American judge (1938–2008)
Allen Trimble Compton (February 25, 1938 – October 11, 2008) was an American jurist who served as a justice of the Supreme Court of Alaska from December 12, 1980, until shortly before his death, including serving as the court's chief justice from 1995 to 1997.[1]
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Compton received a B.A. from the University of Kansas in 1960, followed by a law degree from the University of Colorado Law School in 1963. After serving for six years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, he became a legal services attorney, first in Colorado Springs, and then in Juneau, Alaska.[1]
In 1976, Governor Jay Hammond appointed Compton to the superior court, in Juneau. In 1980, Hammond elevated Compton to a seat on the Alaska Supreme Court.[1] In September 1995, Chief Justice Danny Moore retired, and the justices chose Compton to succeed him as chief justice.[2] In July 1997, Compton stepped down as chief justice following a private rebuke from the Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct concerning sexual harassment allegations made by two female court employees.[3] He thereafter remained on the court as an associate justice, until he retired in 1998.[1]
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