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Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has named a former state legislator and longtime owner of a North Pole tourist destination known as the Santa Claus House to the council in charge of vetting and nominating state judges, among other duties.
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Dunleavy appointed Mike Miller on Apr. 28 to serve a five year term on the council, which oversees screening and nominating judges, evaluating their performance, making information available to voters and making recommendations to improve the administration of justice.
Miller’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the Alaska Legislature in a vote scheduled for Thursday morning.
The appointment follows the resignation of another appointee, John Woods, last month amid controversy and legal challenges of his eligibility for a seat on the seven-member council.
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The Alaska Judicial Council includes three non-attorneys appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Alaska State Legislature, three attorneys appointed by the Alaska Bar Association and the Chief Justice, Susan Carney. The council manages screening and listing candidates for the governor’s final approval for the offices of the supreme court justice, court of appeals, superior court judge, district court judge, public defender or administrative tax law judge.
Miller, age 74, was appointed to a public seat for non-attorneys. He has been the owner and operator of the Santa Claus House, a tourist destination in North Pole, roughly 14 miles southeast of Fairbanks, since 1966. It boasts the world’s largest Santa statue, reindeer tours and a gift shop that sells personalized letters from Santa.
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