On January 18, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy appointed Clyde “Ed” Sniffen to be Alaska’s next attorney general, subject to approval by the Alaska legislature. Sniffen has served as acting attorney general since the resignation of Kevin Clarkson in August 2020.
In December 2020, Sniffen was among the state attorneys general who supported an amicus brief filed on behalf of Texas in its challenge to the 2020 presidential election results in the Supreme Court.
Sniffen Background
Sniffen joined the Alaska Department of Law in 2000, focusing initially on antitrust and consumer protection matters as part of the consumer protection unit. He also served as chief assistant attorney general for the Regulatory Affairs Section, representing the public interest before the state’s utility commission, as well as deputy attorney general and chief of staff. Sniffen has a history of working with the Alaska legislature to enact and amend consumer protection and antitrust statutes.
Before joining the Alaska attorney general’s office, Sniffen maintained a private practice in Anchorage that focused on natural resources, environmental, labor and employment, maritime, and utility law.
Sniffen received his B.A. in biology and sociology from the College of Idaho and his J.D. from Willamette University College of Law.