Court Opinion

ID: 9530186
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:58:01.359407+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:01.205949
License: Public Domain

TUNLEY, Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur with the dissent of Judge Schulz, respectfully adding a few further comments.
Petitioner was requested by all parties to sit on the settlement panel. While serving thereon he used his judicial chambers court stationery to memorialize agreements and meetings. These writings were only distributed among the other members of the settlement panel. There was at that time no court rule or policy against justices using their chambers stationery for such purposes nor is there presently. Any objectively reasonable person who was reasonably informed could only conclude no impropriety was afoot when reviewing the files containing these letters as that person would understand the background of these letters and such was only private chambers stationery.
Concerning the meeting with the Governor, petitioner was only making sure the agreement agreed upon by the settlement panel would see the light of day at a public hearing. It was not for a private purpose. Any objectively reasonable person who was reasonably informed could only conclude no impropriety was afoot. Petitioner, as a member of the settlement panel, met with the Governor so as to prevent Lehr from using his influence with the Governor to delay or cancel the public hearing taking place whereat the Board of AHFC would decide whether to accept the settlement agreement approved by the panel. No discussion was had concerning the settlement agreement itself. Ms. Kadow, Director of the Governor’s Anchorage office, attended the meeting so it cannot be labeled a private meeting.
Certainly the test of In re Inquiry Concerning a Judge, 788 P.2d 716 (Alaska 1990) {Judge II), must include the requirement that objectively reasonable persons be reasonably informed. In my opinion, the majority fails to acknowledge that the reasonable person must also be reasonably informed of the surrounding circumstances. The test of Judge II certainly is not a “hindsight” test. I believe the majority employ a test of “hindsight” in determining the appearance of impropriety in this case while professing they do not. Based upon such “hindsight,” the majority today condemn business activity of a most respected member of the highest court of this state, a state that allows members of the judiciary to “engage in other remunerative activity including the operation of a business.” Judicial Canon 5C(2). Also, petitioner was asked by all involved to partake therein. Further, based on information now before this court, petitioner divested himself of his interest in the business long before this matter was publicly reported, petitioner losing a considerable amount of money in such divestment. Pursuant to the test of Judge II, the complaints against petitioner just do not establish an appearance of impropriety, and the majority opinion is just completely wrong.
As I pen my thoughts herein, a wave of deep concern for the judiciary of this state washes across my spirit. Judges must live in the real world, and I don’t believe they should be expected to sever all ties with it upon taking the bench. They would thus isolate themselves from the rest of society. Involvement in the outside world is necessary to enrich judicial temperament and to enhance a judge’s ability to make difficult decisions.1 I am fearful the majority’s de-*1353cisión will further isolate our judiciary from the real world. My brethren and I, both at bench and bar, must have faith that today’s interpretation of what is an appearance of impropriety when washed with the sands of time, will not last long.2
I concur with the majority in concluding that the petitioner’s request to meet with the Governor did not create the appearance of impropriety. Lastly, I concur with the majority in concluding that the Commission did not err in denying special counsel’s motion to dismiss.
I am authorized to say that Judge Schulz joins in the above comments.

. Acknowledgement for my statements on the role of the judiciary is given to the authors of *1353Judicial Conduct and Ethics, J. Shaman, S. Lu-bet & J. Alfini, at 2 (1990).

. I refer also to the final proposed 1990 Model Code of Judicial Conduct of the American Bar Association (ABA) which was recommended by the Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility of the ABA for consideration by the House of Delegates of the ABA in 1990. I can find nowhere in this Model Code of Judicial Conduct any transgression thereof in the conduct of petitioner condemned by the majority today. In fact, Proposed Canon 4C(1) clarifies that a judge may consult with an executive official "in a matter involving the judge or the judge's interests.”