On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, The Alaska Landmine reported that Nome Superior Court Judge Romano DiBenedetto has been placed on paid administrative leave since March 8. This information was confirmed by a spokesperson from the Alaska Court System following a tip received last week. However, the spokesperson did not disclose the reasons for the judge’s leave.
According to court system officials, the decision to place a judge on administrative leave can be made by the chief justice and the administrative director. Currently, Justice Susan Carney serves as the chief justice, while Stacey Marz holds the position of administrative director.
When inquiries were made regarding the rationale behind Judge DiBenedetto’s administrative leave, the court spokesperson stated they could not provide any comments. It was confirmed that the cases previously overseen by Judge DiBenedetto are being reassigned to other judges within the Second Judicial District, which encompasses the areas of Kotzebue, Nome, Unalakleet, and Barrow.
Additionally, the Commission on Judicial Conduct declined to comment on whether Judge DiBenedetto is currently under investigation. The commission typically conducts hearings when a complaint is filed and supported by evidence, making the charges public. As of now, it remains unclear if any complaints have been lodged against the judge or if he is under scrutiny by the commission.
Judge DiBenedetto was appointed to the position by former Governor Bill Walker in 2017. He successfully passed a retention vote in 2020 after receiving a favorable performance evaluation from the Alaska Judicial Council. His next retention vote is scheduled for 2026.
Source: The Alaska Landmine
