Alaska Supreme Court
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (July 2020) |
Alaska Supreme Court | |
---|---|
Established | 1959 |
Location | Alaska State Constitution |
Appeals to | Supreme Court of the United States |
Judge term length | 10 years |
Number of positions | 5 |
Website | Official site |
Chief Justice | |
Currently | Peter J. Maassen |
Since | February 7, 2023 |
The Alaska Supreme Court is the
The court consists of five justices, one of whom is internally chosen to serve as chief justice for a three-year term. The justices are appointed by the governor of Alaska from slates of candidates approved by the Alaska Judicial Council, an independent commission of Alaskan lawyers and lay citizens. Each justice faces a judicial retention election after their third year of service and once every ten years thereafter.
It hears cases on a monthly basis in
History
Alaska's supreme court was founded along with the rest of Alaska's court system, about six months after statehood. From 1884 until the establishment of Alaska Supreme Court, the United States Territorial District Court for the District of Alaska was the highest judicial body in Alaska.[1]
The court originally consisted of two associate justices and a chief justice. In 1967, the court was expanded to five justices, and the chief justice was restricted to a three-year term.[2]
Appointment and retention
Like all Alaska state court judges, Alaska Supreme Court justices are appointed under a Missouri Plan system. The governor of Alaska appoints justices from lists of qualified candidates submitted to him or her by the Alaska Judicial Council, an independent seven-member commission composed of at least three lawyers and at least three non-lawyers from various parts of the state appointed on a non-partisan basis. To be eligible for appointment, a person must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of Alaska for five years prior to appointment. A justice must be licensed to practice law in Alaska at the time of appointment and must have engaged in the active practice of law for eight years. The appointed justice must be approved by the voters on a nonpartisan ballot at the first statewide general election held more than three years after appointment; thereafter, each justice must participate in another retention election every ten years.
Jurisdiction
The supreme court has final state
Decisions
The court meets after oral argument and on a bi-weekly basis to confer on cases argued orally and on cases submitted on the briefs. The court usually announces its decisions of the cases by issuing opinions for official publication (in Westlaw, the Pacific Reporter and the Alaska Reporter) as well as memorandum opinions and judgments (MO&Js) and orders summarily ruling on the merits of cases or dismissing them. Although the MO&Js and most orders are not published, the MO&Js are available for public inspection at the Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau offices of the clerk of the appellate courts, and the orders are filed in the clerk's Anchorage office. Current MO&Js are also available on the Alaska Court System website.
Rules and administration
Under the Alaska Constitution, the supreme court establishes rules for the administration of all courts in the state and for practice and procedure in civil and criminal cases. The supreme court has further adopted rules for the
The chief justice
The five supreme court justices, by majority vote, select one of their members to be the chief justice. The chief justice holds that office for three years and may not serve consecutive terms. The chief justice is also the administrative head of the Alaska Court System. The chief justice, Peter Maassen began his term in February 2023, succeeding Justice Daniel Winfree.
Current membership
Justice | Born | Joined | Chief Justice | Term ends | Mandatory retirement[a] | Appointed by | Law school |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peter J. Maassen, Chief Justice | January 14, 1955 | August 9, 2012 | 2023–present | 2026 | 2025 | Sean Parnell (R) | Michigan |
Susan M. Carney | 1961 (age 62–63) | August 26, 2016 | – | 2030 | 2031 | Bill Walker (I) | Harvard |
Dario Borghesan | December 11, 1979 | July 1, 2020 | – | 2025 | 2049 | Mike Dunleavy (R) | Michigan |
Jennifer S. Henderson | June 10, 1976 | July 7, 2021 | – | 2025 | 2046 | Mike Dunleavy (R) | Yale |
Jude Pate | – | March 22, 2023 | – | 2026 | – | Mike Dunleavy (R) | Lewis & Clark |
See also
References
- ^ Naske, Claus-M. (July 1985). "A History of the Alaska Federal District Court System 1884-1959, and the Creation of the State Court System" (PDF). Retrieved 2021-12-15.
- ^ Bryner, Alex (25 February 2004). "The State of the Judiciary" (Press release).
- ^ "Alaska Constitution - Article IV – The Judiciary - § 11. Retirement".