Court clerk sworn in as deputy magistrate for Wrangell

Wrangell once again has a deputy magistrate for the first time in just over a year. The post hasn't been filled since Leanna Nash retired in January 2021 after 22 years.

Sheri LaDawn Ridgeway was sworn in via Zoom last Friday by state Superior Court Judge Amy Mead, of Juneau, the presiding judge for Southeast, and she will handle a mix of duties from ruling on minor traffic offenses to acting as justice of the peace.

Ridgeway, the state's lone court employee in Wrangell, has worked as a clerk in the court since March of 2021. Before coming to Wrangell just over three years ago, she was an attorney in Knoxville, Tennessee, and 95% of her caseload was in juvenile court, representing children and their parents.

Bella Crowley, Ridgeway's daughter, had a hand in bringing her mother to Wrangell. Ridgeway and her wife of 12 years, Jennifer, came to town for Crowley's wedding. After that, they decided to move here. They've been here since December of 2018.

Ridgeway was attracted to the job of deputy magistrate because "it was one of the only positions in town that utilizes my educational background," she said. "When I found out the position was open, I applied for it and really enjoy it."

As the only court employee, Ridgeway will continue to accept filings, process paperwork, keep files straight and other clerk-related duties.

"My title is deputy magistrate and under that title I do all those (clerk) things," she said. In addition, Ridgeway is authorized to issue arrest warrants, search warrants and summons in criminal cases. She can set bail, accept criminal complaints, take pleas and enter judgments in minor offenses "like traffic violations, some hunting and fishing violations, arraignments for misdemeanors, small claims and a couple other things."

She can also issue marriage licenses and perform marriages.

Police Chief Tom Radke said it will be good to have someone to handle cases in Wrangell again to help with some of the backlog. Even though criminal cases are handled in Ketchikan, taking minor offenses will lighten the caseload, he said.

"It's a logistic problem because you don't know the exact date you're going to court," Radke said. "We've got some cases that are two, three years old. (Ridgeway) will do quite a bit here. She's new and fresh and excited with it."

Though Ridgeway isn't a licensed attorney in Alaska, that could change come May when she receives the results of her state bar exam, which she took in February. Still, she has made an impression on the court system's Southeast staff in her short time here.

"I want to thank you and welcome you in your new role in the first district," Mead said after swearing in Ridgeway (the first deputy magistrate she's sworn in). "You've been such a pleasure to work with and such an asset. I really am excited for you. Congratulations. What can we give her now? We need to assign things to her."