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Digital Branch of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Oral History Program

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Marilyn May

Marilyn May is the Clerk of Appellate Courts in Anchorage, Alaska, and is president of the Bar Historian's Committee of the Alaska Bar Association. She helped coordinate the Judges of Alaska Project Jukebox and sharing of archival material between the Joint Archives of the Alaska Court System and Alaska Bar Association and the Alaska and Polar Regions Collections and Archives at the University of Alaska Fairbanks; she facilitated oral history training for Bar Historian Committee members; and she participated in oral history interviews with judges.
Marilyn May appears in the following new Jukebox projects:

As Interviewer

Interview Title Archive #: Oral History Project Abstract
Justice Warren Matthews, Part 1 2012-02-01_PT.1 Judges of Alaska

Justice Warren Matthews was interviewed on January 23, 2012 by Karen Brewster and Marilyn May at the Boney Courthouse in Anchorage, Alaska. Warren Matthews grew up in Hollister, California, and earned a law degree from Harvard Law School. He came to Alaska in 1964 and first worked as an attorney at the law firm of Burr, Boney, and Pease in Anchorage. In 1977, he was appointed to the Alaska Supreme Court and twice served as Chief Justice during his thirty-two years on the bench. Justice Matthews retired in 2009 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. Because of a love of the law and his job, he has continued to serve as judge pro tem as needed. He still comes to his office in the courthouse just about every day. In this interview, he discusses why he chose the field of law, coming to Alaska, why he wanted to become a judge, how the Supreme Court operates, the joys and challenges of the job, his thoughts about the state’s judicial selection and retention process, and what he misses about the job.
Justice Warren Matthews, Part 2 2012-02-01_PT.2 Judges of Alaska

This is a continuation of the interview with Justice Warren Matthews on January 23, 2012 by Karen Brewster and Marilyn May at the Boney Courthouse in Anchorage, Alaska. This is a continuation from tape number Oral History 2012-02-01, Part 1. In this part of the interview, Justice Matthews talks about Alaska's judicial system, colleagues and mentors, what he liked about serving as a justice, alternative courts, and his contribution to Alaska's legal system.

As Videographer

Interview Title Archive #: Oral History Project Abstract Date of Interview
Justice Warren Matthews, Part 1 2012-02-01_PT.1 Judges of Alaska

Justice Warren Matthews was interviewed on January 23, 2012 by Karen Brewster and Marilyn May at the Boney Courthouse in Anchorage, Alaska. Warren Matthews grew up in Hollister, California, and earned a law degree from Harvard Law School. He came to Alaska in 1964 and first worked as an attorney at the law firm of Burr, Boney, and Pease in Anchorage. In 1977, he was appointed to the Alaska Supreme Court and twice served as Chief Justice during his thirty-two years on the bench. Justice Matthews retired in 2009 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. Because of a love of the law and his job, he has continued to serve as judge pro tem as needed. He still comes to his office in the courthouse just about every day. In this interview, he discusses why he chose the field of law, coming to Alaska, why he wanted to become a judge, how the Supreme Court operates, the joys and challenges of the job, his thoughts about the state’s judicial selection and retention process, and what he misses about the job.

 Jan 23, 2012
Justice Warren Matthews, Part 2 2012-02-01_PT.2 Judges of Alaska

This is a continuation of the interview with Justice Warren Matthews on January 23, 2012 by Karen Brewster and Marilyn May at the Boney Courthouse in Anchorage, Alaska. This is a continuation from tape number Oral History 2012-02-01, Part 1. In this part of the interview, Justice Matthews talks about Alaska's judicial system, colleagues and mentors, what he liked about serving as a justice, alternative courts, and his contribution to Alaska's legal system.

 Jan 23, 2012