Alaska Supreme Court hears Valdez redistricting fee dispute

The Alaska Supreme Court heard oral argument Thursday on whether the City of Valdez and Mark Detter can recover attorney's fees and costs from their lawsuit against the state's 2021 legislative redistricting plan. The case, No. S19580, appeared on the Supreme Court Oral Argument Calendar, which confirms only that the argument was scheduled. It does not state the amount at issue, the lower court ruling under appeal, or any outcome from the hearing.

The appeal concerns whether the plaintiffs are entitled to fees and costs from their map challenge. That description of the issue comes from news coverage of the case. Alaska News previously covered the dispute in an article describing an $11,000 cost bill that Valdez is appealing to the high court.

Robin O. Brena of Brena, Bell & Walker represents Valdez and Detter. Matthew Singer of Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt represents the Alaska Redistricting Board. The calendar also lists Anchorage among the parties represented at argument.

The case grows out of consolidated superior court litigation over the board's 2021 plan. The board adopted that plan Nov. 10, 2021. Five lawsuits followed, including suits by Valdez and Skagway. In a March 25, 2022 order, the Supreme Court affirmed 39 of 40 House districts and 19 of 20 Senate districts. In a 2023 opinion, the court found the "Cantwell Appendage" in House District 36 violated the state constitution's compactness requirement. The board then adopted the 2022 interim plan as the final redistricting plan on May 15, 2023.

Thursday's argument addressed only whether Valdez and Detter can recover what they spent pursuing the case. The calendar does not record a ruling on that question.