Alaska Court Records

The court system in Alaska is structured into three tiers: the trial courts, the intermediate appellate court, and the appellate court. At the top of this structure is the Alaska Supreme Court, which is the appellate court holding the highest judicial authority in the state. This court primarily hears appeals on civil and criminal matters and is responsible for interpreting the Alaska Constitution and laws. It also oversees the entire state court system and adopts rules governing court procedures and the conduct of attorneys.

Next is the Alaska Court of Appeals, which is the court of intermediate appellate court. This court focuses mainly on criminal cases but also reviews appeals arising from criminal convictions and certain post-conviction matters. While its decisions are final in most instances, the Supreme Court may choose to review some of its rulings if a petition is filed and accepted.

Below the intermediate appellate court are the trial courts, which include the Superior and District Courts. The Superior Court functions as Alaska's trial court of general jurisdiction and is present in each of Alaska's four judicial districts. It handles a wide range of serious matters, including felony criminal cases, major civil disputes, family law cases such as divorce and child custody, probate matters involving wills and estates, and juvenile cases related to delinquency or child protection. The Superior Court may also hear appeals from the District Court in certain situations.

At the base of the Alaska court hierarchy is the District Court, which deals with less complex matters. It has limited jurisdiction and typically hears misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, small claims, and civil cases involving disputes under $100,000. The District Court also handles violations of city ordinances and other minor legal issues. Other than the District Court judges in Alaska District Courts, there are also Magistrate judges who are judicial officers with limited authority.

Magistrate Judges oversee specific types of cases in areas where a full-time District Court judge is not required. They provide judicial services in smaller communities and sometimes serve in multiple court locations. Additionally, magistrate judges in metropolitan areas handle routine legal matters to help reduce the workload of District Court judges, ensuring efficient case management within the court system.

Together, Alaska courts handle approximately 90,000 cases annually.

What Are the Types of Court Records In Alaska?

Alaska courts maintain different types of records that the public may request. Court records include any document or information received, collected, or held by court personnel in connection with a judicial proceeding. These records may be in the form of a calendar, index, register of actions, transcripts, order, decree, judgment, minute, or any information in a case management system prepared or created by court officials relating to a judicial proceeding. Each court in Alaska has a clerk tasked with maintaining the records of that court.

The following records are maintained by the court clerks in Alaska:

• Alaska Supreme Court
• Opinions and Rulings: Final written decisions on appeals involving state constitutional matters, civil rights, and broad legal interpretations. These opinions are binding on all lower state courts.
• Case Dockets: Public dockets include a record of filings, legal briefs, motions, and decisions in appellate matters.
• Administrative Orders: Formal policies issued by the Supreme Court affecting statewide judicial procedures, including rule changes and court operations.
• Petitions for Review or Hearing: Requests to review decisions from the Alaska Court of Appeals or certain Superior Court matters that meet discretionary standards.
• Alaska Court of Appeals
• Criminal Appeals: Records of appeals from criminal convictions and post-conviction relief cases.
• Appellate Briefs and Decisions: Records include written briefs from parties, oral argument summaries, and published or unpublished opinions.
• Petitions for Rehearing: Requests for reconsideration of decisions already issued.
• Superior Courts
• Criminal Case Records: Includes felony charges, indictments, bail orders, pre-trial motions, sentencing documents, and full trial transcripts.
• Civil Case Records: Records of lawsuits over contracts, property disputes, personal injury, and injunctive relief.
• Family Law Records: Includes divorce filings, child custody and support orders, adoption proceedings, and protective orders in domestic violence cases.
• Probate and Estate Records: Petitions and orders involving wills, intestate estates, conservatorships, and guardianships for both minors and incapacitated adults.
• Juvenile Matters: Hearings and records related to juvenile delinquency, abuse, and neglect.
• District Courts
• Misdemeanor Criminal Records: Arraignments, bail decisions, pre-trial motions, and judgments for less serious crimes.
• Civil Case Records: Disputes involving claims up to $100,000, including landlord-tenant cases and consumer issues.
• Traffic Violation Records: Citations and court outcomes for speeding, reckless driving, DUI, and other traffic-related offenses.
• Small Claims Records: Disputes under $10,000, such as personal debts or property damage claims.

Are Alaska Court Records Public?

The public has a constitutional right of access to judicial records in Alaska. Hence, and in addition to the provisions of Alaska Administrative Rule 37.5, court records in the state are generally public. However, some court records may be sealed or expunged under certain conditions. Alaska courts may seal certain records to protect the privacy or safety of witnesses, victims, or parties.

Also, per the provisions of Administrative Rule 37.5 (e), certain other court records may be exempt from public disclosure. Examples include personal information (Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other sensitive personal data), records related to the evaluation of court personnel, adoption and guardianship cases, child in need of aid cases, juvenile delinquency cases, and mental health commitment cases.

How Do I Search Alaska Court Records?

Alaska court records may be searched online and offline. To search state court records online, use the following options:

• Alaska Trial Court Case Search: This tool allows users to find court case information by providing a case number, party name, or ticket or citation number
• Alaska Appellate Court Case Search: You may find case information for cases filed in the court of appeals and supreme court using this tool. To perform a search, you may provide a case number, party name, or the name of an attorney participating in the case. Alternatively, you may provide a case number or trial court case number in the "Look Up Case" box in the upper right corner of the tool's page. The tool also provides access to some of the most requested trial court cases.

Alternatively, requests for court records may be made via a completed request form submitted to the relevant court by fax or email. The state court's website provides the following request forms for use by requesters:

• Anchorage, Sand Point, and Saint Paul Island: Send a completed TF-311 ANCH form by fax (907) 264-0610 or email (3ANRecordsRequest@akcourts.gov).
• Fairbanks: Send a completed TF-311 FBKS form by fax (907) 452-9277 or email (4FArecords@akcourts.gov).
• Palmer: Send a completed TF-311 PA form by fax (907) 746-8152 or email (3PACopyRequests@akcourts.gov).

How To Retrieve Court Records Offline

Alaska court records may be obtained offline by sending a completed TF-311 form to the office of the clerk or visiting the clerk of the court where the case was filed in person. Note that certified copies of court records cost $10 for the first certified copy and $3 for each additional certified copy of the same trial court document, requested at the same time.

For standard copies, the first document or part requested costs $5, while each additional document requested at the same time is copied at $3 each. Exemplified or authenticated copies cost $15 each. Note that the office of the clerk may also charge $30 per hour as a record research fee. A deposit may be required for some copy requests. While responses to simple court record requests may be obtained on the same day, complex requests may take up to four weeks to process.

The Alaska courts website also provides further information on accessing audio recordings, search warrant records, transcripts, and other trial court publications.

Can I Seal or Expunge an Alaska Court Record?

Generally, expungement refers to the complete destruction or removal of a criminal record as though it never existed. Sealing, on the other hand, means the record is hidden from public view but is accessible to government agencies in limited circumstances. Alaska does not have an expungement law allowing for the destruction or complete erasure of adult criminal records. Instead, the state provides limited opportunities to seal certain records under specific circumstances.

You may be eligible to have your record sealed if:

• You were arrested but never charged, or charges were dismissed with prejudice.
• You were acquitted at trial.
• You successfully completed probation under a "suspended imposition of sentence" (SIS), and the conviction was set aside.
• You are a juvenile, and enough time has passed without further offenses.

You may request Alaska courts to exclude your case from the online public index (courtview) pursuant to the provisions of Administrative Rule 40(a) or AS 22.35.030. To do so, you must submit a completed TF-810 form at your local trial court. Alternatively, if you want the court to make your case, or certain records within your case, confidential or sealed from the public, you may complete and submit Form TF-800. If you are only requesting to have your name removed from public view on CourtView, but not to seal the entire case, you must use Form TF-805 instead.

How To Search Federal Court Records in Alaska

With locations in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Ketchikan, the United States District Court for the District of Alaska is the only federal court in Alaska. Violations of federal laws in Alaska are handled in court. Additionally, the court handles bankruptcy proceedings.

PACER, also known as the Public Access to Court Electronic Records, is a system that allows the public to search records of federal courts in the United States, including the sole federal court in Alaska. To use PACER, you must first create an account on the system. Once registered, you may search case records by entering information such as the party name or case number. After, you may view docket sheets, filed documents, and court orders related to both civil and criminal cases. PACER charges a small fee of $0.10 per page, with a maximum of $3.00 per document.

If you prefer to obtain records offline, you must visit the office of the clerk of the court at any of the court's locations. At the office of the clerk, you may request to view the documents or obtain copies of the record. Regardless, you must provide specific information about the case, such as the names of the parties, the case number, or the approximate date of filing. Standard copies typically cost $0.50 per page, while certified copies cost $12 per document.

How To Get Alaska Court Records Online for Free?

The Alaska Court System's CourtView platform allows individuals to search for and review information related to trial and appellate court cases filed in Alaska state courts. Access to court case information via this system is free. You may perform a search on the online platform using a party's full or partial name, the case number, or a citation or ticket number.

In addition to the state's official court database search system, some third-party websites also offer access to Alaska court records. One such platform is PeopleRecords.us, a website that allows users to look up various public records, including Alaska court case information, online for free.