---
title: "Craig F. Stowers | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/craig-f-stowers-3693"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Craig F. Stowers

Alaska Supreme Court · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Alaska Supreme Court
- State: Alaska
- Role: Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-10-02

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Craig F. Stowers (1954–2022) was an American jurist who served as Associate Justice and later Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court from 2009 to 2020, and was appointed to the court by Governor Sean Parnell in 2009
- 2009–2020: Associate Justice, Alaska Supreme Court, appointed by Gov
- Judicial appointments: 2004–2009: Judge, Alaska Superior Court, Third Judicial District (Anchorage) under
- Private practice: Partner at Atkinson, Conway & Gagnon (1987–95) and co‐founder of Clapp, Peterson & Stowers (1995–2004)
- Early career: served as a National Park Service ranger in Virginia and Alaska before becoming a law clerk to U.S. Ninth Circuit Judge Robert Boochever (1985–86) and Alaska Supreme Court Justice Warren Matthews (1986–87).
- Law clerk, Judge Robert Boochever, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

### Education

- Order of the Coif — University of California, Davis School of Law — J.D. (1985)

### Additional information

- Retirement: Retired June 1, 2020.
- One of seven candidates recommended by the Alaska Judicial Council to Governor Parnell in 2009.
- Bachelor's degree, Biology, with honors — Blackburn College — 1975
- National Park Service ranger/naturalist, including Mount McKinley National Park
- Sean Parnell to replace.
- Recognized for contributions to environmental law and public service.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### photography filming recording

Scope: statewide

Alaska generally prohibits photographing, filming, and recording in courthouse common areas unless an application is approved, while separate courtroom and adjacent-area rules remain governed by Administrative Rule 50 and Administrative Bulletin No. 45.

Evidence excerpt: Except as specifically authorized by this order, photographing, filming, and recording are permitted in common areas inside the courthouse only upon the issuance of an approved application.

[Presiding Judges' Statewide Order on Use of Cameras and Electronic Devices in Common Areas of Court Facilities](https://courts.alaska.gov/jord/docs/2023/statewide-electronic-devices.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### courtroom media requests

Scope: statewide

Alaska states that media may request permission from a judicial officer for coverage inside a particular courtroom or adjacent area, and the judicial officer rules on those requests.

Evidence excerpt: not intended to interfere with or restrict the rights of the media to request permission from a judicial officer to allow media coverage within a particular courtroom or adjacent area

[Presiding Judges' Statewide Order on Use of Cameras and Electronic Devices in Common Areas of Court Facilities](https://courts.alaska.gov/jord/docs/2023/statewide-electronic-devices.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3693/craig-f-stowers/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3693/craig-f-stowers/)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3693/craig-f-stowers/)
- [Presiding Judges' Statewide Order on Use of Cameras and Electronic Devices in Common Areas of Court Facilities](https://courts.alaska.gov/jord/docs/2023/statewide-electronic-devices.pdf)
- [Hearings & Trials](https://courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts/hearings.htm)
- [ajc.alaska.gov](https://ajc.alaska.gov/judges/judgformer.html)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/admin/docs/fy18.pdf)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/main/ctinfo.htm)
- [www.ajc.state.ak.us](https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/judges/judgformer.html)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/soj/docs/2020.pdf)
- [alaskabar.org](https://alaskabar.org/wp-content/uploads/Jan-March-2022-Alaska-Bar-Rag.pdf)
- [Presiding Judges' Statewide Order on Use of Cameras and Electronic Devices in Common Areas of Court Facilities](https://courts.alaska.gov/jord/docs/2023/statewide-electronic-devices.pdf)
- [Hearings & Trials](https://courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts/hearings.htm)
- [ajc.alaska.gov](https://ajc.alaska.gov/judges/judgformer.html)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/jord/docs/2023/statewide-electronic-devices.pdf)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/main/ctinfo.htm)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts/hearings.htm)
- [www.ajc.state.ak.us](https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/judges/judgformer.html)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/admin/docs/fy18.pdf)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/soj/docs/2020.pdf)
- [alaskabar.org](https://alaskabar.org/wp-content/uploads/Jan-March-2022-Alaska-Bar-Rag.pdf)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/admin/docs/fy18.pdf)
- [ajc.alaska.gov](https://ajc.alaska.gov/judges/judgformer.html)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/admin/docs/fy18.pdf)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/jord/docs/2023/statewide-electronic-devices.pdf)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/main/ctinfo.htm)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts/hearings.htm)
- [www.ajc.state.ak.us](https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/judges/judgformer.html)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/admin/docs/fy18.pdf)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/soj/docs/2020.pdf)
- [alaskabar.org](https://alaskabar.org/wp-content/uploads/Jan-March-2022-Alaska-Bar-Rag.pdf)

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