---
title: "Thomas A Matthews | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-a-matthews-superior-court-judge-alaska-superior-court-anchorage-ak"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Thomas A Matthews

Alaska Superior Court, Judicial District 3 · Superior Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: Alaska Superior Court, Judicial District 3
- State: Alaska
- Role: Superior Court Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-10-02

## Summary

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

## Biography

### Professional career

- Superior Court Judge, 2018 to present Matthews & Zahare, P.C., Shareholder, 1994 – 2018 Bliss & Riordan, Partner, 1991-1994
- Presiding Judge (Third Judicial District): Reappointed for 2025 by Alaska’s Chief Justice
- Superior Court Judge, Alaska Superior Court, Judicial District 3; from 2018
- Legal Career: Co-founder of Matthews & Zahare, P.C. (1994–2018) Civil litigation attorney for over 32 years Former partner at Bliss & Riordan (1991–1994) Associate attorney at Bliss Riordan (1985–1990)
- Bliss Riordan, Associate Attorney (f/k/a Bradbury, Bliss & Riordan), 1985 - 1990

### Education

- J.D. — Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College — 1985
- University of California, Berkeley — B.S. (1981)

### Additional information

- Superior Court Judge: Serving since 2018, primarily handling civil cases.
- 2026 “Decoy Dan” ballot case, involving U.S. Senate candidate eligibility.
- Alaska redistricting litigation, where he ruled that certain district pairings violated equal protection guarantees.

## 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://courts.alaska.gov/judges/docs/tam.pdf)
- [Official roster](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/docs/tam.pdf)
- [Alaska Court System official judicial roster](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/docs/tam.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/judgemain.html)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/)
- [ajc.alaska.gov](https://ajc.alaska.gov/judges/judgemain.html)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/jord/docs/2023/statewide-electronic-devices.pdf)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/docs/tam.pdf)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts/hearings.htm)
- [ajc.alaska.gov](https://ajc.alaska.gov/judges/judgemain.html)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/jord/docs/2023/statewide-electronic-devices.pdf)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/docs/tam.pdf)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts/hearings.htm)

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## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Presiding Judges' Statewide Order on Use of Cameras and Electronic Devices in Common Areas of Court Facilities](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-4195c4aa8c36145cd11c25b9) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://courts.alaska.gov/jord/docs/2023/statewide-electronic-devices.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.