Dana Fabe to serve as chief justice of Alaska Supreme Court

ANCHORAGE (AP) -- Supreme Court Justice Dana Fabe has been elected by her fellow justices to lead Alaska's highest court for the next three years. The vote was unanimous.

Fabe was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1996 by Gov. Tony Knowles. She is the first woman to serve on the court, and now she is set to become the first woman to serve as chief justice.

The chief justice has duties that go beyond the court itself. Fabe will pick presiding judges for Alaska's judicial districts, serve as chief administrator for the judicial branch, and set policy for all courts in Alaska.

She succeeds current Chief Justice Warren Matthews. His term expires at the end of this month.

Chief justices cannot serve two consecutive terms in the office.