Peter Jon Maassen (born January 14, 1955) is an American lawyer who serves as the chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court. He was appointed in 2012.
Education
Maassen received a Bachelor of Arts from Hope College in 1977 and a
Juris Doctor
The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law
and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice law ...
From June to August 1979 Maassen was a law clerk in general litigation practice Maun, Green, Hayes, Simon, Murray and Johannesen in
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
. From January 1980 to 1987 he was a law clerk turned associate with Burr, Pease and Kurtz, P.C. in
Anchorage
Anchorage () is the largest city in the U.S. state of Alaska by population. With a population of 291,247 in 2020, it contains nearly 40% of the state's population. The Anchorage metropolitan area, which includes Anchorage and the neighboring Ma ...
. In 1988 he worked in the Office of General Counsel at the
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is an executive department of the U.S. federal government concerned with creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity. Among its tasks are gathering economic and demographic data for bu ...
. From November 1988 to September 1989, he was an associate with Bishop, Cook, Purcell and Reynolds in Washington, D.C., he returned to Alaska and from 1990 to 1994, he was a partner with Burr, Pease and Kurtz, P.C. From 1994 to 2012, he was a founding partner with Ingaldson, Maassen and Fitzgerald, P.C.
Alaska Supreme Court
In August 2012, Maasseen was appointed by Governor
Sean Parnell
Sean Randall Parnell (born November 19, 1962) is an American attorney and politician. He succeeded Sarah Palin in July 2009 to become the tenth governor of Alaska and served until 2014.Alaska Supreme Court to replace Justice
Morgan Christen
Morgan Brenda Christen (born December 5, 1961) is an American lawyer and jurist who serves as a U.S. circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She previously served as a state court judge on the Alaska Supreme Court from ...
, who was elevated to the
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (in case citations, 9th Cir.) is the U.S. federal court of appeals that has appellate jurisdiction over the U.S. district courts in the following federal judicial districts:
* District ...
Daniel Winfree
Daniel Edward Winfree (born February 1953) is an American lawyer who served as chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court from 2021 to 2023. He was appointed to the Alaska Supreme Court by Governor Sarah Palin in 2008. He was sworn in on February 1 ...
. His term as chief justice began on February 7, 2023.