In Re Cummings

OPINION

WINFREE, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

In early April 2012 the Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct (Commission) referred to us its unanimous recommendation for removal of Judge Dennis Cummings, a district court judge in Bethel. However in December 2011, Judge Cummings had announced his retirement and he retired shortly after we received the Commission's recommendation. Judge Cummings has not participated in this matter before us. Despite Judge Cummings's retirement, we consider this matter a live controversy-a judge's retirement does not extinguish the Commission's and this court's…