# ALASKA RULES OF COURT

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- **Document type:** Court rule

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ALASKA RULES OF COURT
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RULES OF ADMINISTRATION*
Table of Contents

Rule
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6

6.1
7

8
8.1
9

9.1

10
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12

Administrative Director of Courts—Duties.
Appointment and Compensation of Employees—Practice of
Law by Personnel Prohibited.
Information and Data to be Furnished to Administrative Director and Presiding Judges.
Seals of Court.
(a) Seal of the Court of Appeals.
(b) Seal of the Trial Courts.
(c) Possession of Seals.
Disposal of Money Paid to or Deposited With the Court.
Interpreter Services in Court Proceedings for Persons with Limited English Proficiency.
(a) Construction.
(b) Court System Responsibility to Pay for Interpreter Services.
(c) Method of Delivery.
(d) Court-Provided Second Interpreter at Hearings or Trial.
(e) Amount the Court System Pays.
Interpreter Services in Court Proceedings for Persons with a Physical Disability.
(a) Court Proceedings.
(b) Amount the Court System Pays.
Witness Fees.
(a) Amount.
(b) Travel Expense.
(c) Expert Witnesses.
(d) Payment.
(e) Demand of Payment in Advance in Civil Cases.
(f) Parties and Attorneys as Witnesses.
Physicians’ Fees.
Health Care Provider Expert Advisory Panel Fees.
(a) Compensation by Court.
(b) Request for Compensation.
Fee Schedule.
(a) In the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.
(b) Filing Fees—Superior Court.
(c) Filing Fees—District Court.
(d) Electronic Recordings and Related Fees.
(e) Miscellaneous Fees in the Superior Court and the District Court.
(f) General Provisions.
Form of Payment.
(a) Bail.
(b) Other Payments to the Court.
(c) Other Forms of Payment.
Exemption from Payment of Fees—Determination of Indigency.
Fees—Service of Civil Process.
Procedure for Counsel and Guardian Ad Litem Appointments at Public Expense.
(a) Intent.
(b) Appointments under AS 18.85.100(a) (Public Defender Agency).
(1) Appointment Procedure.
(2) Determination of Indigency.
(3) Assessment of Costs.
(c) Appointments under AS 44.21.410 (Office of Public Advocacy).
(1) Appointment Procedure.
(2) Indigency Determination.
(3) Assessment of Costs.

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ALASKA COURT RULES

14
15

16

17

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(d) Withdrawal from Unauthorized Appointment.
(e) Other Appointments at Public Expense.
(1) Constitutionally Required Appointments.
(2) Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
(3) List of Private Attorneys.
(4) Appointment Orders.
(5) Compensation.
(6) Recovery of Costs.
(f) Responsibilities of Appointed Counsel.
Jury Service Fees.
Jury Selection and Service.
(a) Administration.
(b) Statewide Master Jury List.
(c) Local Master Lists.
(1) Creation of Local Lists.
(2) Community Assignments.
(3) Alternative Assignments.
(d) Term Lists, Summonses, and Questionnaires.
(e) Juror Deferrals.
(1) 10-Month Limit.
(2) Deferral as a Matter of Right.
(3) No Deferral Allowed.
(4) Deferral after Term of Service Begins.
(5) Partial Deferral for Shift Workers.
(6) Failure to Appear for Deferred Service.
(f) Juror Excusals.
(1) Temporary Excusals.
(2) Permanent Excusals.
(3) Length of Excusal after Jury Service.
(4) Exclusions List.
(g) Notice of Juror Status.
(h) Selection of Prospective Trial Jurors.
(i) Trial Jury.
(j) Juror Privacy.
(1) Court Use Only.
(2) Limited to Parties.
(3) No Disclosure.
(4) Selection Hearing Records.
(5) Attendance Records.
(k) Term of Service.
(l) Definitions.
(1) Deferral of Jury Service.
(2) Jury Summons.
(3) Jury Year.
(4) Natural Faculties.
(5) Permanent Excusals.
(6) Qualification Questionnaire.
(7) Temporary Excusal.
(8) Term List.
(9) Term of Service.
(10) Trial Jury.
(11) Trial Panel.
(12) Trial Questionnaire.
Judicial Holidays—Transaction of Business.
(a) Judicial Holidays.
(b) Holidays Falling on Sunday or Saturday.
(c) Special or Limited Holidays.
Sessions and Offices of the Supreme Court.

RULES OF ADMINISTRATION

17.5

18

19
19.1
19.2

20
21
22
23

24

25
26
26.1
26.2
26.5
27
28

(a) Sessions of the Supreme Court.
(b) Offices.
(c) When Clerk’s Office Is Open.
Sessions and Offices of the Court of Appeals.
(a) Sessions of the Court of Appeals.
(b) Office.
(c) When Clerk’s Office Is Open.
Superior and District Courts—Time and Place of Sitting.
(a) Superior and District Courts—When Open for Business.
(b) Magistrate Judges—Time of Sitting—Office Hours.
(c) Courts Open During Noon Hour.
Number and Location of District Court Judges and Magistrate Judges.
(a) District Court Judges.
(b) Magistrates.
Qualifications of Magistrate Judges Who Seek Appointment as District Court Judges Under AS 22.15.160(a)(2).
Deputy Magistrates.
(a) Introduction.
(b) Qualifications.
(c) Appointment.
(d) Duties.
(e) Limitations on Deputy Magistrate Duty.
(f) Classification and Compensation.
Magistrate Judge Salaries.
Conduct of Proceedings.
(a) Proceedings on the Record and in Open Court.
(b) Judicial Robes.
Places for Holding Court in Time of War, Insurrection, Pestilence, or Other Public Danger.
Appointment of Former Justices and Judges to Pro Tempore Judicial Service.
(a) Appointment to Pro Tempore Judicial Service.
(1) Method of Appointment.
(2) Scope or Term of Appointment.
(b) Eligibility to Apply for Inclusion in the Administrative Director’s Pro Tempore Appointment List.
(1) Eligibility to Apply.
(2) Restoration of Eligibility.
(c) The Pro Tempore Appointment List.
(d) Compensation.
(e) Additional Service Credit.
(f) Private Arbitration and Mediation.
Assignment of Judicial Officers.
(a) Assignments Within Judicial Districts.
(b) Temporary Assignments in Other Judicial Districts.
(c) Assignment of Appellate Judicial Officers.
(d ) Assignments of Active Judges for Pro Tempore Appellate Service.
(e) Assignments of Active Judges for Other Pro Tempore Service.
(f) Scope and Duration of Assignment.
(g) Recommendations.
(h) Definitions.
Traveling Expenses of Judicial Officers and Employees.
Power of Court to Provide Proper Facilities for Transaction of Business in Court Payment of Expenses.
Court Facilities.
Court Security.
Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.
Presiding Judge.
Judicial Vacations and Judicial Leave.
(a) Vacation Leave.
(1) Accrual of Leave.
(2) Extraordinary Hardship Exception.
(b) Sick Leave.

AdR

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ALASKA COURT RULES
(c) Leave Without Pay.
(d) District Court Judges and Magistrate Judges.
(e) Discretion of Chief Justice, Chief Judge or Presiding Judge.
(f) Administrative Leave.
(g) Leave of Absence.
29
Trial Court Clerks—Appointment and Duties.
(a) Appointment.
(b) Powers and Duties.
30
Powers and Duties of Magistrate Judges in Cases Beyond Their Jurisdiction.
31
Additional Duties of Judicial Officers and Employees.
33
Magistrate Judge Training Judges.
34
Bonding of All Justices, Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Judicial Employees.
35
Electronic Recording Equipment — Official Court.
Record—Responsibility for Record.
36
Transcripts—Fees—Preparation.
37
Records Retention.
37.5 Access to Court Records.
(a) Scope and Purpose.
(b) Who Has Access to Court Records.
(c) Definitions.
(d) General Access Rule.
(e) Court Records Excluded from Public Access.
(1) Case Records.
(2) Administrative Records.
(f) Obtaining Access to Public Court Records.
37.6 Prohibiting Access to Public Case Records.
(a) Limiting Access.
(b) Standard.
(c) Least Restrictive Alternative.
(d) Procedure.
37.7 Obtaining Access to Non-Public Court Records.
(a) Allowing Access to Non-Public Records.
(b) Procedure.
37.8 Electronic Case Information.
(a) Availability.
(b) Bulk Distribution of Electronic Case Information.
(c) Distribution of Compiled Information.
(d) Fees.
38
Reports to Bureau of Vital Statistics—Superior Courts.
(a) Divorce—Annulment—Adoption.
(b) Change of Name—Delayed Birth Certificate—Legitimation.
39
Vital Statistics.
40
Index to Cases.
41
Case Numbering.
42
Docketing. (Reserved)
43
Bail Forfeiture Schedules.
(a) Procedure for Adopting Bail Forfeiture Schedule.
(b) Procedures for Amending Bail Forfeiture Schedules.
43.1 Traffic Bail Forfeiture Schedule.
43.2 Fish and Game Bail Forfeiture Schedule.
43.3 Parks Bail Forfeiture Schedule.
43.4 Smoking Bail Forfeiture Schedule.
43.5 Alcohol Bail Forfeiture Schedule.
43.6 Oversize Vehicle Bail Forfeiture Schedule.
43.7 Warning Signs Bail Forfeiture Schedule. (Rescinded)
43.8 Watercraft Bail Forfeiture Schedule.
43.9 Skiing Bail Forfeiture Schedule.
43.10 Knik River Public Use Area Bail Forfeiture Schedule.

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RULES OF ADMINISTRATION
43.11 Weights and Measures Bail Forfeiture Schedule.
43.12 Marijuana Bail Forfeiture Schedule
43.13 Wildland Fire Bail Forfeiture Schedule
44

45

46

47

48
49
50

51

Rulemaking.
(a) Uniform Policy.
(b) Request for Rulemaking.
(c) Major or Minor Change.
(d) Minor Change.
(e) Major Change.
(f) Public Information.
(g) Standing Rules Committees.
(h) Appointment.
(i) Emergency Rule Action.
(j) Effective Date.
Concurrent Jurisdiction.
(a) Mandatory Filing.
(b) Amount in Controversy.
(c) Transfer by District Court.
(d) Transfer or Retention by Superior Court.
(e) Criminal Cases Unaffected.
Special Orders of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals and Presiding Judge Orders.
(a) Judicial Administrative Orders.
(b) Uniformity Required.
(c) Definitions.
(1) Rules.
(2) Judicial Administrative Orders.
(3) Local Form Orders.
(d) Sanctions.
(e) Adoption.
(1) Filing.
(2) Review.
(3) Supreme Court.
(4) Distribution.
(5) Sunset Review.
(f) Local Form Orders.
Contract Claims Against the Alaska Court System.
(a) Claim Procedure Mandatory.
(b) Presentation of Claim to Deputy Administrative Director.
(c) Appeal of Disallowance by Deputy Administrative Director.
(d) Pre Hearing Procedures.
(e) Hearing Procedure.
(f) Decision.
Telephonic Hearing Costs.
Municipal Citations.
Use of Cameras and Electronic Devices in Court Facilities.
(a) General Provisions.
(b) In the Courtroom.
(c) Outside the Courtroom.
(d) Local Procedure.
(e) Reconsideration of Trial Court Denial of Request to Use Cameras and Electronic Devices.
(f) Coverage of Oral Argument in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.
Title.

AdR

*Editor’s Note: These Administrative Rules were rescinded and repromulgated by
Supreme Court Order 412 effective July 1, 1980.

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ALASKA COURT RULES
Rule 1.

Administrative Director of Courts—Duties.

ment of the judicial systems; and

There shall be an administrative director of courts who
shall, under policy guidelines provided by the supreme court:

(n) Be legal advisor for the chief justice and the supreme
court in all legal matters not adjudicatory in nature, such as:

(a) Supervise the administrative operation of the judicial
system;

(1) Preparation of memoranda on statutes which may
affect the judiciary;

(b) Establish the administrative methods and systems to
be employed in the offices of the clerks and other offices of the
courts;

(2) Drafting of rules of practice, procedure and
administration;

(c) Periodically inspect and examine the administrative
methods and systems in use and make recommendations to the
chief justice for the improvement of such administrative
methods and systems;
(d) Establish a system of prescribed accounting practices
for all courts including uniform procedures, consistent with
existing law, for calculating interest on judgments and
allocating payments to costs, interest, and principal;
(e) Examine the state of the calendars of all courts,
determine the need for assistance by any court and confer with
the justices and judges on the status of their calendars and
administrative matters;
(f) When authorized by the chief justice, make
assignments of judges to other judicial districts where the
courts are in need of assistance and where the judge consents
to the assignment;
(g) When directed by the supreme court, prescribe
methods for the assignment and calendaring of cases in the
superior or district court in any court location;
(h) Collect and compile statistical and other data and
transmit copies of the same to the supreme court to the end that
proper action may be taken in respect thereto;
(i) Prepare budget estimates of state appropriations
necessary for the maintenance and operation of the judicial
system and submit the budget request, as approved by the
supreme court, to the legislature;
(j) Draw all requisitions requiring the payment of state
monies appropriated for the maintenance and operation of the
judicial system;
(k) Collect statistical and other data and make reports
relating to the expenditure of public monies for the
maintenance and operation of the judicial system and the
offices connected therewith;
(l) Obtain reports from presiding judges, area court
administrators, and clerks of court in accordance with the
requirements of the supreme court on cases and other judicial
business in which action has been delayed beyond periods of
time specified by law or rules of court and make report thereof
to the chief justice and the supreme court;
(m) Formulate and submit to the chief justice and the
supreme court recommendations of policies for the improve-

6

(3) Conducting and supervising research on procedure
and court administration;
(4) Instruction of court personnel concerning rules or
statutes governing ministerial and other non-adjudicatory
duties;
(5) Preparing of syllabi for the basic legal instruction of
magistrate judges and other lay personnel;
(6) Providing for the publication, annotation and editing
of revisions and supplements to the Alaska Rules of Court; and
(7) Rendering legal opinions in any non-adjudicatory
matters as directed from time to time by the chief justice.
(o) Adopt and publish procedures to govern the
procurement of supplies, services, professional services, and
construction by the judicial branch.
(p) Attend to such other matters as may be assigned by
the chief justice.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 554 effective April 4, 1983; by SCO 802 effective nunc
pro tunc July 1, 1985; by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; by
SCO 1494 effective September 19, 2002; and by SCO 1829
effective October 15, 2014)
Cross References
CROSS REFERENCE: Administrative Bulletin 68 (Calculation of
Interest on Judgments and Allocation of Payment to Costs, Interest and
Principal); Court Form ADM-505 (How to Determine Pre- and PostJudgment Interest Rates).

Rule 2.

Appointment and Compensation of
Employees—Practice of Law by
Personnel Prohibited.

(a) The administrative director shall promulgate
personnel rules governing all personnel employed by the
Alaska Court System. No employee may be exempt from the
personnel rules except as specifically set forth in those rules.
The personnel rules have the same force and effect as a rule of
administration.
(b) The administrative director shall receive an annual
compensation in an amount equal to $2,000.00 less than the
annual compensation provided by law for a justice of the
Alaska Supreme Court. Employees in the partially exempt and
classified service are entitled to receive compensation in
accordance with the salary and classification plan adopted by

ALASKA COURT RULES
the administrative director under the personnel rules. The
administrative director with the approval of the chief justice
shall appoint and fix the compensation of such assistants as are
necessary to the exercise and performance of the powers and
duties vested in the administrative director.

Rule 4.

(c) No employee of the court system may be hired
without the prior approval of the administrative director of the
Court System or the administrative director’s designee nor may
an employee be hired except in accordance with the personnel
rules.

(a) Seal of the Court of Appeals. The seal of the court
of appeals is a vignette of the official flag of the state with the
words “Seal of the Court of Appeals of the State of Alaska”
surrounding the vignette.

(d) During the term of office or employment, neither the
administrative director nor any other employee of the Alaska
Court System may engage directly or indirectly in the practice
of law in any of the courts of this state.

(b) Seal of the Trial Courts. The seal for the superior
and district courts is a vignette of the official flag of the state
with the words “Seal of the Trial Courts of the State of Alaska”
surrounding the vignette.

(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; and by SCO 1502 effective
February 7, 2003)

(c) Possession of Seals. The clerk of the court, or if there
is no clerk, the judge or magistrate judge, shall keep possession
of the physical seal of the court. The seal of the court may be
applied manually or programmed to appear on court-generated
documents automatically.

Rule 3.

Information and Data to Be Furnished to
Administrative Director and Presiding
Judges.

(a) Justices, judges, masters, magistrate judges, clerks of
the courts, and all other officers and employees of the court
system shall comply with all requests made by the
administrative director for information and statistical data
concerning cases of such courts and such other information as
may reflect the business transacted by them.
(b) The court system shall maintain a current list of all
matters under advisement in the superior and district courts in
each judicial district. The clerk of the appellate courts shall
maintain a list of all matters under advisement in the supreme
court and the court of appeals. Such lists shall contain the
following information:
(1) The name of the justice, judge, magistrate judge, or
master having such matter under advisement;
(2) The date upon which each matter was referred to the
justice, judge, or magistrate judge for decision or, in the case
of a master, for preparation of report;
(3) The nature of the matter under advisement;

April 4, 1983; by SCO 629 effective September 15, 1985; by
SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; by SCO 1829 effective
October 15, 2014; and by SCO 1873 effective April 27, 2016)

Seals of Court.

(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 443 effective November 13, 1980; by SCO 1829 effective
October 15, 2014; and by SCO 1890 effective October 15,
2016)

Rule 5.

Disposal of Money Paid to or Deposited
With the Court.

(a) The administrative director shall designate, in
accordance with written procedures established by the
administrative director, the banking institutions to serve as
depositories for all monies paid to, or deposited with, the
courts. Certain accounts in the designated banks shall be the
depositories for trust funds held by the various courts. Monies
may be withdrawn from the accounts in accordance with
procedures established by the administrative director.
(b) The proceeds of all fees, forfeitures, penalties and all
other monies (except trust funds) collected by or deposited
with the courts shall be deposited in the appropriate bank
account for transfer to the general fund of the state in
accordance with procedures established by the administrative
director.

(4) The title of the action; and

(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994)

(5) The case number.

Rule 6.

(c) Each list shall be available to the judicial officers
who may appear on the list and to the administrators and court
staff designated by the administrative director.
(d) Superior court, district court, and magistrate judges
who disqualify themselves for cause shall set forth the specific
reasons for the disqualification in writing and send the
statement to their presiding judge.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 443 effective November 13, 1980; by SCO 554 effective

Interpreter Services in Court Proceedings
for Persons with Limited English Proficiency.

(a) Construction. This rule shall be liberally construed
and applied to promote meaningful participation in court
proceedings, consistent with due process, by persons with
limited English proficiency. A limited English proficient (LEP)
person is someone who speaks a language other than English
as his or her primary language and has a limited ability to read,
speak, or understand English.

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ALASKA COURT RULES
(b) Court System Responsibility to Pay for Interpreter Services. The court system will provide and pay for the
necessary services of an interpreter during proceedings in court
for all parties, witnesses, and victims with limited English
proficiency in all cases and for other individuals with limited
English proficiency as follows:
(1) for the parents or guardian of the juvenile in
delinquency proceedings, and
(2) for the tribal representatives, foster parents, out-ofhome care providers, or grandparents in child-in-need-of-aid
proceedings.
(c) Method of Delivery. Interpreter services may be
provided in-person, telephonically, or by video depending on
the availability of qualified interpreters, the court location, and
the length of the proceeding.
(d) Court-Provided Second Interpreter at Hearings or
Trial. To prevent interpreter fatigue and ensure effective
communication, the court system may, in its discretion,
provide and pay for the services of a second, qualified
interpreter at any hearing or trial that exceeds two hours. A
court-provided “proceedings” interpreter may, upon request,
interpret confidential communications between an LEP
individual and his or her attorney during the course of a
hearing or trial. If an LEP party desires a separate “table”
interpreter to sit at counsel table to facilitate confidential
attorney-client communications, the party must provide and
pay for that interpreter.
(e) Amount the Court System Pays. When the court
system provides and pays for interpreter services, the rate or
fee paid is set by Administrative Bulletin 82.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 469 effective June 1, 1981; by SCO 816 effective August
1, 1987; by SCO 1134 effective July 15, 1993; by SCO 1182
effective July 15, 1995; by SCO 1280 effective January 15,
1998; by SCO 1390 effective nunc pro tunc to January 1, 2000;
by SCO 1503 effective nunc pro tunc to January 1, 2003;
rescinded and readopted by SCO 1796 effective July 1, 2013;
amended by SCO 1817 effective November 22, 2013; and by
SCO 1896 effective October 15, 2016)
Notes: This rule does not limit a judicial officer’s authority
under Civil Rule 95 to order a party to pay the costs of
interpreter services as a sanction for violation of Civil Rule 11.
An individual who is eligible to receive a court-provided
interpreter under this rule should request interpreter services as
early as possible in the case by filing a notice or otherwise
notifying the local clerk of court. The court system’s
Interpreter Services Coordinator is available to assist any
agency, attorney, or litigant to locate a qualified language
interpreter or translator to provide language services remotely
or on-site. The Interpreter Services Coordinator can be
reached at interpreters@akcourts.us.

8

Rule 6.1. Interpreter Services in Court Proceedings
for Persons with a Physical Disability.

(a) Court Proceedings. The court system will provide
and pay for interpreter services during proceedings in court in
civil and criminal cases where a party or witness is deaf, mute,
or otherwise unable to effectively communicate because of a
physical disability.
(b) Amount the Court System Pays. The rate or fee the
court system pays for interpreter services is set by
Administrative Bulletin 82.
(Adopted by SCO 1796 effective July 1, 2013)
Note: This rule does not limit a judicial officer’s authority
under Civil Rule 95 to order a party to pay the costs of
interpreter services as a sanction for violation of Civil Rule 11.

Rule 7.

Witness Fees.

(a) Amount. A witness attending before any court,
referee, master, grand jury or coroner’s jury or upon a
deposition in a discovery proceeding, whose testimony is
necessary and material to the action, shall receive a witness fee
of $12.50 if such attendance, including the time necessarily
occupied in traveling from the witness’ residence to the place
of attendance and returning from that place, requires not more
than three consecutive hours. If such attendance requires more
than three consecutive hours, the witness shall receive a
witness fee of $25.00 for each day of attendance. Any witness
who attends at a point so far removed from the witness’
residence as to necessarily prohibit return thereto from day-today shall receive per diem at the rate allowed for state
employees.
(b) Travel Expense. Every witness who is required to
travel in excess of 30 miles from the witness’ residence is
entitled to receive reimbursement for round-trip travel from the
witness’ residence to the place of court at the rate allowed for
state employees.
(c) Expert Witnesses. Recovery of costs for a witness
called to testify as an expert is limited to the time when the
expert is employed and testifying and shall not exceed $150.00
per hour, except as otherwise provided in these rules. A party
may not recover costs for more than three independent expert
witnesses as to the same issue in any given case, unless the
judge permits recovery for an additional number of expert
witnesses. For purposes of this rule, an independent expert is a
witness who is retained or specially employed to provide
expert testimony in the case or whose duties as an employee of
the party regularly involve giving expert testimony.
(d) Payment. Witness fees, travel expense and per diem
shall be paid from the appropriation to the judiciary only for
witnesses called or appointed by the court or in coroner’s
cases. In all other cases, these fees and expenses shall be paid
by the parties, and in civil cases, shall be taxed and collected as
other costs.

ALASKA COURT RULES
(e) Demand of Payment in Advance in Civil Cases.
Witnesses in civil cases, except when subpoenaed by the state,
a municipality, a borough, a city, or an officer or agency
thereof, may demand the payment in advance of their travel
expense and their per diem fee for one day, and when so
demanded shall not be compelled to attend until the allowances
are paid.
(f) Parties and Attorneys as Witnesses. A party to the
action or hearing, if a witness, is entitled to receive the same
witness fees, per diem and travel expense as any other witness.
A person appearing as an attorney for any party to an action or
hearing, who also testifies as a witness therein, is not entitled
to receive any witness fee, per diem or travel expenses.

necessary actual expenses other than transportation expenses
exceed this hourly rate, the panel member will be compensated
for reasonable and necessary actual expenses in lieu of the
hourly compensation. Panel members are not entitled to
compensation from the court for any professional fees for
service on the panel.
(b) Request for Compensation. In order to qualify for
reimbursement, a panel member must submit to the trial court
within thirty days after the submission of the expert report a
written request for reimbursement which specifies by date and
by nature of the item any transportation expenses, time spent
preparing the report, and, if reimbursement for actual expenses
is sought, all expenses. Claims for reimbursement must be
submitted for approval to the assigned judge and are subject to
final approval by the administrative director.

(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 559 effective May 2, 1983; by SCO 791 effective March
15, 1987; by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; by SCO 1172
effective July 15, 1995; and by SCO 1492 effective October
15, 2002)

Rule 9.

Rule 8.

The fees specified in this rule shall be charged for the services
designated as follows:

Physicians’ Fees.

Physicians shall be allowed a reasonable fee for
performing the following services:
(a) An examination under order of court pursuant to AS
47.30.700 or such other examination as may be ordered by the
court upon its own motion;
(b) Giving medical expert testimony at a hearing when
ordered by the court in relation to such examination or in
relation to an autopsy or post mortem examination ordered
pursuant to AS 12.65.020.
Fees for such services shall be paid from funds
appropriated to the judiciary. Claims for compensation shall be
submitted for approval to the judicial officer ordering the
examination or testimony, subject to final approval by the
administrative director. In all other cases, physicians’ fees shall
be paid by the requesting party or parties.
The administrative director may authorize a fee under (a)
of this rule to be computed other than on an hourly basis,
provided that such computation results in a fee that is
substantially the same as if computed hourly.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 813 effective August 1, 1987)

Rule 8.1. Health Care Provider Expert Advisory
Panel Fees.

(a) Compensation by Court. Expert advisory panel
members appointed pursuant to AS 09.55.536 will be
reimbursed by the court for the reasonable expenses of
transportation outside the panel member’s city of residence
which are necessary for the preparation of the panel’s report.
Panel members will be reimbursed for other expenses of
preparing their report at the rate of $18.00 per hour, not to
exceed $90.00 per day. If the panel member’s reasonable and

(Adopted by SCO 814 effective August 1, 1987)

Fee Schedule.

(a) In the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals:
(1) Filing Fees:
(A) Upon filing a written notice of appeal or
cross-appeal (Appellate Rule 204(b) or Rule 215(b)) $250.00
(B) Upon filing a petition for review or crosspetition for review (Appellate Rule 403(a))
250.00
(C) Upon filing original proceedings (Appellate
Rule 404)
250.00
(D) Upon filing a petition for hearing (Appellate
Rule 303)
250.00
(E) There shall be no filing fee charged to a person for
filing a written notice of appeal or a petition for review of a
decision involving a claim for benefits under AS 23.20
(Employment Security Act).
(2) Miscellaneous Fees:
(A) For preparation of case record for review by
the Supreme Court of the United States,
200.00
(B) For copies of documents on file with the
supreme court or the court of appeals, paragraph
(e)(1) of this rule applies.
(C) For copies of court opinions, per opinion

5.00

(D) Paragraphs (e)(2) and (e)(4) of this rule apply
to certification and notary public services in the
appellate courts.
(b) Filing Fees—Superior Court:
(1) Upon filing any civil case, including a
petition for deposition before action
250.00

9

ALASKA COURT RULES
(5) Upon filing an action to enjoin or enforce
orders of the Alaska Worker’s Compensation Board
250.00

(2) For probate matters:
(A) Upon filing a trust or estate action other than
the registration or deposit of a will or trust document 250.00
(B) For depositing a will with the court for
safekeeping

50.00

No fee will be charged if the will of a protected person or
ward is deposited by the guardian or conservator pursuant to
AS 13.26.545(e) after the death of the protected person or
ward.
(C) For registration of a trust document

50.00

(D) Upon filing a petition for court approval of a
minor’s settlement, when it involves opening a new
file
100.00

(6) There shall be no fee for filing an action for
review of a decision by the Department of Labor
under AS 23.20 (Employment Security Act).
(7) Upon filing an appeal, cross-appeal, petition
for review, or cross-petition for review from an
administrative order (AS 44.62.560)
250.00
(8) There shall be no fee for filing a complaint
or comparable pleading under the Uniform Interstate
Family Support Act.
(9) There shall be no fee for filing a petition for
a domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault
protective order.
(10) Upon filing a petition for change of name

200.00

If the petitioner seeks to change the name of more than one
family member at the same time, only one filing fee will be
charged even though a separate petition must be filed for each
person who is requesting a change of name under Civil Rule
84.

(E) There shall be no fee for filing a petition for
appointment of a temporary property custodian under
AS 22.15.110(a)(3).
(F) There shall be no fee for lodging a
temporary property custodian affidavit and inventory.
(G) Upon filing any guardianship, conservatorship or other protective proceedings to include all
services
150.00

(11) For a motion to modify a final Alaska court order or
decree awarding child custody, visitation, or support, or
awarding spousal maintenance or allocation property
75.00
Except there is no fee for filing a stipulated motion to

Except:

modify

(i) If a petitioner seeks appointment of a guardian or
conservator or files another protective proceeding for more
than one child at the same time, only one filing fee will be
charged even though a separate petition must be filed for each
child;

(12) Foreign Orders – Orders Issued by Another State,
Country, or a Tribe:

(ii) there shall be no fee for filing a petition for an ex parte
protective order under AS 13.26.450, an application for a
temporary order under AS 13.26.455, or for modification of a
protective order under AS 13.26.460(a); and

(i) Registration of a foreign adoption order

(iii) there shall be no fee for filing an acceptance of
testamentary guardianship appointment, which opens a
guardianship case.
(H) There shall be no fee for filing a petition for
involuntary mental or alcohol commitment.
(3) Upon filing of an adoption proceeding

100.00

If the petitioner seeks to adopt more than one child at the
same time, only one filing fee will be charged even though a
separate petition must be filed for each child.
(4) Upon filing an appeal, including a sentence
appeal, cross-appeal, petition for review, or crosspetition for review from district court
250.00
Except for any similar appeal from small
claims court
100.00

10

(A) Registration of a foreign order

150.00

Except the following:
50.00

(ii) Filing of ancillary probate letters from a foreign
court under AS 13.21.030
50.00
(iii) Registration
conservatorship order

of

a

foreign

guardianship/
50.00

(iv) Registration of a foreign protective order no fee
(v) Registration of a foreign support order as
provided in paragraph (b)(8).
no fee
(vi) Registration under Child in Need of Aid Rule
24 of a tribal court order issued under the Indian Child Welfare
Act
no fee
(B) Motion to modify a foreign order or decree
awarding child custody or visitation
75.00
Except there is no fee for filing a stipulated motion to modify.
(C) Petition for expedited enforcement of a nonregistered child custody order under AS 25.30.460
100.00
(D) There is no fee for enforcement of a registered
order or a motion to modify a registered support order as
provided in paragraph (b)(8).

ALASKA COURT RULES
(c)

Filing Fees — District Court:
(1) Filing fees, district court jurisdiction

150.00

free certified copy of a clerk’s certificate of name change
under Civil Rule 84(c).

(2) Filing fees, small claims actions, claim for
relief
(A) $2,500 or less

50.00

(B) more than $2,500

100.00

No additional filing fee is due when a small claims case is
removed to district or superior court.
(3) There shall be no fee for filing a petition for
a domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault
protective order.

(5) For providing in writing requested
information from search of records, per hour or
fraction thereof

5.00

A party requesting service of process by certified or
registered mail must supply an addressed envelope, adequate
postage, and appropriate postal forms.

20.00

(2) For recording depositions with court
recording equipment, per hour, or fraction thereof

25.00

Miscellaneous Fees in the Superior Court and

the District Court:
Copying.

For photocopying or making copies from microfiche or
microfilm, the cost is
(A) For a single document or portion of a
document

5.00

(B) If copies of multiple documents are
requested at the same time, for each additional
document (after the first)

3.00

(2) Certification.
A court can certify a copy of a document only if the
original of the document is on file with the court. The cost of
photocopying the document is included in the certification
costs given below. For certifying a copy of any document, the
cost is:

(B) For each additional certified copy of the
document requested at the same time

30.00

(B) By registered mail (postage provided by party) 10.00

Electronic Recordings and Related Fees:

(A) Each document

5.00

(A) By certified mail (postage provided by party)

(1) For electronic recordings, other than
electronic recordings of sentencing proceedings
provided pursuant to Criminal Rule 32.2(d), each
recording

(1)

(4) For notary public services

(6) For service of process by the court:

(5) There shall be no fee for filing a criminal,
alcohol underage, or minor offense action.

(e)

15.00

This fee shall not apply to notary services on documents
which are to be filed in a pending action or which are related
to official court business.

(4) There shall be no fee for filing a
presumptive death petition.

(d)

(3) For issuing exemplifications

10.00
3.00

However, a party is entitled to receive one free certified
copy of the final judgment or order in the party’s case and one

(7) For issuing marriage license

60.00

(8) For performing marriage ceremony

25.00

(9) Marriage commissioner fee

25.00

(10) For issuing writ of execution

25.00

Except there shall be no fee charged if the writ of
execution is to enforce restitution for a victim proceeding
without assistance from the court system’s collections unit
under Criminal Rule 32.6(f) or Delinquency Rule 23.2(f).
(f)

General Provisions:

(1)
No filing, writ, certifying, or copying fee will be
charged to any person determined to be indigent under
Administrative Rule 10.
(2)
No filing, writ, certifying, mail process, or research
fees will be charged to any agency of the State of Alaska. State
agencies will not be charged copying fees except for copies of
law library materials.
(3)
Notarization required in an action by a person
represented in such action by an attorney furnished to the
person by an organization authorized to provide legal services
to indigents is exempted from notary public fees provided
under this schedule.
(4)
A civil action or proceeding may be accepted for
filing at the time of or prior to payment of the filing fee in the
amount prescribed by this rule. The clerk may not issue a
summons or otherwise proceed with the case until the filing fee
is paid or the court grants a filing fee waiver. The civil case or
proceeding will be dismissed without prejudice and without
notice if, within 30 days from the date of filing, the filing fee
has not been paid or a fee waiver has not been requested.
Further or additional court fees may be charged only as
specified in this rule.

11

ALASKA COURT RULES
(5)
The fee for performance of a marriage ceremony
shall be retained by the marriage commissioner as
compensation for that service. A judicial officer or employee
appointed as marriage commissioner shall deposit such fee in
accordance with Administrative Rule 5(b).

effective August 10, 2016; SCO 1909 effective June 21, 2017;
SCO 1918 effective January 1, 2018; by SCO 1921 March 21,
2018 and by SCO 1959 effective May 14, 2020; by SCO 1982
effective June 1, 2022; by SCO 2003 effective May 1, 2023;
and by SCO 2008 effective nunc pro tunc May 1, 2023)

(6)
The administrative director may, by administrative
bulletin, exempt particular categories of parties from any fees
specified in subsections (d) and (e). The administrative director
may also enter into special payment agreements for subsection
(d) and (e) fees with government agencies or other entities.

Note: In 1996, the legislature enacted AS 18.66.160(c),
which prohibits anyone from charging a fee for service of
process in a proceeding to obtain a domestic violence
protective order. According to § 76, ch. 64 SLA 1996, this
statute has the effect of amending Administrative rule 9(e)(6).

(7)
A convenience fee may be assessed for payments
made by credit or debit card. The administrative director may,
by administrative bulletin, determine the categories of charges
that may be paid by credit or debit card, the types of credit and
debit cards that can be accepted for payment, whether a
convenience fee should be assessed, and the amount of the
convenience fee considering the processing costs.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 423 effective September 1, 1980; by SCO 424 effective
July 1, 1980; by SCO 443 effective November 13, 1980; by
SCO 464 effective July 1, 1981; by SCO 472 effective June 1,
1981; by SCO 475 effective August 17, 1981; by SCO 482
effective September 1, 1981; by SCO 485 effective October 5,
1981; by SCO 490 effective January 4, 1982; by SCO 524
effective September 1, 1982; by SCO 525 effective September
1, 1982; by SCO 560 effective May 2, 1983; by SCO 648
effective July 1, 1985; by SCO 657 effective December 15,
1985; by SCO 692 effective July 1, 1986; by SCO 747
effective December 15, 1986; by SCO 749 effective December
15, 1986; by SCO 756 effective December 15, 1986; by SCO
779 effective March 15, 1987; by SCO 785 effective March
15, 1987; by SCO 843 effective June 24, 1987; by SCO 887
effective July 15, 1988; by SCO 888 effective July 15, 1988;
by SCO 940 effective January 15, 1989; by SCO 947 effective
October 17, 1988; by SCO 986 effective August 1, 1989; by
SCO 1001 effective January 15, 1990; by SCO 1002 effective
January 15, 1990; by SCO 1031 effective July 15, 1990; by
SCO 1056 effective July 15, 1991; by SCO 1059 effective July
15, 1991; by SCO 1111 effective nunc pro tunc July 27, 1992;
by SCO 1129 effective July 15, 1993; by SCO 1133 effective
July 15, 1993; by SCO 1140 effective July 1, 1993; by SCO
1153 effective July 15, 1994; by SCO 1164 effective July 15,
1994; by SCO 1201 effective July 15, 1995; by SCO 1214
effective July 15, 1995; by SCO 1261 effective September 26,
1996; by SCO 1268, 1269 and 1275 effective July 15, 1997; by
SCO 1279 effective July 31, 1997; by SCO 1292 effective
January 15, 1998; by SCO 1300 effective October 29, 1997; by
SCO 1416 effective November 1, 2000; by SCO 1515 effective
July 1, 2003; by SCO 1555 effective October 15, 2004; by
SCO 1558 effective nunc pro tunc to August 1, 2004; by SCO
1535 effective April 15, 2005; by SCO 1605 effective October
15, 2006; by SCO 1623 effective October 15, 2006; by SCO
1630 effective April 16, 2007; by SCO 1650 effective October
15, 2007; by SCO 1656 effective April 15, 2008; by SCO 1741
effective August 1, 2010; by SCO 1787 effective July 1, 2012;
by SCO 1793 effective nunc pro tunc September 4, 2012; by
SCO 1795 effective nunc pro tunc September 4, 2012; by SCO
1829 effective October 15, 2014; SCO 1861 effective August
1, 2015; by SCO 1867 effective August 15, 2015; SCO 1893

12

Note: Chapter 87 SLA 03 (HB 1) enacted AS 18.65.865(b),
which addresses fees for filing petitions for protective orders
under AS 18.65.850-860 for persons who are victims of
stalking not involving domestic violence. According to
Section 8(a) of the Act, the new AS 18.65.865 has the effect of
amending Administrative Rule 9 by providing that filing fees
may not be charged in any action seeking only the relief
provided in AS 18.65.850-860.
Note: Chapter 71 SLA 2012 (SB 86) added new sections to
AS 13.26 relating to the protection of vulnerable adults,
effective July 1, 2012. According to section 48(b) of the Act,
AS 13.26.209(h), enacted by section 10, has the effect of
amending Alaska Rule of Administration 9, by requiring that
filling fees may not be charged for a petition for an ex parte
protective order under AS 13.26.207, for an application for a
temporary order under AS 13.26.208, or for modification of a
protective order under AS 13.26.209(a). (In 2016, the
legislature renumbered AS 13.26.207 - .209 to AS 13.26.450 .460.)

Rule 9.1.

Form of Payment.

(a)
Bail. Bail for criminal offenses may be posted in
cash, through a surety as authorized by law, or in another form
of payment authorized by the court in the case.
(b)
Other Payments to the Court. Unless otherwise
ordered by the court in the case, other payments to the court,
including but not limited to fines, bail forfeiture amounts
authorized by supreme court order, appellate bonds, filing fees
and other court fees, may be paid by cash, certified check,
cashier’s check, money order, traveler’s check or personal
check.
(c)
Other Forms of Payment. The administrative
director may authorize other forms of payment in specific
court locations. In these locations, bail and other payments
may be paid in the forms authorized by the administrative
director and the forms listed in (a) or (b) above unless
otherwise ordered by the court.
(Adopted by SCO 1065 effective July 15, 1991; and by SCO
1959 effective May 14, 2020)

Rule 10.

Exemption from Payment of Fees—
Determination of Indigency.

(a) The determination of a person’s indigency for
purposes of exemption from payment of fees under Rule

ALASKA COURT RULES
9(f)(1) shall be made by the court in which the action is filed
as soon as practicable after the date the action is filed, but in no
event more than 60 days after that date.
(b) A person who requests an exemption of fees shall file
an indigency statement on a form prescribed by the
administrative director of courts, except that a person
represented by an attorney furnished by the Alaska Legal
Services Corporation, the Alaska Pro Bono Program, the
Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Pro
Bono Program, or the Cook Inlet Tribal Council need not file
such a form.
(c) If a person files the documents required by
subparagraph (b) of this rule, or is represented by an attorney
furnished by the Alaska Legal Services Corporation, the
Alaska Pro Bono Program, the Alaska Network on Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault Pro Bono Program, or the Cook
Inlet Tribal Council, the clerk or magistrate judge shall accept
the pleadings for filing without payment of the filing fee.
(d) If the court finds that the person is not indigent, it
shall order the person to pay the filing fee. The court may
continue the action until such payment is made. If payment is
not made within 30 days after notice of the order, the court
may dismiss the action.
(e) The provisions of this rule do not apply to an
exemption from payment of filing fees in litigation against the
state. In this paragraph, “litigation against the state” has the
meaning given in AS 09.19.100.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 888 effective July 15, 1988; by SCO 908 effective
January 15, 1989; by SCO 1237 effective July 15, 1996; by
SCO 1357 effective July 21, 1999; by SCO 1790 effective
October 15, 2012; by SCO 1829 effective October 15, 2014;
and SCO 2047 effective June 24, 2026)
Note to SCO 1237: Administrative Rule 10(e) was added
by ch. 79 § 16 SLA 1995. Section 1 of this order is adopted for
the sole reason that the legislature has mandated the
amendment.
Note: Section 3 of chapter 95 SLA 1998 amends the
definition of prisoner litigation against the state that appears in
AS 09.19.100(1). According to section 14 of the act, this
amendment has the effect of changing Administrative Rule
10(e) “by expanding the definition of ‘litigation against the
state’ so that it has the meaning given in AS 09.19.100 as
amended by sec. 3 of this Act.”

Rule 11.

Fees—Service of Civil Process.

(ii) For service of any warrant, attachment, notice of
levy, intent to levy or garnishment, execution or
other writ—each person on whom service is
made

45.00

(iii) For each hour in excess of two actually and
necessarily spent to obtain service under (i) or
(ii) above

30.00

(iv) If more than one document involving the same
case is given to the same individual at the same
time only one fee shall be charged
(2) Sales of Property Pursuant to Final Process:
For advertising and disposing of property by
sale, set-off, or otherwise, according to law,
pursuant to a writ of possession, partition,
execution, or any final process and for receiving
and paying over money on account of property
sold—on any sum not exceeding five hundred
dollars
Seven percent
And on any excess over five hundred dollars
and not exceeding ten thousand dollars
Four percent
And on any excess over ten thousand dollars
and not exceeding fifty thousand dollars
Two and one-half percent
And on any excess over fifty thousand dollars
One and one-quarter percent
provided, that when the officer disposes of property by
sale, set-off, or otherwise, according to law, but does not
receive and pay over money on account of such sale, the
officer shall receive one-half of the commission allowed
in this subdivision.
(3) Deeds:
For executing a deed prepared by a party or a
party’s attorney

10.00

(4) Copies:
For copies of writs or papers furnished at the request of
any party:
First page or fraction thereof

1.00

Each additional page or fraction thereof

.25

(5) Inventories:
(a) The following schedule establishes the maximum
amount recoverable from another party as costs for the services
designated.
(1) Service of Process:
(i) For service of any summons or subpoena—each
person on whom service is made
$45.00

For making inventory of unclaimed property for
each hour actually and necessarily spent

10.00

(6) Keeping Personal Property:
For keeping of personal property attached on mesne
process, such compensation as the court, on petition
setting forth the facts under oath, may allow.

13

ALASKA COURT RULES
(7) Mileage:
For mileage actually and necessarily traveled in
going to serve, and in returning from the place
of service, of any process described in
paragraph (1) above, whether or not service was
obtained, for the first 25 total miles or any
portion thereof
20.00
And for each mile in excess of 25 actually and
necessarily traveled
the rate
allowed for
state employees*

(A) When a person is entitled to counsel under AS
18.85.100(a), appointments shall be made first to the public
defender agency. If the agency files a motion to withdraw on
the grounds that it cannot represent the person because of a
conflict of interest, if the parties stipulate on the record that
the agency has a conflict of interest, or if the court on its own
motion finds an obvious conflict of interest, the court
accepting such motion or stipulation or making such finding
shall appoint the office of public advocacy to provide counsel.
(B) The court may appoint an attorney in a case in which
the office of public advocacy has been appointed only if:

(8) No fee shall be charged under this schedule for any service
rendered to the state or any agency or department thereof

(i) The office of public advocacy has shown that it is
unable to provide counsel either by staff or by contract; and

(9) Fee paid to the court under Rule 9(e)(10) for
issuing a writ of execution:

(ii) The office of public advocacy has provided the court
with the name or names of the attorneys who shall be
appointed in that particular case.

25.00

(b) All service of civil process and duties ancillary
thereto under the Rules of Civil Procedure and applicable
statutes shall be performed by private persons appointed under
Civil Rule 4(c)(1), (4)(c)(3) or 4(c)(4), or by persons
authorized by Civil Rule 45(c); provided, that a member of the
Alaska State Troopers or other peace officer may render
assistance to a process server as provided in Civil Rule 4(c)(3)
or serve any process when directed to do so by the
Commissioner of Public Safety. In this paragraph, “civil
process” includes any summons, subpoena, attachment, notice
of levy, intent to levy or garnishment, execution, or other writ
in a civil action, but does not include any process, civil or
criminal, served on behalf of the state for any department or
agency thereof.
* The allowable mileage rate for reimbursing state employees
for approved travel in privately-owned vehicles may be found
on the court website at:
http://www. courts.alaska.gov /faq.htm#mileage.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 526 effective October 1, 1982; by SCO 527 effective
October 1, 1982; by SCO 548 effective February 1, 1983; by
SCO 549 effective February 1, 1983; by SCO 588 effective
January 1, 1984; by SCO 592 effective July 1, 1984; by SCO
815 effective August 1, 1987; by SCO 1071 effective July 15,
1991; by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; by SCO 1400
effective October 15, 2000; by SCO 1653 effective April 15,
2008; and by SCO 1867 effective August 15, 2015)

Rule 12.

Procedure for Counsel and Guardian Ad
Litem Appointments at Public Expense.

(a) Intent. The court shall appoint counsel or a guardian
ad litem only when the court specifically determines that the
appointment is clearly authorized by law or rule, and that the
person for whom the appointment is made is financially
eligible for an appointment at public expense.
(b) Appointments under AS 18.85.100 (a) (Public
Defender Agency).
(1) Appointment Procedure.

14

The office of public advocacy shall be responsible for
compensating any attorney appointed under this subparagraph.
(C) All claims for payment for services performed after
July 1, 1984, by attorneys appointed by the court shall be
submitted to the director of the office of public advocacy,
under such procedures as the director may prescribe. The
director shall approve, modify or disapprove the claim.
(2) Determination of Indigency. Determination of
indigency or financial inability for appointments under
paragraph (b) of this rule must be made in accordance with the
provisions of Criminal Rule 39.
(3) Assessment of Costs. When counsel is appointed for
a child when the child’s parents or custodian are financially
able but refuse to employ counsel to assist the child, the court
may, when appropriate, assess as costs against the parents,
guardian or custodian the cost to the state of providing
counsel.
(c) Appointments under AS 44.21.410 (Office of
Public Advocacy).
(1) Appointment Procedure. When a person qualifies for
counsel or guardian ad litem services under AS 44.21.410, the
court shall appoint the office of public advocacy. The court in
its order appointing the office of public advocacy must state
the authority for the appointment. In the case of a
discretionary appointment, the court must give specific
reasons for the appointment. In the case of a guardian ad litem
appointment, the court shall limit the appointment to the
pendency of the proceedings affecting the child’s welfare,
shall outline the guardian ad litem’s responsibilities, and shall
limit the guardian’s authority to those matters related to the
guardian’s effective representation of the minor’s best
interests.
(2) Indigency Determination. For appointments of the
office of public advocacy under this rule, other than an
appointment required because of a conflict of interest with the
public defender agency, a person is indigent if the person’s
income does not exceed the maximum annual income level

ALASKA COURT RULES
established to determine eligibility for representation by the
Alaska Legal Services Corporation. A person whose income
exceeds the maximum amount for legal services
representation may be determined indigent only if a judge
makes a specific finding of indigency on the record, taking
into account the funds necessary for the person to maintain
employment, to provide shelter, and to clothe, feed and care
for the person and the person’s immediate family, the person’s
outstanding contractual indebtedness, the person’s ability to
afford representation based on the particular matter and the
complexity of the case, the costs of living and attorneys fees
in different regions of the state, and any liquid assets which
could be counted as income.
(3) Assessment of Costs. In an appointment under AS
25.24.310 for representation of a minor, the court shall enter
an order for costs, fees and disbursements in favor of the state.
If the appointment is made in a proceeding in which custody,
support or visitation is an issue, the court shall, if possible,
avoid assigning costs to only one party by ordering that costs
of the minor’s legal representative or guardian services be
paid from property belonging to both parents before a division
of property is made.
(d) Withdrawal from Unauthorized Appointment.
The public defender agency and the office of public advocacy
shall accept appointments only in those cases for which the
basis for the appointment is clearly authorized. If the agency
or office determines that the basis for an appointment is not
clearly authorized, the agency or office shall file with the
court a motion to withdraw from the appointment.
(e) Other Appointments at Public Expense.
(1) Constitutionally Required Appointments.
If the court determines that counsel, or a guardian ad
litem, or other representative should be appointed for an
indigent person, and further determines that the appointment
is not authorized by AS 18.85.100(a) or AS 44.21.410, but in
the opinion of the court is required by law or rule, the court
shall appoint an attorney who is a member of the Alaska Bar
Association to provide the required services. Other persons
may be appointed to provide required services to the extent
permissible by law.
(A) Appointments may be made in the following types
of cases without prior approval of the administrative director,
but only in cases in which the required services would not
otherwise be provided by a public agency:
(i) Attorneys for biological parents in adoption cases to
the extent required by the Indian Child Welfare Act (25 USC
1901 et seq.),
(ii) Attorneys for minor children and indigent parents or
custodians of minor children in minor guardianship cases
brought pursuant to AS 13.26.147(d),
(iii) Attorneys for respondents in protective proceedings
brought pursuant to AS 13.26 in which appointment of the
office of public advocacy is not mandated by statute,

(iv) Attorneys for minor children or incompetents who
are heirs or devisees of estates in cases in which the attorneys’
fees cannot be paid as a cost of administration from the
proceeds of the estate,
(v) Attorneys for indigent putative fathers in actions to
establish paternity in which the state of Alaska provides
representation for mothers,
(vi) Attorneys to represent indigent respondents in
involuntary alcohol commitments brought pursuant to AS
47.37,
(vii) Attorneys for indigent parents who are defending
against a claim that their consent to adoption is not required
under AS 25.23.050(a).
(B) In all other cases, the court shall inform the
administrative director of the specific reasons why an
appointment is required prior to making the appointment.
(2) Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. When the opposing
party is financially unable to pay for such representation, the
court shall appoint a member of the Alaska Bar Association to
represent an absent service person pursuant to the
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 App. U.S.C. § 521).
Prior approval of the administrative director is not required.
(3) List of Private Attorneys.
(A) The presiding judge shall designate the area court
administrator and a clerk of court for each court location in
the district to keep and make available to the court in each
location lists of attorneys or other persons eligible to receive
court appointments under paragraph (e) of this rule.
(B) The attorney lists will first be compiled from names
of persons who have volunteered to accept these
appointments. If there are insufficient volunteers, the court
will make appointments on a rotation basis from lists of
eligible attorneys obtained from the Alaska Bar Association.
The court may, in departing from a strict rotation basis, take
into account the complexity of the case and the level of
experience required by counsel.
(C) Lists of other persons available to provide required
services will be compiled from names of qualified persons
who have indicated their willingness to provide the required
services.
(4) Appointment Orders. When the court appoints an
attorney or other person under paragraph (e) of this rule, the
clerk of the court from which the appointment was made shall
immediately send a copy of the appointment order to the
administrative director.
(5) Compensation.
(A) All claims for compensation must be submitted
monthly or at least quarterly on forms provided by the court.
The final claim for compensation must be submitted within 30
days following the disposition of a case. All claims must be
submitted to Fiscal Operations, Alaska Court System, 820

15

ALASKA COURT RULES
West 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK, 99501. The administrative
director shall approve or disapprove the claim.
(B) Attorneys will be compensated at the rate of $130.00
per hour; provided, that total compensation for any case will
not exceed $1,500.00 without prior approval of the
administrative director. An attorney who is appointed to serve
as a guardian ad litem will be compensated at the attorney
rate.
(C) A person other than an attorney who is appointed to
provide services will receive compensation as described
below.
(i) A person appointed as a court visitor or guardian ad
litem will be compensated at the rate that the Office of
Public Advocacy would pay under contract for the same
services; and
(ii) A person appointed to provide other required
services will be compensated at a rate not to exceed
$25.00 per hour.
The total compensation for any case covered by this
subparagraph will not exceed $300.00 without prior approval
of the administrative director.
(D) The costs of necessary interpreter services will be
reimbursed at the rate that the court system would pay under
Administrative Bulletin 82 for the same quality services.
(E) Extraordinary expenses will be reimbursed only if
prior authority has been obtained from the administrative
director, upon recommendation by the assigned trial judge.
Extraordinary expenses exceeding $2,500.00 may be
authorized only in extremely complex cases. In this paragraph,
“extraordinary expenses” are limited to expenses for:
(i) Investigation;
(ii) Expert witnesses; and
(iii) Necessary travel and per diem, which may not
exceed the rate authorized for state employees.
(F) If necessary to prevent manifest injustice, the
administrative director may authorize payment of
compensation or expenses in excess of the amounts allowed
under this rule.
(6) Recovery of Costs. When counsel is appointed for a
person in a case described in subparagraph 12(e)(1), the court
shall order the person, or if the person is a child, the person’s
parents, guardian or custodian, to pay the costs incurred by the
court in providing representation. Before appointing counsel,
the court shall advise the person that the person will be
ordered to repay the state for the cost of appointed counsel
and shall advise the person of the maximum amount that the
person will be required to repay. The court shall order the
person to apply for permanent fund dividends every year in
which the person qualifies for a dividend until the cost is paid
in full. The clerk shall determine the cost of representation,
and shall mail to the person’s address of record a notice

16

informing the person that judgment will be entered against the
person for the actual cost of representation or for $500,
whichever is less. The person may oppose entry of the
judgment by filing a written opposition within 10 days after
the date shown in the clerk’s certificate of distribution on the
notice. The opposition shall specifically set out the grounds
for opposing entry of judgment. The clerk shall enter
judgment against the person for the amount shown in the
notice if the person does not oppose entry of the judgment
within the 10 days. If the person files a timely opposition, the
court may set the matter for a hearing and shall have authority
to enter the judgment. Criminal Rule 39(c)(1) and (c)(2) shall
apply to judgments entered under this section.
(f) Responsibilities of Appointed Counsel.
(1) An attorney appointed to represent an indigent
person must advise the court if the attorney learns of a change
in the person’s financial status that would make the person
financially ineligible for appointed counsel.
(2) An attorney appointed to represent an indigent
person must move to withdraw if the attorney reasonably
believes that the person has made a material misrepresentation
of the person’s financial status to the court. A material
misrepresentation is a misrepresentation of facts that would
make the person financially ineligible for appointed counsel.
The attorney is not required to disclose to the court the
existence or nature of the misrepresentation unless disclosure
is necessary to prevent the person from fraudulently securing
the services of appointed counsel.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 443 effective November 13, 1980; by SCO 528 effective
September 1, 1982; by SCO 529 effective September 1, 1982;
by SCO 626 effective April 19, 1985; by SCO 652 effective
July 1, 1985; by SCO 676 effective April 25, 1986; by SCO
680 effective April 25, 1986; by SCO 689 effective April 24,
1986; by SCO 703 effective May 12, 1986; by SCO 889
effective July 15, 1988; by SCO 909 effective January 15,
1989; by SCO 1053 effective July 15, 1991; by SCO 1088
effective July 1, 1992; by SCO 1092 effective July 15, 1992;
by SCO 1103 effective July 9, 1992; by SCO 1145 effective
October 1, 1993; by SCO 1179 effective July 15, 1995; by
SCO 1584 effective October 15, 2005; by SCO 1649 effective
July 1, 2007; by SCO 1848 effective January 1, 2015; by SCO
1979 effective February 2, 2022; and by SCO 2010 effective
nunc pro tunc July 1, 2023)
Dissent to SCO 1088:
RABINOWITZ, Chief Justice, with whom COMPTON,
Justice, joins, dissenting:
I am not persuaded that either existing Criminal Rule 39, or
Appellate Rule 209, requires amendment. I think it can be
safely predicted that these amendments will have a chilling
effect on an indigent defendant’s obtaining the services of
appointed counsel as well as on an indigent defendant’s
decision whether or not to seek review or to appeal.
Note: AS 18.85.170(4) defines “indigent person” for
purposes of public defender appointments as “a person who, at

ALASKA COURT RULES
the time need is determined, does not have sufficient assets,
credit, or other means to provide for payment of an attorney
and all other necessary expenses of representation without
depriving the party or the party’s dependents of food,
clothing, or shelter and who has not disposed of any assets
since the commission of the offense with the intent or for the
purpose of establishing eligibility for assistance under this
chapter.”

Rule 14.

Jury Service Fees.

(a) Jurors who appear for service will be paid at the rate
established by the administrative director by administrative
bulletin.
(b) Jurors who drive more than 30 miles (one way) for
jury service will be reimbursed for mileage at the rate allowed
to state employees. If jurors drive together, only one mileage
reimbursement will be paid. Air and ferry transportation will
be arranged by the court.
(c) A juror who cannot return home at the end of the
trial day will receive lodging and meals at court system
expense. The reimbursement rate for lodging and meals will
be established by administrative bulletin.
(d) Because a juror who is employed by the State of
Alaska continues to be paid by the employer, the court will
not pay the juror for jury service. The juror is eligible to be
reimbursed for travel under subsections (b) and (c).
(e) A juror will not be paid or reimbursed for travel if
the juror mistakenly appears for jury service (1) because the
juror failed to call in as instructed, or (2) after having been
notified that the juror was excused or deferred.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 479 effective July 1, 1981; by SCO 801 effective August
1, 1987; by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; rescinded and
readopted by SCO 1860 effective October 15, 2015)
Cross References
CROSS REFERENCE: Administrative Bulletins 66 (Jury Fees)
and 66.1 (Lodging and Meals for Jurors).

(2) Community Assignments. The community in which a
court is located will be assigned to that court. Other areas
within a 50-mile radius of that court will also be assigned to
that court except as follows:
(A) communities and areas located within 50 miles of
more than one court will be assigned to the court in the same
venue district;
(B) communities and areas located more than 50 miles
from any court will remain unassigned unless the presiding
judge assigns the community or area to a court; and
(C) no community or area will be assigned to more than
one court.
(3) Alternative Assignments. Prospective trial jurors will
be selected from all locations assigned to a court under
paragraph (c)(2) unless an alternative assignment is authorized
by the presiding judge. The presiding judge will forward any
alternative assignments to the administrative director by
October 1 each year.
(d) Term Lists, Summonses, and Questionnaires. For
each court, there is a term of service specified in subsection
(k), during which prospective jurors must be available to
serve. Using the local master list, the clerk will prepare a term
list that includes as many prospective jurors as are needed to
be available for the term. A summons will be sent to each
prospective juror on the term list along with instructions for
completing a questionnaire to determine if the prospective
juror is qualified to serve. The summons may be sent by
regular mail or email. Qualification questionnaires may be
completed online or returned to the court by mail.
(e) Juror Deferrals.
(1) 10-Month Limit. Pursuant to AS 09.20.035, jury
service may not be deferred for more than 10 months from the
date the original term of service was scheduled to begin. If a
juror requests a deferral beyond the 10-month limit, the
request will be considered a request for excusal under
paragraph (f)(1).

(a) Administration. The administrative director of the
courts is responsible for the management of the jury system
and shall prescribe policies and procedures for efficient and
effective jury management.

(2) Deferral as a Matter of Right. Before a person’s
term of service begins, the person may defer jury service once
without providing a reason if the person agrees to another
term of service beginning no later than 10 months from the
date the original term of service was scheduled to begin.
Courts may authorize additional deferrals as a matter of right
within the 10-month limit.

(b) Statewide Master Jury List. By November 30 of
each year, the administrative director will prepare a statewide
master list of prospective jurors in Alaska.

(3) No Deferral Allowed. Persons summoned to serve a
one-year term may not defer their service, but may request
short-term excusals under paragraph (f)(1).

Rule 15.

Jury Selection and Service.

(c) Local Master Lists.
(1) Creation of Local Lists. Using the statewide master
list, the administrative director will create a local master jury
list for each court. The local master jury list will contain the
names of all prospective jurors who live in the communities
and areas assigned to that court as provided below.

(4) Deferral after Term of Service Begins. After a
person’s term of service has begun, the person may request
that the remaining term of service be deferred or that the
person be temporarily excused under paragraph (f)(1). If the
remaining term of service is deferred, the juror may be
assigned to a new term within the 10-month limit, but only for
the period of time unserved in the original term.

17

ALASKA COURT RULES
(5) Partial Deferral for Shift Workers. If a person’s
work schedule makes the person unavailable to serve a portion
of every term, the jury clerk may defer that portion of service
to a new term. The person may not be required to serve longer
than the original term of service except that a person serving
on a jury must continue to serve until discharged by the trial
judge.
(6) Failure to Appear for Deferred Service. If a person
has deferred jury service until the last available term within
the 10-month limit and then fails to appear, the judicial officer
may excuse the person for good cause, excuse the person and
reassign the person to the next available term of service
outside the 10-month limit, or impose a sanction authorized
by law. A person who is reassigned to a new term of service
under this paragraph ordinarily will not be reassigned again
but may be excused.
(f) Juror Excusals.
(1) Temporary Excusals.
(A) Temporary Excusals by Judicial Officers for
Hardship.
A judicial officer may temporarily excuse a person from
jury service if it is shown that the person’s health, the health
or proper care of the person’s family, a physical or mental
disability, or other substantial hardship makes it necessary for
the person to be excused. Depending on the length of the
hardship, the excusal may be either:
(i) a short-term excusal during the term of service, or
(ii) a long-term excusal for one year from the first day of
the term of service for which the person was summoned.
(B) Temporary Excusals by Clerk.
(i) Excusal for Failure to Meet Statutory Qualifications.
If a person’s response to the qualification questionnaire
indicates that the person is not qualified for jury service under
AS 09.20.010 or 09.20.020, the clerk will excuse the person
from service after verifying the disqualification. If the reason
for disqualification is that the person is not of sound mind or
in possession of the person’s natural faculties, the person will
be excused only if the person has a court-appointed guardian
or if a licensed physician, psychologist, nurse practitioner, or
physician’s assistant verifies in writing that the person is
unable to serve as a juror for medical reasons. If a person is
excused because the person recently served on a jury, the
length of the excusal is specified in paragraph (3) below. All
other excusals under this provision will be for one year from
the first day of the term of service for which the person was
summoned.
(ii) Excusal of Judicial Officers (AS 09.20.030). Upon a
judicial officer’s request, the clerk will excuse the judicial
officer from jury service for one year from the first day of the
term of service for which the judicial officer was summoned.

18

(iii) Excusal for Hardship. A clerk may temporarily
excuse a person from jury service for hardship to the extent
authorized by administrative bulletin.
(2) Permanent Excusals.
Upon request, the clerk will permanently excuse a person
from all future jury service if the person:
(A) is over age 70, or
(B) is permanently unable to serve as a juror for medical
reasons, including physical or mental disability, if verified in
writing by a licensed physician, psychologist, nurse
practitioner, or physician’s assistant.
(3) Length of Excusal after Jury Service. If a person has
appeared for jury service in state or federal court in Alaska,
the person is not required to serve again as a juror for one year
after the end of the person’s term of service. In a court with a
local master jury list that includes over 50,000 people, the
person will be excused for two years unless the administrative
director determines that there are insufficient jurors on the
local master jury list to accommodate the number of trials at
the court location. If the jury service was in federal court, the
term of service will be the term of service of the summoning
state court rather than that of the federal court.
(4) Exclusions List. The administrative director will
maintain a list of deceased and permanently excused persons
to ensure that these persons are excluded from the statewide
master jury list.
(g) Notice of Juror Status. After determining whether
the person is qualified to serve and whether the person is
eligible to be deferred or excused, the court will send the
person a service reminder, deferral notice, or excusal notice.
(h) Selection of Prospective Trial Jurors.
(1) The clerk will eliminate from the term list the names
of persons who are not qualified or who have been deferred or
excused. All remaining persons must call in during the term as
directed.
(2) Each week, based on the number of expected trials,
the clerk will direct an appropriate number of prospective
jurors to appear for service. The clerk will assign these
prospective jurors to trial panels. A trial panel consists of
prospective jurors who will be sent to the courtroom for
possible inclusion on a trial jury.
(3) If a trial judge determines that the selection area
defined in subsection (c) will not provide a trial jury which is
a truly representative cross-section of the appropriate
community, the trial judge may designate alternate or
additional areas from which the trial panel will be selected.
(i) Trial Jury.
(1) A trial jury consists of those prospective jurors
selected from the trial panel to hear a trial.

ALASKA COURT RULES
(2) Unless otherwise stipulated by the parties and
approved by the trial judge, a trial jury shall consist of 12
persons for the superior court and six persons for the district
court and for inquests and presumptive death hearings.
(3) The clerk shall select from the trial panel a number
of names sufficient to comprise a trial jury and alternate jurors
if the court decides alternate jurors are needed. The clerk shall
select the names either by using a computer-generated random
list or another method of random selection.
(4) Prospective trial jurors shall be examined,
challenged, and sworn as provided in Civil Rule 47 or
Criminal Rule 24.
(j) Juror Privacy.
(1) Court Use Only. The following materials are for
internal court use only: the statewide master jury list, local
master jury lists, local term lists, and qualification
questionnaires.
(2) Limited to Parties. Trial questionnaires and trial
panel lists are confidential. These items, along with the dates
of birth of individuals on the trial panel list, will be provided
to the parties and counsel of record for use by the parties, their
attorneys, and agents of their attorneys only in connection
with jury selection in the case for which the questionnaires
and lists were prepared.
(3) No Disclosure. The parties, their attorneys, and
agents of their attorneys shall not disclose or use the trial
questionnaires, trial panel lists, or any compiled list of persons
selected to serve on a jury except as permitted by this rule.
(4) Selection Hearing Records. If jurors are questioned
in private, the electronic record and log notes related to that
questioning are confidential. Otherwise, the electronic record
and log notes from jury selection are public. Juror names
must never be recorded in the log notes. Instead, juror names
should only be recorded on the confidential form used to
document juror selection.
(5) Attendance Records. The court may issue a
certificate of attendance to a juror or the juror’s employer.
Any other record of juror attendance is confidential.
(k) Term of Service.

SIZE OF LOCAL
MASTER JURY LIST

TERM OF SERVICE

Under 2,000 people

1 calendar year

2,000 to 7,000 people

3 consecutive calendar months per jury
year unless interrupted by a deferral

7,000 to 99,999 people

1 calendar month per jury year unless
interrupted by a deferral

100,000 or more people

1 calendar week per jury year

(3) Maximum Length of Actual Service. No person will
be required to appear for jury service more than 30 days per
year, except that a person serving on a jury must continue to
serve until discharged by the trial judge. Calling in without
appearing does not count as a day of service.
(l) Definitions.
(1) Deferral of Jury Service – the postponement of jury
service to a later date as described in subsection (e).
(2) Jury Summons – a court order directing a prospective juror to be available to serve for a specific term at a court
location.
(3) Jury Year – the calendar year during which a master
jury list is in effect.
(4) Natural Faculties – normal abilities to reason, a term
used in AS 09.20.010.
(5) Permanent Excusals – an excusal for life for reasons
stated in paragraph (f)(2).
(6) Qualification Questionnaire – a set of questions used
to determine whether a prospective juror meets the statutory
qualifications for jury service.
(7) Temporary Excusal – an excusal for one year or less
for reasons stated in paragraph (f)(1).
(8) Term List – a group of prospective jurors selected
from the local master jury list who are summoned to serve for
a specific term at a court location.
(9) Term of Service – the period during which a person
must be available to serve as a juror. During that period, the
person may be required to call in or appear for service.

(1) Term of service is the period during which
prospective jurors must be available to serve as jurors. During
that period, the prospective jurors may be required to call in or
appear for service.

(10) Trial Jury – those persons selected from the trial
panel to serve as jurors.

(2) Except as otherwise provided by the administrative
director, the term of service for a court is based on the size of
that court's local master jury list as shown in the chart below.
Any change in a court’s term of service must be approved by
both the presiding judge and the administrative director. All
modified terms of service will be published in an
administrative bulletin.

(12) Trial Questionnaire – a document filled out by
members of a trial panel for purposes of jury selection.

(11) Trial Panel – that group of prospective jurors from
the term list who are sent to the courtroom for possible
inclusion on a trial jury (called “jury panel” in AS 09.20.080).

(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 531 effective October 1, 1982; by SCO 890 effective
July 15, 1988; by SCO 969 effective July 15, 1989; by SCO
1204 effective July 15, 1995; by SCO 1405 effective October

19

ALASKA COURT RULES
15, 2000; by SCO 1556 effective October 15, 2004; by SCO
1622 effective October 15, 2006; by SCO 1665 effective April
15, 2008; by SCO 1829 effective October 15, 2014; rescinded
and readopted by SCO 1860 effective October 15, 2015; and
by SCO 1926 effective July 1, 2018)
Note: Chapter 104 SLA 04 (HB 353) exempts teachers
from jury service if they are teaching at a school that is
designated as failing to make adequate yearly progress under
P.L. 107-110. According to Section 2 of the Act, this has the
effect of changing Administrative Rule 15(k) by establishing
an additional cause for exemption from jury service. [In
October 2006, SCO 1622 altered the subsections so that
Administrative Rule 15(k), referred to in this Note, is now
Administrative Rule 15(l).]

court, or to which it is adjourned, it shall be deemed appointed
for or adjourned to the next day not a judicial holiday.
(b) Holidays Falling on Sunday or Saturday. If any
holiday designated in Rule 16(a)(2) through (13) falls upon a
Sunday, the Monday following is a holiday and if it falls on a
Saturday, the Friday preceding is a holiday.
(c) Special or Limited Holidays. On any special or
limited holiday, all courts shall be open and function in their
normal and usual manner. A special or limited holiday is a
holiday applying only to a special class or classes of business,
or a special class or classes of persons, and not appointed to be
generally observed throughout the state by all classes of
business and all classes of persons.

Rule 16. Judicial Holidays—Transaction of Business.

(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 977 effective January 15, 1990; and by SCO 2036
effective April 15, 2025)

(a) Judicial Holidays. Subject to the provisions of AS
22.10.050 and AS 22.15.090, no court shall be open for the
transaction of business on any judicial holiday as defined in
this rule unless ordered by the presiding judge for good cause
shown.

Rule 17.

Judicial holidays are:
(1) Every Sunday;
(2) The first of January, known as New Year’s Day;
(3) The third Monday of January, known as Martin
Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday;
(4) The third Monday in February, known as President’s
Day;
(5) The last Monday of March, known as Seward’s Day;

(a) Sessions of the Supreme Court. Sessions of the
supreme court shall be held at such locations and times as may
be designated by the chief justice, after consultation with the
supreme court.
(b) Offices. The principal office of the supreme court
shall be at Anchorage, Alaska. The chief justice or an associate
justice may maintain an office at a place other than the
principal office as designated by order of the court or of the
chief justice.
(c) When Clerk’s Office Is Open. The clerk’s office
with the clerk or a deputy in attendance shall be open during
business hours from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on all days
except judicial holidays and Saturdays.

(7) The 19th of June, known as Juneteenth;

(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 443 effective November 13, 1980; and by SCO 1153
effective July 15, 1994)

(8) The fourth of July, known as Independence Day;

Rule 17.5.

(6) The last Monday in May, known as Memorial Day;

(9) The first Monday in September, known as Labor
Day;
(10) The 18th of October, known as Alaska Day;
(11) The 11th of November, known as Veterans Day;
(12) The fourth Thursday in November, known as
Thanksgiving Day;
(13) The 25th of December, known as Christmas Day;
(14) Every day designated by public proclamation by the
President of the United States or the Governor of the state as a
legal holiday.
If any day specified or provided for as a holiday in this
rule falls on a day appointed for the holding or sitting of a

20

Sessions and Offices of the Supreme Court.

Sessions and Offices of the Court of
Appeals.

(a) Sessions of the Court of Appeals. Sessions of the
court of appeals shall be held at such times as may be
designated by the chief judge, after consultation with the court
of appeals, and at locations designated by the chief judge after
consultation with the court of appeals and the chief justice.
(b) Office. The principal office of the court of appeals
shall be at Anchorage, Alaska. A court of appeals judge may
maintain an office at a place other than the principal office as
designated by order of the supreme court or of the chief justice.
(c) When Clerk’s Office Is Open. The clerk’s office
with the clerk or a deputy in attendance shall be open during
business hours from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on all days
except judicial holidays and Saturdays.

ALASKA COURT RULES
(SCO 443 effective November 13, 1980; amended by SCO
1894 effective August 10, 2016)

Rule 18.

Superior and District Courts—Time and
Place of Sitting.

(a) Superior and District Courts—When Open for
Business. The superior and district courts shall be open for the
transaction of business during business hours from 8:00 a.m.
until 4:30 p.m. on all days except judicial holidays and
Saturdays; provided, however, that the courts may at any time
extend these hours as circumstances may require or as may be
ordered by the presiding judge. The presiding judge may
authorize the closure of an office for up to one hour per week
for staff meetings and training under a plan approved by the
administrative director. The clerk of court must give advance
notice of the closure by posting notices on the court’s bulletin
board, on the doors of the courthouse, and in the clerk’s office.
(b) Magistrate Judges—Time of Sitting—Office
Hours. Magistrate judges shall sit in the conduct of trials and
hearings as the business of their courts and the status of their
calendars require. Offices of full-time magistrate judges shall
be open to the public for the transaction of business during
business hours from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on all days
except judicial holidays and Saturdays. Offices of part-time
magistrate judges shall be open to the public for the transaction
of business as prescribed by the presiding judge.

Rule 19.

Number and Location of District
Court Judges and Magistrate
Judges.

(a) District Court Judges. The district court in each
judicial district shall have the number of judges as set forth
below:
First Judicial District – 2
Second Judicial District – 0
Third Judicial District – 14
Fourth Judicial District – 4
The number of district court judges may be changed from
time to time by the Supreme Court as circumstances require.
(b) Magistrate Judges. Each judicial district shall have
no more than the number of magistrate judges set forth below:
First Judicial District—13
Second Judicial District—18
Third Judicial District—23
Fourth Judicial District—16

In addition, magistrate judges shall be available at all
times:

The number and location of magistrate judges may be
changed from time to time by the supreme court as
circumstances require.

(1) to issue arrest warrants, search warrants, and
summonses in criminal cases;

(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 594 effective May 4, 1984; by SCO 797 effective date
nunc pro tunc September 1, 1986; by SCO 955 effective
January 12, 1989; by SCO 1018 effective nunc pro tunc May
17, 1989; by SCO 1144 effective September 9, 1993; by SCO
1225 effective November 15, 1995; by SCO 1393 effective
May 9, 2000; by SCO 1516 effective July 1, 2003; by SCO
1551 effective July 1, 2004; by SCO 1572 effective June 1,
2005; by SCO 1715 effective July 1, 2009; by SCO 1737
effective September 15, 2010; SCO 1829 effective October 15,
2014; by SCO 1922 effective July 1, 2018; and by SCO 1945
effective July 1, 2019)

(2) to set bail;
(3) as may be necessary to conduct proceedings required
under Criminal Rule 5, District Court Criminal Rule 1, CINA
Rule 5 and Delinquency Rule 5; and
(4) to make emergency appointments of temporary
property custodians under AS 22.15.110(a)(3).
Weekend and holiday duty must be equitably shared
between magistrate judges and other judges except at court
locations at which committing magistrate judges have been
hired to perform weekend and holiday duty.
(c)
Courts Open During Noon Hour. All courts with
more than two employees will be open for business during the
noon hour (12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.) unless otherwise
authorized by the administrative director.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 455 effective March 15, 1981; by SCO 885 effective July
15, 1988; by SCO 1207 effective July 15, 1995; by SCO 1223
effective nunc pro tunc to September 1, 1995; by SCO 1285
effective January 15, 1998; by SCO 1829 effective October 15,
2014; and by SCO 1976 effective September 7, 2021)

Cross References
CROSS REFERENCE: AS 22.15.020.

Rule 19.1 Qualifications of Magistrate Judges Who
Seek Appointment as District
Judges Under AS 22.15.160(a)(2).

Court

A magistrate judge is qualified for appointment to the
office of district court judge under AS 22.15.160(a)(2) if he or
she is a citizen of the United States and of the state, is at least
21 years of age, has been a resident of the state for at least five
years immediately preceding the appointment, has served for at
least seven years in the state as a magistrate judge in the
exempt service of the Alaska Court System, and is a graduate

21

ALASKA COURT RULES
of a law school accredited or approved by the Council of Legal
Education of the American Bar Association or the Association
of American Law Schools.
(Added by SCO 532 effective October 1, 1982; amended by
SCO 1829 effective October 15, 2014)

Rule 19.2.

Deputy Magistrates.

(a) Introduction. This rule governs the certification and
appointment of court system employees as deputy magistrates.
A person, other than a court system employee officially
classified as judge, justice, magistrate, or committing
magistrate, may not perform judicial duties unless that person
is appointed master under the Alaska Rules of Court, or is
otherwise given judicial duties by statute or court rule.
(b) Qualifications. A deputy magistrate must:
(1) be an Alaska Court System employee;
(2) be at least 21 years of age;
(3) be a United States citizen;
(4) be a resident of the State of Alaska for six months
immediately preceding the appointment; and
(5) have received training from a training judge or
another judicial officer designated by the presiding judge or by
the chief justice, prior to appointment as a deputy magistrate,
for each judicial duty which the appointee will be certified to
perform.
(c) Appointment. The presiding judge may appoint a
qualified court system employee as a deputy magistrate. The
appointment order must be in writing and specify the duties
which the deputy magistrate is authorized to perform. The
appointment order must also contain the training judge’s
certification that the person appointed has received training in
each of the judicial duties which the appointee is authorized to
perform, and that the appointee is competent to perform each
of these duties. Copies of the order must be sent to the
appointee, chief justice, human resources director, magistrate
services, training judge, area court administrator, and the
highest ranking local judicial officer.
(d) Duties. A deputy magistrate may be appointed to
perform only the following magistrate duties:
(1) acceptance of criminal complaints;
(2) issuance of summonses and arrest warrants;
(3) bail hearings;
(4) felony first appearances;
(5) misdemeanor and minor offense arraignments;

22

(6) acceptance of guilty or no contest pleas in
misdemeanor and minor offense cases;
(7) sentencings following pleas accepted by the deputy
magistrate;
(8) issuance of marriage licenses and performance of
marriages;
(9) issuance of ex parte and emergency domestic
violence protective orders pursuant to AS 18.66.110, and
issuance of ex parte and emergency stalking and sexual assault
protective orders pursuant to AS 18.65.855; and
(10) issuance of search warrants.
(e) Limitations on Deputy Magistrate Duty.
(1) A deputy magistrate may not perform the deputy
magistrate duties listed in subsection (d) unless all other
judicial officers are unavailable as defined by paragraph (e)(3),
or additional weekend or holiday duty is authorized pursuant to
paragraph (e)(2), or for supervised training purposes.
(2) The presiding judge may approve weekend or holiday
duty by deputy magistrates subject to review by the chief
justice.
(3) A judicial officer is unavailable for purposes of
paragraph (e)(1) only if the judicial officer is conducting
courtroom proceedings, is absent from the community on other
court business, is ill, or is on leave. In addition, a judicial
officer is unavailable for weekend or holiday duty if the
judicial officer is on leave either the day before or after the
weekend or holiday. A judicial officer is not unavailable for
weekend or holiday duty only because the judicial officer is
absent from the court building.
(4) A deputy magistrate who is not a clerk of court may
perform magistrate duties only if there is no deputy magistrate
at the court location who is a clerk of court or if the deputy
magistrate who is a clerk of court is performing other judicial
duties or is not at the court building.
(5) The limitations on performance of deputy magistrate
duties in (e)(1)–(4) do not apply to a deputy magistrate who is
performing deputy magistrate duties while being observed by a
training judge.
(f) Classification and Compensation.
(1) A clerk of court appointed deputy magistrate will be
classified two salary ranges above the classification which
would normally be assigned to the position. A clerk of court
appointed deputy magistrate is not entitled to upward
reclassification if the deputy magistrate duties have previously
been considered by the personnel office in the classification of
the position.
(2) Compensation for a deputy magistrate who is exempt
from the Fair Labor Standards Act will be $100.00 for each
holiday, Saturday, or Sunday of on-call duty.

ALASKA COURT RULES
(3) Deputy magistrates who are not exempt from the Fair
Labor Standards Act will be compensated for overtime
magistrate work during the regular work week as provided by
the Fair Labor Standards Act. Such deputy magistrates will be
compensated for holiday, Saturday or Sunday on-call duty in
the following manner:
(A) If a non-exempt deputy magistrate is required to
perform magistrate duties while on-call during holidays,
Saturdays, or Sundays, the deputy magistrate will be
compensated either in accordance with the provisions of the
Fair Labor Standards Act for those hours worked, or as
provided in paragraph (f)(2) of this rule, whichever is greater.
(B) If a non-exempt deputy magistrate is not required to
perform magistrate duties while on-call, the deputy magistrate
will be compensated as provided in paragraph (f)(2) of this
rule.
(4) A law clerk appointed deputy magistrate will receive
no additional compensation, other than the law clerk’s regular
salary, for the law clerk’s deputy magistrate functions,
notwithstanding any other provision in this rule.
(Adopted by SCO 600 effective September 1, 1984; amended
by SCO 885 effective July 15, 1988; by SCO 1258 effective
nunc pro tunc to July 1, 1996; by SCO 1529 effective
November 5, 2003; and by SCO 1722 effective January 1,
2010)

Rule 20.

Magistrate Judge Salaries.

Magistrate judge salaries shall be determined in
accordance with the personnel rules.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; by SCO 1223 effective
nunc pro tunc to September 1, 1995; and by SCO 1829
effective October 15, 2014)

Rule 21.

Conduct of Proceedings.

(a) Proceedings on the Record and in Open Court. So
far as practicable, all judicial business involving the trial of
causes and conferences with members of the Bar or litigants
shall be on the record and transacted in open court.
(b) Judicial Robes. All justices of the supreme court, all
judges of the court of appeals, all judges of the superior court,
all district court judges, and all magistrate judges, while
presiding in a public session of court, shall wear a suitable
black judicial robe.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 443 effective November 13, 1980; and by SCO 1829
effective October 15, 2014)

Rule 22.

Places for Holding Court in Time of War,
Insurrection, Pestilence, or Other Public
Danger.

When it appears necessary because of actual or threatened
war, insurrection, pestilence, or other public calamity, or
because of actual or threatened destruction of, or danger to the
building or the occupants of the building appointed for holding
court in any judicial district, the presiding judge of the district
may by order direct that the court be held or continued at any
other place or facility in the judicial district. The order shall be
filed with the clerk of the supreme court and a copy provided
to the administrative director. The order shall be published as
the presiding judge prescribes.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980)

Rule 23.

Appointment of Former Justices and
Judges to Pro Tempore Judicial Service.

(a) Appointment to Pro Tempore Judicial Service.
(1) Method of Appointment. Former judicial officers who
have been accepted for inclusion in the administrative
director’s pro tempore appointment list may be appointed to sit
pro tempore as a senior judge in any court of this state when
the judicial assignment is deemed necessary for the efficient
administration of justice and the former judicial officer
consents to the appointment. Pro tempore appointments shall
be made by the chief justice, or by another justice designated
by the chief justice, in consultation with the administrative
director and the presiding judge or chief judge of the affected
court.
(2) Scope or Term of Appointment. Pro tempore
appointments may be made for one or more specified cases, or
for a specified period of time, or a combination of both.
Appointments may be renewed. A pro tempore judge may
complete a trial, including sentencing, or an appeal in progress
at the conclusion of the judge’s term of appointment. Unless a
judge’s order of appointment specifies otherwise, the judge’s
pro tempore appointment to a case in a trial court terminates
upon expiration of the time for filing an appeal except the pro
tempore judge may preside over immediate post-judgment
proceedings such as deciding restitution in a criminal case or
ruling on attorney fees and costs in a civil case. Unless a
judge’s order of appointment specifies otherwise, the judge’s
pro tempore appointment to a case in an appellate court
terminates upon expiration of the time for filing a petition for
rehearing or, if a petition for rehearing is filed, upon entry of
the order or opinion that disposes of the petition.
(b) Eligibility to Apply for Inclusion in the
Administrative Director’s Pro Tempore Appointment List.
(1) Eligibility to Apply. Former justices of the supreme
court, former judges of the court of appeals and the superior
court, and former judges of the district court who were
appointed by the governor are eligible to apply for inclusion in
the administrative director’s pro tempore appointment list
unless the former justice or judge
(A) was rejected in a retention election,
(B) was removed from office by the supreme court
pursuant to disciplinary proceedings instituted by the

23

ALASKA COURT RULES
Commission on Judicial Conduct,
(C) was removed from office by legislative impeachment
proceedings,
(D) resigned from office while
impeachment proceedings were pending,

disciplinary

or

(E) resigned or was removed from office because of
incapacity, or
(F) is no longer a resident of Alaska.
(2) Restoration of Eligibility. Judicial officers who
would be ineligible to apply for inclusion in the pro tempore
appointment list under subparagraphs (b)(1)(A) – (E) of this
rule become eligible for appointment if they are subsequently
nominated for judicial office by the Alaska Judicial Council
and appointed by the governor.
(c) The Pro Tempore Appointment List.
(1) The administrative director shall maintain a list of
judges who can be considered for appointment to pro tempore
judicial service. A former judge may be included in this list if
(A) the judge is eligible to apply for inclusion in the list
under subsection (b) of this rule,
(B) the judge applies for inclusion in the list and declares
his or her willingness to accept pro tempore appointments, and
(C) the chief justice, in consultation with the administrative director, determines that inclusion of the judge in the
pro tempore appointment list will be consistent with efficient
judicial administration and the Court System’s budgetary
constraints, and that the judge possesses the skills and
temperament required for satisfactorily performing pro
tempore judicial duties.
(2) Former judges who wish to be included in the pro
tempore appointment list shall apply to the administrative
director using the application form specified by the director.
This application form must require the judges to
(A) acknowledge that, if they are accepted for inclusion
in the pro tempore appointment list, they will be bound by all
provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct that apply to senior
judges until they formally withdraw from the appointment list
as prescribed in paragraph (c)(4);
(B) certify that they have read the applicable provisions
of the Code of Judicial Conduct and that they are currently in
compliance with those provisions; and
(C) agree that they will promptly withdraw from the pro
tempore appointment list if they cease being residents of
Alaska.
(3) The administrative director and the chief justice shall
review a judge’s application for inclusion in the pro tempore
appointment list, applying the criteria specified in
subparagraph (c)(1)(C). The administrative director shall
promptly notify judges when their application for inclusion in

24

the pro tempore appointment list has been granted or denied.
Judges who are accepted for inclusion in the pro tempore
appointment list become senior judges for purposes of the
Code of Judicial Conduct.
(4) A former judge who has been accepted for inclusion
in the pro tempore appointment list may withdraw from the list
by notifying the administrative director in writing. If the
judge’s withdrawal will terminate one or more current pro
tempore judicial appointments, the administrative director shall
notify the presiding judges or chief judge of the affected
courts.
(5) The following procedures govern the re-evaluation of
judges on the pro tempore appointment list:
(A) Every two years, the administrative director and the
chief justice shall review the performance of all judges who
have served pro tempore during the preceding two years. This
biennial review shall include the results of any evaluation of
the pro tempore judge’s performance by the Alaska Judicial
Council. The biennial review shall also include formal
evaluations of the judge’s performance by each of the
presiding judges or chief judge of the courts where the judge
served pro tempore. At the conclusion of this biennial review,
the chief justice, in consultation with the administrative
director, shall determine whether the judge will remain on the
pro tempore appointment list.
(B) In addition to the biennial review required by
subparagraph (c)(5)(A), the administrative director and the
chief justice may, at any time, assess any judge’s continued
inclusion in the pro tempore appointment list if they receive
new information which raises a significant question as to
whether the inclusion of that judge in the appointment list
remains consistent with efficient judicial administration and
the Court System’s budgetary constraints, or whether that
judge possesses the skills and temperament required for
satisfactorily performing pro tempore judicial duties. At the
conclusion of this assessment, the chief justice, in consultation
with the administrative director, shall determine whether the
judge will remain on the pro tempore appointment list.
(d) Compensation. A former justice or judge is entitled
to receive compensation for pro tempore judicial service at the
rate of $650 per day for any day during which the justice or
judge served for four hours or more, and $325 per day for any
day during which the justice or judge served less than four
hours. The annual compensation for pro tempore service may
not exceed the difference between the former justice’s or
judge’s annual retirement pay and the current annual base
salary of a justice or judge of the court from which the justice
or judge retired. The supreme court may relax this limit when
necessary to cover an extended judicial vacancy or in other
extenuating circumstances. The former justice or judge is not
entitled to personal, annual, or sick leave benefits, or health
insurance coverage under the active employee plan, and
acceptance of a pro tempore appointment acts as a waiver of
any claim to these benefits. For an appointment of over 90
consecutive days, these leave benefits and eligibility for health
insurance coverage under the active employee plan (as
permitted under the statutes and regulations that govern

ALASKA COURT RULES
participation in that plan) may be granted at the discretion of
the administrative director with the concurrence of the chief
justice.
(e)
Additional Service Credit. A former justice or
judge who has not accrued the maximum service credit for
retirement benefits under AS 22.25.020 is entitled to receive
additional service credit for each day of pro tempore service
until the maximum is reached.
(f)
Private Arbitration and Mediation. If, after a
former judge has been accepted for inclusion in the pro
tempore appointment list, the judge acts as a private arbitrator
or mediator, the judge must comply with the following rules to
remain eligible for pro tempore appointment:
(1) The judge shall refrain from soliciting or
accepting employment as an arbitrator or mediator from a
lawyer or party who is currently appearing in a case in which
the judge is serving as a pro tempore judicial officer.
(2) The judge shall disqualify himself or herself from
serving as a pro tempore judge in a case if the judge has
previously served as an arbitrator or mediator, either in a
private capacity or as a settlement judge, in the same matter.
This disqualification may be waived under Canon 3F of the
Code of Judicial Conduct.
(3) The judge shall disqualify himself or herself from
serving as a pro tempore judge in a case if the judge is
currently serving or is scheduled to serve as an arbitrator or
mediator in a private capacity for a lawyer or party in the case.
This disqualification may be waived under Canon 3F of the
Code of Judicial Conduct.
(4) The judge shall disqualify himself or herself from
serving as a pro tempore judge in a case if the judge served as
an arbitrator or mediator in a private capacity for a lawyer in
that case or a party to that case within the two years prior to the
judge’s assignment to the case. This disqualification may be
waived under Canon 3F of the Code of Judicial Conduct.
(5)
The judge shall refrain from accepting
employment as an arbitrator or mediator from a lawyer or party
who, within the preceding six months, has appeared in any
case in which the judge was participating personally and
substantially as a judge at the same time.

effective January 1, 2016; by SCO 1874 effective April 27,
2016; by SCO 1917 effective December 1, 2017; by SCO 1932
effective July 11, 2018; by SCO 1952 effective July 24, 2019;
by SCO 2017 effective April 1, 2024; by SCO 2032 effective
November 11, 2024; and by SCO 2050 effective July 22, 2026)

Rule 24.

Assignment of Judicial Officers.

(a) Assignments Within Judicial Districts. Assignment
of a judicial officer from the court location of the judicial
officer’s residence to locations within the same judicial district
shall be made by the presiding judge of the judicial district or
by the presiding judge’s designee. In making such
assignments, due regard shall be had of the status of
accumulated calendars of the courts in the district to the end
that judicial officers are assigned to such courts as needed in
order to keep the calendars current.
(b) Temporary
Districts.

Assignments

in

Other

Judicial

(1) When the volume of judicial business in the superior
or district court in any judicial district warrants the temporary
assignment thereto of one or more judicial officers from
another judicial district, the presiding judge in the judicial
district requiring such temporary assignment shall so advise
the administrative director, giving details as to the reasons for
the assignment, the length of time and the location of the
temporary assignment.
(2) The administrative director shall thereupon determine
the availability of judicial officers in other judicial districts and
make such assignments as may be necessary.
(c) Assignment of Appellate Judicial Officers.
(1) The chief justice may assign an individual justice of
the supreme court or a judge of the court of appeals, with the
consent of the justice or judge, to serve pro tempore as a judge
of the superior court or a district court in any judicial district of
the state under the same circumstances as the administrative
director may assign a judge under paragraph (b) of this rule.
(2) Death or Incapacity.

For purposes of these restrictions, a senior judge is not
“serving as a pro tempore judge” or “participating personally
and substantially as a judge” if the judge has been assigned to a
case solely for the purpose of serving as a settlement judge.
As used in this Rule, the term “settlement judge” means a
judicial officer who is assigned to a case solely for the purpose
of consulting with the parties and assisting them in trying to
resolve their dispute without a trial or other formal
adjudicative hearing.

(B) If all members of the supreme court die or are
incapacitated, the chief judge of the court of appeals becomes
the acting chief justice and may appoint up to four justices to
serve pro tempore to create a functioning supreme court of not
more than five members.

(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 443 effective November 13, 1980; by SCO 597 effective
July 19, 1984; by SCO 857 effective July 15, 1988; by SCO
1153 effective July 15, 1994; by SCO 1262 effective February
27, 1997; by SCO 1324 effective July 15, 1998; by SCO 1358
effective July 15, 1999; by SCO 1629 effective December 31,
2006; by SCO 1736 effective July 1, 2010; by SCO 1869

(C) If the chief judge of the court of appeals is unable to
act as chief justice within the meaning of subpart (B), the next
most senior member of the court of appeals becomes the chief
justice for purposes of that subpart. If no member of the court
of appeals is able to act as chief justice, the most senior
presiding judge who is also a superior court judge becomes the
acting chief justice for the purposes of subpart (B).

(A) If the chief justice dies, or is incapacitated, the most
senior member of the supreme court becomes acting chief
justice.

25

ALASKA COURT RULES
(d) Assignments of Active Judges for Pro Tempore
Appellate Service. The chief justice, or another justice whom
the chief justice designates, may assign an individual justice of
the supreme court or an individual judge of the superior or
district court to serve pro tempore as a judge of the court of
appeals. The chief justice, or another justice whom the chief
justice designates, may assign an individual judge of the court
of appeals, the superior court or the district court to serve pro
tempore as a justice of the supreme court.
(e) Assignments of Active Judges for Other Pro
Tempore Service. The chief justice, another justice whom the
chief justice designates, or the presiding judge upon entry of an
order of delegation by the chief justice, may assign an
individual judge of the district court to serve pro tempore as a
judge of the superior court. When a superior court judge hears
a matter that is pending in the district court, that judge sits as a
district court judge, and a specific assignment to the district
court is not required.
(f) Scope and Duration of Assignment.
(1) A temporary assignment of an individual justice or
judge under this rule shall be for specific cases or types of
cases or proceedings; for general caseloads in a specific
geographic location as necessary to ensure completion of a
travel calendar; and for general caseloads as necessary to
ensure continued judicial service during either the extended
absence of a sitting judge or a judicial vacancy.
(2) A temporary assignment may not exceed 180 days in
duration absent specific authorization by the chief justice;
however a judge who is assigned pro tem on a specific case
may continue to preside in that case beyond the expiration of
the temporary assignment order.
(3) A single temporary assignment of a judicial officer to
another judicial district may not exceed 90 days, unless the
judicial officer consents to the additional assignment.
Assignments in excess of 90 days or any assignment made
without the consent of the assigned judicial officer may be
made only by special order of the chief justice.
(g) Recommendations. The administrative director and
the presiding judge in each judicial district shall, after
consideration of the state of the superior and district court
dockets from time to time, submit joint recommendations to
the supreme court as to methods of improving the
administration of justice in such courts.
(h) Definitions. In this rule, “judicial officer” means a
superior court judge, district court judge, or magistrate judge.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 443 effective November 13, 1980; by SCO 891 effective
July 15, 1988; by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; by SCO
1231 effective April 12, 1996; by SCO 1463 effective October
15, 2002; by SCO 1499 effective April 15, 2003; and by SCO
1829 effective October 15, 2014)

Rule 25.
26

Traveling Expenses of Judicial Officers and
Employees.

Each supreme court justice, court of appeals judge,
superior court judge, district court judge and magistrate judge,
and each employee of the court system is entitled to receive
travel expenses and per diem as provided by law for state
employees; provided, that the travel has been approved by the
appropriate administrative supervisor of the justice, judge,
magistrate judge or employee.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980; amended by
SCO 443 effective November 13, 1980; by SCO 1223 effective
nunc pro tunc to September 1, 1995; and by SCO 1829
effective October 15, 2014)

Rule 26.

Power of Court to Provide Proper
Facilities for Transaction of Business in
Court—Payment of Expenses.

If the state does not provide proper rooms in which to
hold the court and for the accommodations of the officers of
the court, together with attendants, furniture, fuel, lights, and
stationery, suitable and sufficient for the transaction of
business, the chief justice may direct the administrative
director of courts to provide them. The expenses thereof,
certified by the chief justice to be correct, shall be paid out of
the state treasury.
(Adopted by SCO 412 effective July 1, 1980)

Rule 26.1.

Court Facilities.

Notice to Executive and Legislative Branch Agencies. The
supreme court will provide a one-year notice prior to requiring
an executive or legislative branch agency to vacate a court
facility.
(Added by SCO 596 effective June 19, 1984)

Rule 26.2.

Court Security.

(a) Except as otherwise provided by this rule,
no person may possess a weapon on the premises of
any court facility, or in the portion of any other
building occupied by the court system, unless the
weapon is to be used as evidence in a court
proceeding. The term weapon includes firearms,
knives, and chemical agents such as mace and pepper
spray. This prohibition does not apply to:
(1) a peace officer;
(2) a private uniformed security guard
employed by a financial institution or private security
service who is transporting money or other valuables;
(3) a private security guard under contract with
the court system to provide security services within a
court facility who possesses a weapon authorized
under the contract;
(4) a judicial officer, who may possess on the
premises of any court facility, or in the portion of any
other building occupied by the court system: (a)

ALASKA COURT RULES
small knives or multi-tools (like Swiss Army-type or
Leatherman-type tools) provided that any knife blade
may not exceed 4 inches in length, except for kitchen
knives and utensils for purposes of food preparation
and service on court premises; (b) small chemical
agent canisters for personal safety purposes; and (c)
any other weapon upon receiving written
authorization from the administrative director.
Authorization to possess a weapon other than a
handgun under (c) of this rule, will be given only
upon a showing of good cause.
(5) court system employees, who may possess
on the premises of any court facility, or in the portion
of any other building occupied by the court system:
(a) small knives or multi-tools (like Swiss Army-type
or Leatherman-type tools) provided that any knife
blade may not exceed 4 inches in length, except for
kitchen knives and utensils for purposes of food
preparation and service on court premises; and (b)
small chemical agent canisters for personal safety
purposes; or
(6) court
system
facility
construction
contractors, who may possess on the premises of
court facilities knives and knife-like tools that are
necessary for their work.
For the purposes of this rule, a peace officer
includes officers of the Department of Corrections
who are qualified and authorized to carry a firearm in
the performance of their official duties as indicated
on their official Department of Corrections
identification card, which must be presented upon
entry into a court facility.
(b) The exemptions listed in (a)(1)-(3) and
(a)(5)-(6) apply only to persons acting within the
scope and authority of their employment. A peace
officer, private security guard, court system employee, or court system contractor who is participating in or attending a court proceeding outside the
sco

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/court_rules%3Aak%3A494a0f235db9327b. Public record. Not legal advice.