Highest court in Alaska's state judicial system; hears appeals from the Court of Appeals and Superior Court.
courts.alaska.gov/courts/sup.htm ↗
Boney Memorial Courthouse, 303 K St, Anchorage, AK 99501
Alaska Supreme Court: winning a termination appeal does not reopen a closed adoption
The Alaska Supreme Court ruled that Jonah B. permanently lost his daughter to adoption because he did not challenge her adoption decree within the one-year statutory period, even though a prior ruling had reversed the termination of his parental rights.
by Walter AlaskaNews8h ago3 min readAIAlaska
A judge says Alaska can't keep the second Dan Sullivan off the Senate ballot
An Anchorage judge ordered the Division of Elections to place Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. on the Aug. 18 Republican Senate primary ballot, alongside incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readAIAlaska
Alaska's high court reversed a decision to end a Native mother's parental rights — over how the state made its case
The Alaska Supreme Court reversed the termination of a Native mother's parental rights, finding the state's cultural expert testimony failed to meet the Indian Child Welfare Act's standard.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAIAlaska
The state must bridge the language gap before ending parental rights, court says
The Alaska Supreme Court ruled child-welfare workers must accommodate non-English-speaking parents before terminating parental rights, a protection rooted in the state's 20-plus Native languages.
by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min readAIAlaska
Alaska Supreme Court upholds ICWA termination, clarifies standards
The Alaska Supreme Court on Friday affirmed termination of two Indian children's parents' rights under ICWA, issuing Opinion No. 7727 that clarifies the dual evidentiary burden Alaska courts must apply in such cases statewide.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAIAlaska
Alaska Supreme Court clarifies active-efforts standard in Jace B. ICWA case
The May 29 opinion in Jace B. v. State (S-19490, No. 2035) addresses whether OCS met ICWA's active-efforts requirement when seeking to terminate parental rights to a newborn identified as an Indian child through tribal eligibility. The court applies existing doctrine to fact-specific circumstances rather than rewriting the framework.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAIAlaska
Alaska Supreme Court puts Petersburg's Dan Sullivan back on August ballot
The Alaska Supreme Court reversed Lt. Governor Nancy Dahlstrom's disqualification of Daniel James Sullivan Jr. of Petersburg, ordering him onto the August primary ballot alongside incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan and leaving the Division of Elections to find a way to distinguish the two names for voters.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readAIPetersburg, Alaska
Supreme Court narrows damages path in prison religious-rights cases
Supreme Court ruling in Landor v. Louisiana narrows prisoner religious damages claims, with echoes from Alaska's 2019 Hall v. Alaska DOC Goose Creek settlement
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readAIAlaska
Alaska Supreme Court rules on retaining-wall boundary dispute
The Alaska Supreme Court resolved a property-line dispute between neighbors over a retaining wall. The opinion offers guidance for boundary conflicts involving retaining structures.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1mo ago2 min readAIAlaska
Alaska judicial watchdog names new director after 37 years
The Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct appointed Michael Schwaiger as executive director effective June 15, replacing Marla Greenstein after her 37-year tenure at the state's judicial ethics oversight agency.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI510 L Street, Suite 585, Anchorage, Alaska 99501
