Saofaga Jr. v. State

Judge ALLARD.

After agreeing to go to trial before a superior court judge and litigating various motions before that judge, Michael Saofaga Jr. filed a motion under Alaska Criminal Rule 25(d) seeking to peremptorily challenge the judge. The judge denied the motion, ruling that Saofaga had forfeited his right to file the peremptory challenge when he litigated the various pretrial issues before the judge.

Saofaga now appeals the denial of his peremptory challenge. Saofaga raises three claims on appeal.

*995 First, Saofaga argues that the judge lacked the authority to rule on the validity of the…