Judge J. Christopher Darnall: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

The Hon. J. Christopher Darnall is a judge for the Anchorage District Court in the 3rd Judicial District of Alaska. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Mike Dunleavy on July 1, 2024, filling the vacancy created by the Hon. David A. Nesbett.

The 3rd Judicial District includes Anchorage, Cordova, Dillingham, Glennallen, Homer, Kenai, Kodiak, Naknek, Palmer, Sand Point, St. Paul Island, Seward, Unalaska, and Valdez.

Prior to his appointment, Darnall was an assistant attorney general in the Criminal Division of the Office of Special Prosecutions at the Alaska Department of Law since 2019. During that time, he prosecuted cybercrime and trafficking cases involving internet crimes against children. Before that, Darnall worked for one year as an assistant district attorney with the Anchorage District Attorney’s Office (2018 to 2019).

He received a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2010. Darnall then completed a J.D. at University at Buffalo School of Law in 2016.

He began his legal career as a law clerk to the Hon. Charles Huguelet with the Alaska Superior Court in the 3rd Judicial District (2016 to 2018), where he remained until joining the district attorney’s office.

Darnall served as a senior airman in the Alaska Air National Guard (2005 to 2011).

He was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and raised in North Pole. His family relocated to Anchorage during his 8th-grade year, and Darnall went on to attend Betty Davis East Anchorage High School.