Alaska Court Records Search (Court Case Search)

Alaska Public Court Records and Statistics

This guide will explain how the Alaska court system works and give users a way to help find Alaska court records directly online.  When searching records in Alaska there are ways to find basic public records that can help paint a more realistic picture of someone’s background history. 

While there are more ways to find public records on someone, this guide will focus on the Alaska court records system and its three branches. 

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Alaska Court Statistics

Statistics are from Alaska.

Alaska court system

Alaska courts are made up of three equal branches. A lot of other states are also set up this way.   They are the following:  Executive, Legislative, and judicial. 

These are in place to ensure there are checks and balances with the courts of Alaska.

Alaska implements a completely centrally-administered court system that is completely funded by the state of Alaska.  In Alaska, Municipal governments do not have and maintain separate court systems.

How many levels of courts are there in  Alaska?

four levels of courts are present within the Alaska court system.  They are the following and each has different levels of power.  Superior courts, District courts (Trial courts), Appeals courts, Supreme courts.

What is a court case?

Civil:

There are two different and main types of court cases.  Civil and criminal cases.  Civil cases and the law will deal with differences between individuals

Criminal: 

Cases deal with any cases brought by a city, state, and federal against a person who has committed a crime against people within a community.  Court actions will decide if a person is guilty and to impose a punishment.

Superior courts

Superior courts are trial courts within general jurisdiction.  In the state of Alaska, there are forty-two superior court judgeships.  This court has authority to hear civil an criminal cases brought before the state courts  Keep in mind that Superior courts typically do not hear cases brought in the District Court.

Jurisdiction of Superior courts:

• Trial courts for civil and criminal cases
• If the case has been tried in District court it can serve as an appellate court for appeals in civil an criminal cases.
• Hears cases regarding children who have committed crimes (Juvenile)
• Cases involved in property of deceased
• Mentally ill
• domestic relations matters
• Guardianships and conservatorships 

Trial Courts

There are two level or types of trial courts in Alaska.  The Superior courts and the District Courts.  These trial courts hear cases that fall within their jurisdiction when they are initiated and render a decision of the law. 

Trial courts in Alaska are divided up into four judicial districts.  Starting in January of each year the Chief justice will designate a  Superior court judge from each of the four Alaskan districts to serve as presiding judge for one calendar year.

Appeals court (Court of Appeals)

The court of appeals in Alaska consists of three judges.  One chief judge and two associate judges.  The court of appeals in Alaska was created in 1980.

The appeals court has jurisdiction to hear appeals that involve criminal prosecutions, post-conviction, juvenile, extradition, probation, parole, habeas corpus, bail, and excessiveness of leniency of a sentence.  Keep in mind that the court of appeals in Alaska must accept appeals from any final decisions by the District or Superior courts in criminal cases.

Supreme court

This is the highest level of courts in Alaska. It administers the state of Alaska’s judicial system and hears appeals from the lower state courts.  Within the Supreme court, there is one chief justice and four associate justices.  The Supreme Court will hear cases on an oral argument on a monthly basis in Anchorage, once each quarter in Juneau and Fairbanks and, and it may even hear cases in other communities.

Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

Criminal and Civil matters the Supreme court has to accept appeals from the final decisions that happen by the Superior court in civil cases.  It has discretionary matters when it comes to hearings on non-final orders by the court of appeals, including bar admission and attorney discipline matters, and final appellate decisions of the court of appeals criminal or superior court.

Alaska court statistics

Below is the Alaska court statistics from court activity from various years to the 2017 year closeout. This data is from the Alaska court system annual statistical reports.

Statewide trial courts from 2016 to 2017

Total superior court case filings and dispositions for 2015 – 2017

Alaska Court Holidays

Below are the court holidays in Alaska that are observed. If your searching for Alaska court records in person then be sure its not on one of the below days.