State v. Dussault

OPINION

BOLGER, Judge.

Brian Dussault was acquitted of first-degree murder by reason of insanity and committed to the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (APT) in 1984. Superior Court Judge John Suddock conducted several hearings on Dus-sault's request for conditional release from this confinement. The State argues that Judge Suddock should be disqualified from further participation, alleging that he engaged in a series of improper ex parte communications with William Hogan, the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). We conclude that Judge Suddock's ex parte…