Megan Wallace
41:44 - 43:03
"The United States Supreme Court granted cert, agreeing to take on this case this term. The case involves an Alaska Supreme Court decision holding that it was not unconstitutionally excessive punishment to confiscate the airplane of a pilot whose cargo for a flight to a dry village included alcohol. Central to the Alaska Supreme Court's decision was an emphasis on the legislature's responsibility in setting penalties and giving deference, uh, oh, and for courts to give deference to legislative determinations, um, so long as those penalties are not grossly disproportional."
“The United States Supreme Court granted cert, agreeing to take on this case this term. The case involves an Alaska Supreme Court decision holding that it was not unconstitutionally excessive punishment to confiscate the airplane of a pilot whose cargo for a flight to a dry village included alcohol. Central to the Alaska Supreme Court's decision was an emphasis on the legislature's responsibility in setting penalties and giving deference, uh, oh, and for courts to give deference to legislative determinations, um, so long as those penalties are not grossly disproportional.”
- Speaker
- Megan Wallace
- Timestamp
- 41:44 – 43:03
- Community
- Alaska News
- Location
- Alaska
- Captured at
- September 10, 2026
From the transcript
Yes, this is Megan Wallace, Chief Counsel of Legal Services. As Senator Gray Jackson just stated the issue before the council is whether or not to authorize the filing of an amicus brief in the Jopee versus State of Alaska case, which is pending before the United States Supreme Court. The United States Supreme Court granted cert, agreeing to take on this case this term. The case involves an Alaska Supreme Court decision holding that it was not unconstitutionally excessive punishment to confiscate the airplane of a pilot whose cargo for a flight to a dry village included alcohol. Central to the Alaska Supreme Court's decision was an emphasis on the legislature's responsibility in setting penalties and giving deference, uh, oh, and for courts to give deference to legislative determinations, um, so long as those penalties are not grossly disproportional.
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