Alaska Court Records

Alaska Court Record Lookup

Public records include the proceedings of all 40 trial courts located in Alaska, documents that are accessible by the public. One may conduct Alaska court records search and view Alaska court records online.

Court Records in Alaska

Court records may include transcripts of trials, abstracts of judgments, default judgments, dismissals, Alaska criminal records, probate records, adoptions, orders to perform community service, and more.

Residents of the state’s largest city, Anchorage Court, accounts for 40 percent of the district court cases filed each year. Similarly, Anchorage’s superior court is quite busy, with over 10,000 cases originating there annually, including 2,700 felonies, 2,100 domestic relations, and 3,000 probate cases. An additional 2,100 petitions to revoke probation were generated in the city in a recent year.

District Court Records

The state is comprised of four judicial districts, divided geographically. Within the district courts are specialized units designed to divert nonviolent offenders from the prison system by offering services tailored specifically for substance abusers and military veterans.

These courthouses hear misdemeanor cases, small claims under $10,000, or civil lawsuits up to $100,000, as well as emergency Alaska child support and custody issues, traffic violations, and the like. These courts also issue summonses and arrest warrants. Magistrates may handle much of the administrative work on behalf of judges. Alaskla AL court records can be find by conducting Alaska court case lookup.

Alaska Superior Court Records

The state’s superior courts are the trial courts for Alaska, handling all criminal matters, juvenile cases, domestic issues, as well as appeals of district court decisions. In a recent year, there were nearly 120,000 cases filed in Alaska’s superior courts.

Appeals Courts

Above the trial courts are appeals courts that determine if the law was applied correctly in trials. In Alaska there is both a court of appeals and a supreme court; the latter advises on the Constitutionality of state laws as well as overseeing the state bar and hearing a selected number of cases each year.

Tribal Courts

Legal issues that arise on sovereign Native American land are handled outside the state judicial system. The State contains 40 tribal courts, each of these Alaska courthouses having its own legal system and a separate system of record keeping.

AK Federal Court Records

Those filing for bankruptcy in Alaska or involved in a multi-state lawsuit will find their case records at the federal U.S. District Court for Alaska. 

Alaska Notable Court Cases

After a Fairbanks man was convicted in 2011 of a felony drug possession charge, the state Appeals Court threw out the decision, saying the law it was based on was convoluted and confusing. Police had searched the man's car and found cocaine in the ashtray; while the defendant claimed it was an unreasonable search and seizure, the court said police were justified in searching the car due to probable cause but that the wording of the law forbids searching a "'closed container" unless it's "'immediately associated" with the suspect. The appeals court panel of judges decided to seek the state Supreme Court's clarification of the law, which might allow Alaska police to seek evidence in car consoles and gloveboxes without a warrant.