Alaska Court System
Encyclopedia
The Alaska Court System is the unified, centrally administered, and totally state-funded judicial system
for the State
of Alaska
. It has four levels of state courts: the Alaska Supreme Court
, the Alaska Court of Appeals
, the Alaska Superior Court, and the Alaska District Court. The supreme court and the court of appeals are appellate courts, while the superior and district courts are usually trial court
s (although the superior courts can also sometimes hear appeals from the district courts).
The supreme court and the superior court were established in the Alaska Constitution
, which took effect upon statehood in 1959. Later that year, the Alaska Legislature
created a district court for each judicial district and granted power to the supreme court to increase or decrease the number of district court judge
s. In 1980, to ease the appellate burden on the supreme court, the legislature created a court of appeals.
The Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court is the administrative head of the Alaska Court System. An administrative director is appointed by the chief justice with concurrence of the supreme court. The director supervises the administration of all courts in the state. Rules governing the administration of all courts and the rules of practice and procedure for civil and criminal cases are promulgated by the supreme court.
In addition, the office of the Clerk of the Appellate Courts supports the work of the supreme court and the court of appeals. The clerk is required to be an attorney. The clerk's responsibilities include monitoring the caseflow through the supreme court and the court of appeals and making recommendations for improvements in appellate procedure. The clerk is also responsible for all case filing and calendaring, publishing opinions, and related tasks. The clerk's office is located in Anchorage
, and deputy clerks are located in Juneau, Anchorage, and Fairbanks
. Marilyn May was appointed Clerk of the Appellate Courts in October 1998.
Alaska uses a Missouri Plan
merit selection system for judges and justices. The governor
appoints a supreme court justice or a judge of the court of appeals, superior court, or district court from a list of qualified candidates submitted by the Alaska Judicial Council. The governor has 45 days from receipt of the list to make the appointment. All judges and justices in Alaska must stand for judicial retention elections (approval by the voters) on a nonpartisan ballot at the first statewide general election held more than three years after appointment, and periodically thereafter.
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
for the State
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. It has four levels of state courts: the Alaska Supreme Court
Alaska Supreme Court
The Alaska Supreme Court is the state supreme court in the State of Alaska's judicial department . The supreme court is composed of the chief justice and four associate justices, who are all appointed by the governor of Alaska and face judicial retention elections and who choose one of their own...
, the Alaska Court of Appeals
Alaska Court of Appeals
The Alaska Court of Appeals is an intermediary court of appeals in the State of Alaska's judicial department , created in 1980 by the Alaska Legislature as an additional appellate court to lessen the burden on the Alaska Supreme Court...
, the Alaska Superior Court, and the Alaska District Court. The supreme court and the court of appeals are appellate courts, while the superior and district courts are usually trial court
Trial court
A trial court or court of first instance is a court in which trials take place. Such courts are said to have original jurisdiction.- In the United States :...
s (although the superior courts can also sometimes hear appeals from the district courts).
The supreme court and the superior court were established in the Alaska Constitution
Alaska Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Alaska is the constitution of the U.S. state of Alaska. It was ratified in 1956 and took effect with Alaska's admission as a state on January 3, 1959.-The statehood movement:...
, which took effect upon statehood in 1959. Later that year, the Alaska Legislature
Alaska Legislature
The Alaska Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is a bicameral institution, consisting of the lower Alaska House of Representatives, with 40 members, and the upper house Alaska Senate, with 20 members...
created a district court for each judicial district and granted power to the supreme court to increase or decrease the number of district court judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
s. In 1980, to ease the appellate burden on the supreme court, the legislature created a court of appeals.
The Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court is the administrative head of the Alaska Court System. An administrative director is appointed by the chief justice with concurrence of the supreme court. The director supervises the administration of all courts in the state. Rules governing the administration of all courts and the rules of practice and procedure for civil and criminal cases are promulgated by the supreme court.
In addition, the office of the Clerk of the Appellate Courts supports the work of the supreme court and the court of appeals. The clerk is required to be an attorney. The clerk's responsibilities include monitoring the caseflow through the supreme court and the court of appeals and making recommendations for improvements in appellate procedure. The clerk is also responsible for all case filing and calendaring, publishing opinions, and related tasks. The clerk's office is located in Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
, and deputy clerks are located in Juneau, Anchorage, and Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
. Marilyn May was appointed Clerk of the Appellate Courts in October 1998.
Alaska uses a Missouri Plan
Missouri Plan
The Missouri Plan is a method for the selection of judges. It originated in Missouri in 1940, and has been adopted by several states of the United States...
merit selection system for judges and justices. The governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
appoints a supreme court justice or a judge of the court of appeals, superior court, or district court from a list of qualified candidates submitted by the Alaska Judicial Council. The governor has 45 days from receipt of the list to make the appointment. All judges and justices in Alaska must stand for judicial retention elections (approval by the voters) on a nonpartisan ballot at the first statewide general election held more than three years after appointment, and periodically thereafter.