the District Court.
