On Monday, February 23, 2026, veteran Alaska newspaper columnist and author Dermot Cole published an article detailing concerns surrounding the disciplinary case of Nome Superior Court Judge Romano DiBenedetto. The case, which involves allegations of misconduct, has drawn scrutiny over the handling of the matter by the Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Robert Colvin, the area court administrator of the Second Judicial District, has raised serious concerns about the commission’s handling of the case. In a letter dated February 5, Colvin expressed his belief that efforts were being made to downplay the severity of the judge’s actions. He specifically criticized the language used in the Supreme Court filing, alleging that it softens or excuses DiBenedetto’s behavior, presenting a skewed perspective of the situation.
One particular incident cited involves a delayed hearing on January 8, 2024. Judge DiBenedetto, scheduled to attend a 6:30 p.m. hearing, allegedly delayed proceedings while watching a college football playoff game on television. According to reports, he initially provided false information to attorneys, claiming he was late due to getting lost in Unalakleet. While the court filing acknowledges that he was watching the game, Colvin notes that it omits crucial details, such as the 10-minute delay and the judge’s refusal to leave the house until the game concluded.
Colvin also highlighted discrepancies between the complaint against DiBenedetto and the findings of fact, alleging that the commission ignored statements from court staff regarding the judge’s behavior. One specific concern raised was that DiBenedetto mocked the accents of Native people on multiple occasions. Colvin stated that the commission was shifting the blame from Judge DiBenedetto to the staff.
Furthermore, Colvin disputed the “consensus” of court staff regarding DiBenedetto’s impersonations, which the commission claimed did not show “actual malice, prejudice or bias.” Colvin asserted that the issue at hand is the judge’s behavior itself and that the reported actions are not being accurately represented to the Supreme Court or the public.
Colvin also claimed that draft affidavits prepared by the commission’s hired attorney appeared to have been created with the assistance of DiBenedetto’s attorney, potentially minimizing the judge’s behavior.
In an email to Marla Greenstein, executive director of the commission, Colvin conveyed the anger and frustration of his staff, who felt betrayed by the commission’s actions. He stated that their testimony was sanitized, their words twisted, and that Judge DiBenedetto’s actions were being swept under the rug.
Colvin urged the Supreme Court to consider his information and the assertion that the commission drafted documents that do not accurately reflect what was reported.
