Judge David A. Nesbett: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. David A. Nesbett is a judge for the Anchorage Superior Court in the 3rd Judicial District of Alaska. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Mike Dunleavy on September 19, 2023, filling a seat vacated by the Hon. William F. Morse.

The 3rd Judicial District includes Anchorage, Cordova, Dillingham, Glennallen, Homer, Kenai, Kodiak, Naknek, Palmer, Sand Point, St. Paul Island, Seward, Unalaska, and Valdez. Nesbett began his judicial career as a judge for the Anchorage District Court, following his appointment by Governor Dunleavy in 2019.

Prior to joining the bench, he was a shareholder at Nesbett & Nesbett, P.C. in Anchorage since 2011, where his practice included construction law and litigation. Before that, Nesbett was in private practice as an associate at Dorsey & Whitney, LLP (2007 to 2008) and Jermain Dunnagan & Owens (2008 to 2010).

He received a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University in 1994. He then completed a J.D. at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, in 1998.

After graduating from law school, he began his legal career as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. H. Russel Holland with the United States District Court for the District of Alaska (1998 to 2000) before becoming a local prosecutor in 2001. At that time, Nesbett served as a prosecutor in the Municipality of Anchorage Department of Law for three years before becoming an assistant district attorney there in 2004. He worked for the Anchorage District Attorney’s Office until entering private practice in 2007.

He is a native Alaskan.