The court may also make the appointment on its own initiative. [14], The Alaska Supreme Court was first established through the Alaska Constitution after Alaska's admission into the union in 1959, along with the Alaska Superior Court. In 1967, the court was expanded to five justices, and the chief justice was restricted to a three-year term. One of OPA's primary functions is to serve as guardian ad litem for children in court cases. The legislature then created the Alaska District Court and gave the state supreme court control over the number of district judges. [14] As of August 24, 2017, the APF was valued at $60.85 billion. How to vote | The study presented Confidence Scores that represented our confidence in each justice's degree of partisan affiliation, based on a variety of factors. JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) The Alaska Supreme Court on Thursday sided with Gov. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; .courts-container { background-color:#fcfcfc; width:100%; border:1px solid black;padding:5px;text-align:center;clear:both; } [5] For more information on these elections, visit the Alaska judicial elections page. table #officeholder-table td { P. 39 Download PDF As amended through November 29, 2022 Rule 39 - Appointment of Counsel (a)Informing Defendant of Right to Counsel. The presiding judge may appoint a standing master to conduct any or all of the probate proceedings listed in subparagraph (b) (2). Alaska District Court - Ballotpedia At the end of the walk-through, you will be emailed an attachment of the completed form that you can review for accuracy before filing. Judicial selection refers to the process used to select judges for courts. Joel Bolger was retained in the Alaska Supreme Court, Bolger's seat election with 57.87% of the vote. Subsequent terms last four years. For a full list of opinions published by the court, click here. Maassen, who grew up and graduated from law school in Michigan before moving to Alaska in 1981, spent all but two years in private practice in Anchorage before his appointment to the state Supreme Court. The application form is also available online here: www.vitalrecords.alaska.gov. These methods of selection are: if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; .courts-container { background-color:#fcfcfc; width:100%; border:1px solid black;padding:5px;text-align:center;clear:both; } Careers Elections in 2023 | The state Supreme Court has taken on some high-profile and controversial cases related to matters such as elections and the COVID-19 pandemic during Winfrees tenure as chief justice, but Maassen said he doesnt expect he will preside over a court that differs much in its approach and docket. Dunleavy's second nominee to the five-member supreme court. Ballotpedia features 410,034 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. She has a solo law practice in Fairbanks focused on criminal law, family law, and other civil matters. The following are noteworthy cases heard before the Alaska Supreme Court. These instructions describe how to apply for a license at a court. See also adoption forms, Executing on Property | Garnishing Earnings | Executing on Personal Property | Other Execution Forms | Other Process After Judgment, Change of Name | Presumption of Death | Unclaimed Body | Forcible Entry and Detainer (Eviction) | Stalking/Sexual Assault Protection | Application for Post Conviction Relief | Quarantine and Isolation Proceedings, Initiation of Case | Arraignments | Actions Before Trial | Trial and Sentencing | Restorative Justice, See also CINA forms U.S. President | Application for Appointment as Temporary Property Custodian Under AS 22.15.110(a)(3). The Alaska District Court is a trial court of limited jurisdiction in Alaska. Information on Alaska's current and upcoming judicial vacancies. Forms The state responded that Proposition 2 only provided for the dedication of specific revenues into the Permanent Fund, not the distribution of Permanent Fund earnings. The filing deadline was August 1, 2022. Language Assistance Terms of Use, Order for Predisposition Report and Summons for Disposition Hearing, Order for Predisposition Report - Delinquent Minor. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. [1] The court originally consisted of two associate justices and a chief justice. Counties | The Alaska Criminal Justice Commission has sunsetted. **. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system. In N.G. v. Superior Court, we addressed, but did not resolve, the Any party, including a child, may request the appointment of an attorney for the child, either in writing or orally on the record. Under the bill, state supreme court justices would be up for retention after six years instead of ten, and superior court judges would be up for retention every four years instead of six. Based on the justices selected, Alaska was the 21st most liberal court. Historical Selection Log Page or . } How to run for office | Cities | Court offices are closed on all state-observed holidays. Alaska Court System business hours are Monday - Thursday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm and Friday, 8:00 am - 12 noon. [22] The Alaska Supreme Court and Alaska Court of Appeals are the state's appellate courts; the superior courts and district courts serve as trial courts. Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 10:00am (location, agenda and access information to follow). text-align: center; After occupying the seat for at least three years, the appointee runs in an uncontested yes-no retention election and, if retained, will serve a subsequent term of eight years. They argued that Proposition 2 gave the legislature the power to dedicate Permanent Fund earnings outside of the legislative process and that the legislatures dedication of the earnings could not be vetoed by the governor. Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Palmer courts have expanded hours for specific cases. The initial term of a new judge is at least three years, after which the justice stands for retention in an uncontested yes-no election. Control of the upper chamber of the state legislature is split between parties. The mission of the Alaska Court System is to provide an accessible and impartial forum for the just resolution of all cases that come before it, and to decide such cases in accordance with the law, expeditiously and with integrity. ) REQUEST FOR APPOINTED ATTORNEY wish to have an attorney and cannot afford to pay for one. The study tracked the position taken by each state supreme court justice in every case they decided in 2020, then tallied the number of times the justices on the court ruled together. In total, the study found that there were 15 states with Democrat-controlled courts, 27 states with Republican-controlled courts, and eight states with Split courts. text-align: center; Represent Yourself To serve as a judge in the Alaska District Court system, these qualifications must be met: Magistrate judges are allowed to preside over some district court cases. padding-right: 10px !important; As of March 2023, four judges on the court were appointed by a Republican governor and one judge was appointed by an independent governor. List of Alaska Court Locations by Judicial District, Qualifications for serving as an Alaska District Court judge, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Alaska_District_Court&oldid=9102664, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) policy, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections, Hear state misdemeanor cases, and cases regarding violations of city and borough ordinances, Issue summonses, arrest warrants and search warrants, Hear first appearances and preliminary hearings in felony cases, Record vital statistics (in some areas of the state), Handle cases involving children on an emergency basis, Be licensed to practice law in Alaska and have engaged in active practice of law for not less than three years immediately preceding appointment, Have served for at least seven years as a magistrate in the state and have graduated from an accredited law school. Sworn Statement of Personal Representative to Close Informal Estate. Alaska has one type of limited jurisdiction court: Alaska District Courts. The Alaska Judicial Council forwards a list of its nominees to the governor, who must choose a name from the list within 45 days to fill any vacancy. [2], The court may also review non-final decisions by the superior court in both civil and criminal cases. State Sen. Bill Wielechowski (D) and former state Sens. Message from the Chief Justice Court Closures Precertification Flowchart | Hospitals, Imaging, Surgery Centers, & Rehab - Network Rules & Penalties | Appeals Flowchart | I guess gratitude for the confidence of my colleagues and feeling a huge responsibility, and I hope Im up to it, he said. This article covers how state court judges are selected in Alaska, including: As of March 2023, judges for all courts in the state were selected through the assisted appointment method, where the governor selects a nominee from a list provided by a nominating commission. Forms The court also hears other matters, including bar admission, attorney discipline, and state law questions raised in United States federal courts. Site Index I think the unique thing about Justice Winfree is hes a homegrown Alaskan, Maassen said. [14] For more information on these elections, visit the Alaska judicial elections page. A study analyzing judicial partisanship published by Ballotpedia in 2020 gave Maassen an indeterminate rating, noting his appointment by a Republican governor via the states hybrid judicial nominating commission, and his contributing a total of $1,050 to Democratic candidates and organizations. Calendars for Today update by 7:30 am unless otherwise noted. Formal Probate When the person who died made a Will: Request to Start Formal Probate and Appoint a Personal Representative When There is a Will, P-320 [Fill-In PDF] Order Starting Formal Probate and Appointing PR When There is a Will, P-321 [Fill-In PDF] Acceptance of Duties and Letters Testamentary, P-335 [Fill-In PDF] .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} The image below depicts the flow of cases through Alaska's state court system. Search Cases, Glossaries / Legal Terms Request to Be Appointed as a Co-Personal Representative. The bill would have required that judicial appointees be confirmed by a majority vote of the Alaska State Legislature, reducing the terms judges serve between retention elections. He or she serves in that capacity for two years. Pay Online Selection Procedures - Alaska The appointment announced by the Alaska Court System on Tuesday is scheduled to take effect Feb. 7, 2023, the day after current Chief Justice Daniel E. Winfrees planned retirement at the end his three-year term as chief and 15 years on the Supreme Court. The seat was scheduled to be up for retention on November 8, 2022. 525 Anchorage AK 99501 Fax: (907) 269-3535 Phone: (907) 269-3500 Toll-Free: 1-877-957-3500 The term of one Alaska Supreme Court justice expired on February 1, 2023. PHYSICAL ADDRESS. ADM-800 Customer Service Questionnaire. Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property of Decedent. Alaska's supreme court justices are chosen using the Commission-selection, political appointment method of judicial selection. Alaska Supreme Court elections, 2022 - Ballotpedia Flowchart A: Getting Started (from finding the death certificate to starting a probate case) Instructions are available online within their specific topics (see the list at the top of this webpage) and at all court locations statewide. Alaska Superior Court In May 2016, the Alaska State Legislature passed an appropriation bill that included the distribution of $2,052 in Permanent Fund dividends to each state resident. That year, 84 of the 344 seats on state supreme courts were up for election. Appointment of Counsel, Alaska R. Crim. P. 39 - Casetext Therefore, the court ruled, the governors partial veto was lawful. Locations & Hours Printed copies are also available in person at all court locations. Court System Information You will be given a certificate of completion that you can file at the court, once you complete your required parent education. At that time, Alaska received a score of -0.11. Request Copies Court Directory - Alaska Court System For example, if a state has justices on the state supreme court with Confidence Scores of 4, -2, 2, 14, -2, 3, and 4, the Court Balance is the average of those scores: 3.3. Terms of Use. Request to Start Informal Probate and Appoint a Personal Representative When There Is No Will. Arkansas woman suffers major injuries when driver veered into her on the Homer Spit Trail. Peter Maassen has been selected as the next chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court by his fellow justices, putting a magistrate whos spent most of his 40-year legal career in private practice at the pinnacle of the states judicial branch after a decade on the bench. It shall consist of three justices, one of whom is chief justice. [21] No further action was taken by the legislature on this bill.[26]. The National Judicial College is now taking applicants for the next Judicial Academy-A Course for Aspiring Judges; October 16-20, 2023; Reno, NV; Press release announcing nominees for Fairbanks Superior Court; Press release announcing applicants for Anchorage, Juneau, and Sitka Superior Courts; Press release announcing applicants for Alaska Public Defender; Press release announcing vacancies for the Anchorage, Juneau, and Sitka Superior Courts; Press release announcing vacancy for the Alaska Public Defender; Fair and Free - featuring Sandra Day O'Connor, From the Bar to the Bench: Increasing Diversity in Alaska's Judiciary. State executives | Acceptance of Duties by Personal Representative and Letters of Administration by Court. As of March 22, 2023, there are no current vacancies on the Alaska Supreme Court, out of the court's five judicial positions. Alaska Court of Appeals Request Copies After occupying the seat for at least three years, the appointee runs in an uncontested yes-no retention election and, if retained, will serve a subsequent term of ten years.[6][7]. After that, the five justices are subject to retention elections every ten years. Proposition 2 amended the Alaska Constitution to creat[e] the Alaska Permanent Fund (Permanent Fund) and dedicate[e] it to certain state revenues. Specifically, the amendment required 25% of the states oil rents and royalties be deposited into the Permanent Fund and then invested in income-producing investments. A-12755 & A-12756 Trial Court Nos. The mission of the Alaska Court System is to provide an accessible and impartial forum for the just resolution of all cases that come before it, and to decide such cases in accordance with the law, expeditiously and with integrity. In order for a criminal appeal to be heard, the appropriate appeals court must certify that the case involves a significant question of constitutional law, or it must be an issue of substantial public interest. (b)Eligibility for Appointment. I understand that: I must provide to the court all financial information requested by the court so the court can decide if I qualify for an appointed attorney. Court staff can assist you with locating and accessing a form. Click here to notify us of changes to judicial selection methods in this state. The governor appoints a justice from a pool of names provided by the nominating commission. The term of one Alaska Supreme Court justice expired on February 1, 2023. The chief judge of the court of appeals is selected by the supreme court's chief justice. To arrive at confidence scores we analyzed each justice's past partisan activity by collecting data on campaign finance, past political positions, party registration history, as well as other factors. Pate succeeded Justice Daniel Winfree, who retired on February 6, 2023. Court System Information Appellate Courts Directory - Alaska Court System Legal Notices Dario Borghesan Alaska has a divided government where neither party holds a trifecta. The state Supreme Court of Alaska was given a campaign finance score (CFscore), which was calculated for judges in October 2012. CUSTOMER SERVICE. Terms of Use, Livestream Hearings, Telephonic Hearings & Conferences, and Zoom Hearings & Meetings, https://courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts/bail.htm, https://courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts/pj-order-faq.htm, https://courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts/hearings.htm, https://courts.alaska.gov/shc/family/marriage-faq.htm, https://courts.alaska.gov/admin/docs/statewide_prohibited_items_list.pdf. } Restitution Collection, Accessibility Judges of the Alaska District Courts are selected through the assisted appointed method. Court staff cannot select forms for you or give you legal advice about what language to use. The Alaska Judicial Council forwards a list of its nominees to the governor, who must choose a name from the list within 45 days to fill any vacancy. Alaska's court system is a "unified, centrally administered, and totally state-funded" system. We provide this catalog for informational purposes. Flowchart B: After the Case is Started (from personal representative appointment to creditor claims) In addition to the federal courts in Alaska, there are two types of appellate courts, one general jurisdiction trial court, and one limited jurisdiction trial court. Alaska Superior Court

3AN-14-04783 CR & 2KB-05-00526 CR O P I N I O N No. They may be suspended, removed from office, or censured by the Supreme Court upon the recommendation of the Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct. The Supreme Court can choose whether or not to accept petitions of hearing from the lower courts on civil or criminal matters. [1] [2] Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Alaska Department of Health and She will replace Judge Paul Lyle who retires next month. They are usually first recommended by senators (or members of the House, occasionally). The district courts are served by Article III federal judges, who are appointed for life during good behavior. The court hears oral argument in cases in Anchorage each month. Appointed justices are then subject to a retention election at the state's first general election that is more than three years after the appointment. The governor of Alaska appoints a court of appeals judge from a list of qualified candidates submitted by the Alaska Judicial Council. The seat was scheduled to be up for retention on November 8, 2022. Alaska District Court, Courts in Alaska Alaska judicial elections Judicial selection in Alaska, What's on my ballot? Statement Starting Informal Probate and Appointing a Personal Representative When There is a Will. The Alaska Legislature founded the Office of Public Advocacy in 1984. See also Flow Diagrams about Registering Tribal CINA Orders Before OPA was founded the court system provided guardian ad litem services to children in the state. Public policy. Alaska District Court, Courts in Alaska Alaska judicial elections Judicial selection in Alaska, Communications: Alison Graves Carley Allensworth Abigail Campbell Sarah Groat Erica Shumaker Caitlin Vanden Boom Probate Forms - courts.alaska.gov PDF VS-361 Information About Marriage - Alaska Diagram for Calculating Prior Child Deduction (effective April 16, 2018), Reports | Court Visitors | Appointment Orders | Acceptances | Letters | Adult Packets, Booklets, & Instructions | Minor Guardianship | } A state supreme court plays a role in the checks and balances system of a state government. The election was not required after Justice Daniel Winfree did not file for retention. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Application Form. Be actively engaged in law practice for eight years prior to the appointment. Rick Halford (R) and Clem Tillion (R) filed suit. Alaska had a Court Balance Score of 2.00, indicating Republican control of the court. Prohibited Items - Items not allowed in court buildings. After occupying the seat for at least three years, the appointee runs in an uncontested yes-no retention election and, if retained, will serve a subsequent term of ten years.[9][10]. They may be impeached by a two-thirds majority of the. Ballotpedia features 410,034 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Alaska Court of Appeals Justices serve 10-year terms on the court. Susan Carney (Alaska). Calendars (appointed) *Important Dates: Fairbanks Superior Court Meeting Date - May 18, 2023 . Courts with higher positive Court Balance Scores included justices with higher Republican Confidence Scores, while courts with lower negative Court Balance Scores included justices with higher Democratic Confidence Scores. To read more about how these selection methods are used across the country, click here. Contact reporter Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com. Each justice is appointed from a list of two or more nominees compiled by the Alaska Judicial Council.[1]. Contact Us [18] For more information on these elections, visit the Alaska judicial elections page. Rule 2 - Appointment and Authority of Masters, Alaska R - Casetext