ANCHORAGE – Governor Bill Walker is proud to announce the appointment of Alaska’s three newest superior court judges, who will serve in Fairbanks, Juneau, and Kenai. 

Thomas Temple will join the Fairbanks Superior Court. He has practiced law in Alaska for more than 16 years, after serving in the Marines during the Gulf War and working his way through college and law school at George Mason University. Mr. Temple has been in private practice in Fairbanks since 2004, with a focus on criminal defense and civil litigation. He has tried cases across Alaska, from Unalaska to Utqiaġvik.  

Amy Mead will join the Juneau Superior Court. After graduating from Tulane University Law School, she began her career as a law clerk in Ketchikan, working her way up to become the city’s Assistant District Attorney. She moved to Juneau to work in private practice, spent time working on Medicaid issues for Alaska’s Attorney General, and became the city’s Municipal Attorney in 2013, heading the second largest municipal law department in the state.[xyz-ihs snippet=”Adversal-468×60″]

Lance Joanis will serve on the Kenai Superior Court. Mr. Joanis graduated from law school at the University of Idaho College of Law and immediately moved to Bethel to take the bar.  He has worked for the Alaska Department of Law as an Assistant District Attorney in Anchorage and Kenai, a District Attorney in Bethel and Kenai, and as the Assistant Attorney General in Kenai’s Child Protection Section since 2011.  

“I’m confident Thomas, Amy, and Lance are highly qualified to serve as Superior Court judges,” Governor Walker said. “I know they will bring the integrity, honesty, and fairness that has defined their careers so far to their new roles. Alaska is lucky to have them, and I am grateful for their willingness to serve.” 

  amy mead, appointment, governor, jdge, Lance Joanis, superior court, thomas temple, walker