| Alaska Statutes |
The Alaska Statutes are the laws of the state as passed by the legislature. The statutes (1993 - current) are available online on the Alaska Legislature's website, and the current print version is available at all Alaska Court System law libraries and many public libraries. The Anchorage Law Library has a complete historical collection of Alaska Statutes. The official publisher of the Alaska Statutes is LexisNexis. Their toll-free number is 1-800-446-3410. The 13-volume set is published biennially in October with an annual interim supplement.
| Alaska Legislature | Legislative History Resources |
The Alaska Statutes are enacted and amended by the Alaska Legislature, which meets annually from January through May, with periodic special sessions. The Alaska Legislature's website also provides legislative history materials, including bills (1983 - current), session laws (1981 - current), House and Senate Journals (1987 - current), and committee minutes (1982 - current).
Tips for Using the Legislative History Databases:
| Operator | Explanation | Example |
| AND OR @# /# " " |
both terms must appear at least one term must appear w/in # words, in any order w/in # words, first word must appear before second phrases, words which must appear in a particular order |
tort AND reform tort OR reform civil @3 rule ad /2 litem "hb 354" |
97
HJUD
01/24/97
1300Year
Committee
Committee Meeting Date
Tape Counter Number
You should note this information because it will not appear on your printouts.
| - House + 87 + 88 - Senate + 87 + 88 |
- House - 87 + HCRA |
- House - 87 - HCRA - 87/01/21 |
| Alaska Administrative Code | Online Public Notice |
The Alaska Administrative Code (AAC) contains the regulations of all Alaska agencies. The current regulations are available online on the Alaska Legislature's website, and the print version is available at all Alaska Court System law libraries and many public libraries. The official publisher of the AAC is LexisNexis. Their toll-free number is 1-800-446-3410. The AAC is updated quarterly. The Anchorage Law Library has a complete historical collection of AAC Registers.
The Alaska Online Public Notice site includes the Alaska Administrative Journal, notices of proposed and adopted regulations, competitive solicitations, and public notices filed by the Lieutenant Governor.
| Appellate Court Slip Opinions and Memorandum Opinions |
The supreme court is the highest court in Alaska and has final state appellate jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters. The court of appeals has the authority to hear appeals in cases involving criminal prosecution, post-conviction relief, juvenile delinquency, extradition, habeas corpus, probation and parole, bail, and sentencing matters. Additional information about the Alaska Supreme Court and the Alaska Court of Appeals is available on the Alaska Court System website.
Supreme Court opinions and Court of Appeals opinions are issued Fridays after 12:30 p.m. and are retained on the Alaska Court System website until they are published in the official reporter of Alaska appellate decisions - Pacific Reporter (P.2d and P.3d), and the Alaska Reporter, which contains the Alaska cases excerpted from P.2d and P.3d. The Pacific Reporter or the Alaska Reporter is available at most Alaska Court System law libraries and some public libraries. The official publisher of the Alaska Reporter is West. Their toll-free number is 1-800-328-9352.
Supreme Court MOJs and Court of Appeals MOJs are without precedential effect and may not be cited in the courts of the State of Alaska (AR 214). MOJs are issued on Wednesdays, and posted on the Alaska Court System website for informational purposes. They are retained on Court System website for three months. Older MOJs may be obtained from the Appellate Clerk's Office (907) 264-0612.
| Alaska Rules of Court | Supreme Court Orders |
The Alaska Rules of Court are the rules for the administration of all courts in the state and for practice and procedure in civil and criminal cases established by the supreme court under the authority of the Alaska Constitution. The supreme court has also adopted rules for the practice of law in Alaska and procedural rules for children's matters, probate, and appeals. The current Rules are available online on the Alaska Court System website, and the print version is available at all Alaska Court System law libraries and some public libraries. The official publisher of the Alaska Rules of Court is LexisNexis. Their toll-free number is 1-800-643-1280. The Rules are published annually in October.
Most Alaska rules are enacted and amended by supreme court order (SCO), which the court issues on a periodic basis. Newer SCOs are available on the Alaska Court System website. Print versions of all SCOs are available at the Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks law libraries. The Alaska Legislature may also change the court's procedural rules by passing an act expressing its intent to do so by a two-thirds majority of both houses. The Alaska Legislature website provides information about pending legislation.
| Form Books and Court System Publications |
Legal form books provide sample language you may use on documents to file with the court. Some forms, such as those prepared by the Alaska Court System, are fill-in-the-blank, while others merely provide language that you will need to tailor to your situation. It is important to note that forms are not available for every situation. You will often have to create documents without the help of examples, and you should consider consulting an attorney to assist you. Each person's legal situation is unique. Court staff cannot advise you about what language to use and library staff cannot select forms for you.
The Alaska Court System Forms Book contains official forms produced by the Court System. A few of these forms are available on the Court System website. The forms are available at all court locations, and the Forms Book is available for review at the Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks law libraries. Selected Alaska Appellate Court Forms are also available online.
The Anchorage Legal Secretaries Handbook provides explanations of some legal procedures and sample language that may help you prepare documents in the areas of adoption, bankruptcy, divorce, and probate. The Anchorage Legal Secretaries Handbook is available for review at the Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks law libraries and at the clerk's offices of the Anchorage, Kenai and Palmer courts.
General form books, such as West's Legal Forms , American Jurisprudence Legal Forms and Federal Practice and Procedure are available at the Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks law libraries for review.
The Court System produces explanatory pamphlets covering topics such as bail, Anchorage traffic court, Child In Need of Aid proceedings, mental health commitments, misdemeanor arraignments, and minor offenses. The publications are available at all court locations statewide, and a few publications are available on the Court System website.
| Alaska Pattern Jury Instructions |
Jury instructions are used by the trial judge to instruct members of the jury on the law applicable in the case before them. Lawyers may also use jury instructions as they prepare for trial to ensure they address all the elements of their case.
The Alaska Civil Pattern Jury Instructions and Alaska Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions are available online on the Court System website and in print and electronic format from the Alaska Bar Association. These instructions have not been approved or promulgated by any court or the Alaska Bar Association.
| Alaska Constitution | Constitutional Convention Minutes |
The Alaska Constitution establishes the framework for Alaska government. The Alaska Constitution is published in Volume 1 of the Alaska Statutes, which is available in print at all Alaska Court System law libraries and many public libraries.
The Constitutional Convention Minutes provide the official transcript of the proceedings of the convention that drafted Alaska's constitution. The minutes are also available at the Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks law libraries.
| Alaska Executive Orders |
Executive Orders are issued by the Governor. Executive Orders are published Volume 11 of the Alaska Statutes, which are available in print at all Alaska Court System law libraries and many public libraries.
| Alaska Attorney General Opinions |
Attorney General Opinions opinions may be issued by the Attorney General in response to requests by state agency officials and state legislators to help them perform their duties. These opinions are not law, but advice to state officials on questions of law and how the law applies to particular fact situations. The Attorney General may not issue opinions nor provide legal advice for local government officials, private individuals, or private entities.
1996 - current Attorney General opinions are available on the Attorney General's website. 1959 - current opinions are available in print at the Anchorage law library.
| The Landlord and Tenant Act: what it means to you |
The Landlord and Tenant Act: what it means to you is the PDF version of the informational pamphlet produced by the Alaska Real Estate Commission about the rights and responsibilities of Alaska's landlords and tenants. The Alaska Landlord and Tenant Act is in Title 34 of the Alaska Statutes. The current print version of the Alaska Statutes is available at all Alaska Court System law libraries and many public libraries.
| Alaska Municipal Codes |
Municipal codes are the laws of local governments, including cities and boroughs. Links to online Alaska municipal codes are provided here. Additional municipal codes are available at the Anchorage Law Library. Your community public library may have a copy of your local municipal code.
Anchorage Municipal Code
Bethel Municipal Code
Denali
Borough Code
Fairbanks Code of Ordinances
Fairbanks North Star
Borough Code of Ordinances
Haines City Code
Homer City Code
City
& Borough of Juneau Code
Kenai Municipal Code
Kenai
Peninsula Borough Code of Ordinances
Ketchikan
Gateway Borough Code
Ketchikan Municipal Code
Kodiak City Code
Kodiak Island Borough Code
Matanuska-Susitna Borough Code
Nome Municipal Code
North Pole Municipal Code
Northwest Arctic Borough Code
Palmer Municipal Code
Petersburg Municipal Code
Seward City Code
Sitka General Code
Soldotna Municipal Code
Unalaska Code of Ordinances
Valdez Municipal Code
Wasilla Muncipal Code
Whittier Municipal Code
Wrangell Municipal Code
| Alaska Bar Association |
The Alaska Bar Association is a mandatory Bar, and under the auspices of the Alaska Supreme Court, administers the bar admission and discipline process. The Bar also has an active CLE program, a lawyer referral service, substantive law sections and various membership services. The bar offers a member directory on their website.
Ethics Opinions are issued by the Alaska Bar Association Ethics Committee in response to attorney requests for ethics advice. Ethics opinions are available on the Alaska Bar Association website, and a subscription to a set of ethics opinions is available from the Alaska Bar Association. Their number is 907-272-7469
| Alaska Legal Services Corporation |
The Alaska Legal Services Corporation is a private, non-profit corporation that provides free civil legal assistance to low-income Alaskans. Alaska Legal Services Corporation and the Alaska Pro Bono Program jointly sponsor a series of free, advice-only clinics designed to provide information to the public on a variety of legal issues. Topics include wills, bankruptcy, general family law issues, small claims, landlord/tenant law, child support, divorce, custody, and immigration and naturalization law.
| Alaska Judicial Council |
The Alaska Judicial Council is an independent state agency established by the Alaska Constitution in the judicial branch of state government. The Judicial Council has constitutional and statutory duties in three areas: judicial selection, judicial evaluation and retention, and research into the administration of justice.
| Alaska Commission on Judicial Coduct |
The Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct was created by amendment to the state constitution in 1968. The Commission addresses problems of judicial conduct and disability.
| Alaska Law Review |
The Alaska Law Review is published by Duke University in cooperation with the Alaska Bar Association. The Alaska Law Review provides an annual year-in-review of significant court decisions and legislative changes as well as scholarly articles in many areas such as natural resources law, environmental law, land use planning, economic development, and Native American rights.
| University of Alaska Anchorage Justice Center |
The University of Alaska Anchorage Justice Center is an academic, research, and public education program serving Alaska.
| Alaska Justice Forum |
The Alaska Justice Forum (1993 - current) is published by the Justice Center and the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Unit with partial funding from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice. Selected articles from the Alaska Justice Forum are available on the UAA Justice Center website.
| Legal Dictionary |
The Online legal dictionary is provided by legal publisher Nolo Press.
| Legal Research Tips |
The online LISP Public Library Toolkit provides information about researching a legal problem, how to update your research and a list of common legal abbreviations. This site is maintained by the American Association of Law Libraries' Legal Information Services to the Public (LISP) Special Interest Section and is aimed at librarians but is useful for anybody new to legal research.
| Rev. 27 August 2003
© Alaska Court System www.state.ak.us/courts |
You'll need to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat
Reader in order to view and print documents with this symbol. Visually impaired visitors to our website can use Adobe Acrobat's online conversion tools to convert PDF
documents into HTML or ASCII text. |
