Appointed By: Gov. Michael J. Dunleavy
The Hon. Kirk F. Schwalm is a judge on the Fairbanks Superior Court in the 4th Judicial District of Alaska. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Mike Dunleavy on June 16, 2022, filling a seat vacated by the Hon. Michael A. MacDonald.
The 4th Judicial District encompasses Aniak, Bethel, Delta Junction, Emmonak, Fairbanks, Fort Yukon, Galena, Hooper Bay, Nenana, and Tok.
Prior to his appointment, Schwalm was a partner at Downes, Tallerico & Schwalm, a law firm he joined as an associate in 2014. Before that, he spent time as an assistant attorney general in the natural resources section of the Alaska Department of Law (2012 to 2014).
Schwalm earned a bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2002. He spent the next few years as the owner of Down Under Guns in Fairbanks before completing a J.D. at Lewis & Clark Law School in 2010. As a law student, he sat as an editor for the Environmental Law Review. He also interned with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska (2008) and the District of Oregon (2009 to 2010) as well as the Office of Counsel of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (2009).
He is licensed to practice in Alaska (2010).
After graduating from law school, Schwalm began his legal career as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Michael P. McConahy of the Fairbanks Superior Court. He served in that capacity until 2011, at which time he began clerking for the Hon. Daniel E. Winfree of the Alaska Supreme Court. Then, in 2012, he was named magistrate of the Fairbanks District Court.
His memberships have included the Fairbanks Fish and Game Advisory Committee.
Schwalm was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. When not presiding over legal proceedings, he enjoys spending time being outdoors with his two children.
| Current Appointment Fairbanks Superior Court | Fairbanks Superior Court |
| Previous Appointment Fairbanks District Court | Fairbanks District Court |
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Education
J.D., Lewis & Clark Law School - 2010 B.B.A., University of Alaska Fairbanks - 2002 |
J.D., Lewis & Clark Law School - 2010 B.B.A., University of Alaska Fairbanks - 2002 |
| Official Website courts.alaska.gov | courts.alaska.gov |
| Current Court: | AK - Fairbanks Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Previous Court: | AK - Fairbanks District Court |
| Clerk phone: | +1 (907) 452-9277 |
| Role | Employer | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Judicial Law Clerk | Fairbanks Superior Court | Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska |
| Judicial Law Clerk | Alaska Supreme Court | Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska |
| Magistrate | Fairbanks District Court | Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska |
| Assistant Attorney General | Alaska Department of Law | Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska |
| Associate | Downes & Tallerico | Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska |
| Partner | Downes, Tallerico & Schwalm | Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska |
| Judge | Fairbanks Superior Court | Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska |
Martindale: Mr. Kirk F. Schwalm
Alaska Judicial Council: Application for Judicial Appointment
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Fairbanks Lawyer and Outdoorsman Kirk Schwalm Appointed to Superior Court
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