Kevin Clarkson Explained

Kevin G. Clarkson
Office:32nd Attorney General of Alaska
Governor:Mike Dunleavy
Term Start:December 5, 2018
Term End:August 25, 2020
Predecessor:Jahna Lindemuth
Successor:Ed Sniffen (acting)
Birth Date:27 April 1959
Party:Republican
Education:Oregon State University (BA)
Willamette University (JD)

Kevin G. Clarkson (born April 27, 1959) is an American attorney from the state of Alaska who was the 32nd Alaska Attorney General from 2018 to 2020.[1]

Early life and career

After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oregon State University, Clarkson graduated cum laude from the Willamette University College of Law in 1985. He worked for the law firm Perkins Coie from 1985 to 1995 and for Brena, Bell & Clarkson, P.C. from 1985 to 2018.[2]

Alaska Attorney General

Governor Mike Dunleavy appointed him as Alaska's attorney general on December 5, 2018. He was confirmed by the Alaska Legislature on April 17, 2019.[3]

Texting and Resignation

In August 2020, Clarkson was placed on administrative leave by the Alaska State Human Resources Department, with Ed Sniffen being delegated his authority.[4] [5] According to investigations by media organizations, a junior state employee had complained about 558 text messages Clarkson had sent to her during March 2020. In the text messages, he had asked the woman to come to his house at least 18 times. Many of these requests were punctuated with the kiss emoji and comments about the woman's beauty.[6] He resigned from his post on August 25, 2020. Deputy Attorney General Ed Sniffen served as acting Attorney General, pending Dunleavy's selection of a permanent replacement. Ed Sniffen resigned after allegations of him having an affair with a 17-year-old in 1991. Treg Taylor was then appointed.[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Cordova . Gilbert . Attorney General Kevin Clarkson resigns after inappropriate text messages . 25 August 2020 . KTUU . 25 August 2020.
  2. Web site: Anchorage attorney faces discrimination complaint while defending faith-based homeless shelter. ktuu.com. January 1, 2019.
  3. Web site: Dunleavy attorney general appointee Kevin Clarkson is lawyer with ties to religious-liberty causes. James. Brooks. Anchorage Daily News. December 5, 2018. January 1, 2019.
  4. Web site: Mon Aug 3 Email Subject Acting Attorney General for August. Kyle Hopkins (Anchorage Daily. News). www.documentcloud.org.
  5. Web site: Dept. of Law Letter 8 21 20. Kyle Hopkins (Anchorage Daily. News). www.documentcloud.org.
  6. News: Alaska's Attorney General on Unpaid Leave After Sending Hundreds of 'Uncomfortable' Texts to a Young Colleague. Kyle. Hopkins.
  7. News: Governor names new attorney general: Treg Taylor replaces Ed Sniffen, whom Dunleavy named to the post less than two weeks earlier. . October 21, 2022 . . January 29, 2021.