Press Release

Kenai District Attorney Announced

July 15, 2008

(Anchorage, AK) - The Department of Law is pleased to announce that Lance Joanis has been selected to fill the position of Kenai District Attorney currently occupied by June Stein, who is transferring to Anchorage for a statewide position with the Rural Prosecution Unit. He will be assuming his duties on August 1st.

Joanis has most recently been supervising the property crimes section in the Anchorage District Attorney's office. Prior to moving to Anchorage he was the District Attorney in Bethel, serving the Yukon-Kuskokwim region.

Joanis graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law in Moscow, Idaho, and received a Bachelor's Degree in Planning, Public Policy and Management from the University of Oregon.

"My goal is to continue to provide the high quality of service people of the Peninsula have come to expect from the Kenai District Attorney's Office," said Joanis. "Ms. Stein has developed a great team of attorneys and staff and I am honored to follow her in this appointment."

"Mr. Joanis has proven himself to be a capable leader and an outstanding attorney," said Deputy Attorney General Rick Svobodny. "He has quickly moved up within the Department's ranks and I am confident in his abilities to oversee the Kenai District Attorney's Office."

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Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.