What are Alaska Court Records?

Alaska is one of only two non-contiguous states in the United States, the other being Hawaii. The state's population is around 731,449, and half of this population lives in Anchorage. The court system in Alaska is managed centrally and includes trial courts (superior courts and district courts) as well as appellate courts (supreme court and court of appeals).
In 1957, Alaska abolished capital punishment. Anyone convicted of first-degree murder may face imprisonment for a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of 99 years. The state's courts preside over diverse legal matters, including civil and criminal cases, processing approximately 90,000 cases annually. Under the Alaska Public Records Act, court records, including proceedings and decisions, are available to the public. You can access and review court records using the statewide Courtview portal. Typical court records include complaints for civil suits, indictments for criminal trials, and the following information:
Docket Sheet
Court dockets are detailed records that track all the events in a court case, from the initial complaint through the proceedings and up to the judge's final order. All information related to a filed case is recorded and entered in the docket sheet.
Judgments and Orders
Judgments are decisions made by the judge and jury in a particular case. They are usually documented and signed, pronouncing the verdict. On the other hand, a court order is how the judge's decisions are formally issued.
Transcripts
Transcripts are word-for-word, official records of court proceedings in a trial. They are useful as evidence for a motion or when requesting an appeal. You must contact the court clerk where the case was handled to get a copy of the transcripts.
Evidence
Physical and document-based evidence is recorded from police reports and introduced by both legal sides during arguments.
Court Minutes
This is a document containing the events in a court trial, such as recesses, testimonies, and official statements, alongside their time of occurrence.
Pleadings
Statements that describe each party's requests to the court, such as complaints, plea bargains, or motions.
Briefs
This document contains the factual details of a case, the relevant laws, and the arguments presented by the involved parties concerning the disputed issues. Generally, legal counsel prepares briefs for submission to the court.
Alaska's judicial system is committed to transparency and accountability. It makes different types of court records available to the public. Anyone with details about the parties' names or case numbers can access most of this information.
Types of Court Cases
Court cases in Alaska are typically divided into civil and criminal cases. Although they are distinct, civil and criminal cases are considered to violate people's rights and who is at fault.
Civil Cases
Alaska civil cases are legal disputes in which a person or group, called the plaintiff, sues another person or group, called the defendant.
Common examples of civil cases include:
- Divorces
- Contract Disputes
- Landlord and tenant Disputes
You can file a civil case in either the superior or district courts in Alaska. A civil case starts when the person bringing the case (the plaintiff) files a complaint in court. The complaint usually asks the court to tell the person being sued (the defendant) to do something, like paying for any harm caused or stopping actions that are causing damage. In a civil case, the plaintiff must prove their case with a "preponderance of the evidence", meaning they need to show that their side is slightly more convincing. Most civil cases in Alaska end with the person who brought the case getting compensated.
Criminal Cases
Criminal cases in Alaska are legal actions brought against a person by a state agency on behalf of the public. These cases involve claims that the defendant committed a crime. In Alaska, criminal cases are divided into misdemeanors, heard in district courts, and felony cases, which superior courts handle. Most criminal cases in Alaska go to trial, where a judge or jury will review the evidence and decide whether the defendant is guilty. In a criminal case, the government must prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If a criminal defendant is found guilty, they may go to prison and/or pay a fine or restitution. Alaska law allows for many different penalties for criminal convictions, including:
- Fines
- Jail or prison time
- Unsupervised or supervised probation
- Community service
- Educational or treatment programs
- Electronic monitoring
All criminal defendants are entitled to appeal a guilty verdict to at least one appellate court.
Common examples of criminal cases include:
- Murder
- Domestic Violence
- Burglary
What Are the Different Courts in Alaska?
In 2023, Alaska budgeted $126 million, which was approximately 1.3% of the state's total budget, to keep its court system running. Like most U.S. states, Alaska separates its courts into tiers, each holding jurisdiction over all lower bodies.
Trial Courts
Alaska's trial courts are the first level of courts in the state. They handle cases when they are first filed and decide on those within their jurisdiction. The trial courts in Alaska are organized into four judicial districts, and there are two levels of trial court in the Alaska Court System: the Superior Court and the District Court.
Superior Court
The superior court is the principal trial court in the state. It handles civil and criminal cases and hears appeals from cases tried in the District Court. The court deals with cases involving children who have committed crimes or have been abused or neglected. It also handles cases related to the property of deceased or incompetent persons, domestic relations matters, and guardianships.
District Court
The district court is a court of limited jurisdiction in Alaska. It handles misdemeanor cases, minor offenses, and city and borough ordinance violations. It is also responsible for issuing arrest warrants, conducting first appearances, and overseeing preliminary hearings in felony cases. Furthermore, the district courts in Alaska preside over civil cases involving claims valued at $100,000 or less and small claims cases in which the amount in dispute does not exceed $10,000.
Appellate Courts
Alaska has two appellate courts: the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.
Supreme Court
The Alaska Supreme Court is the highest state court. It hears appeals from lower state courts and runs the state's judicial system. The court hears oral arguments in cases monthly in Anchorage, about every three months in Fairbanks and Juneau, and sometimes in other Alaskan communities. The court consists of five justices. Through a majority vote, the justices elect one to serve as the chief justice. This court usually has the final say in appeals for civil and criminal matters across the state. So, it can accept requests to review final decisions from lower courts, review non-final orders in criminal cases, and consider cases for which there's no other option for legal relief.
Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals comprises a chief judge and three associate judges. It can hear appeals in criminal prosecutions, post-conviction relief, juvenile delinquency, extradition, habeas corpus, probation and parole, bail, and whether a sentence is too harsh or lenient. The court has the power to decide whether to review final decisions made by the superior courts or the district courts, to review non-final orders based on district court decisions, and to consider original applications when no other options are available.
Tribal Courts
In Alaska, there are 79 tribal courts, each serving as a vital institution for resolving conflicts and disputes arising within the jurisdiction of the respective tribes. These courts are crucial in enforcing tribal law and upholding justice within their communities. It is important to note that the court structures and sizes differ from one tribal court to another, reflecting the diverse needs and characteristics of each tribe.
How Many Federal Courts Are in Alaska?

Alaska has one Federal district court with three U.S. District Judges and four Senior U.S. District Judges. The District Judges are appointed for a lifetime by the president and are assisted by two full-time Magistrate Judges in Anchorage and one resident part-time Magistrate Judge in Fairbanks. This court handles all types of criminal cases under federal laws, including misdemeanors and felonies. It also deals with civil cases governed by federal law, such as bankruptcy, copyright infringement, and admiralty cases. Appeals from this court are sent to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
How Many Court Cases Are Filed Each Year in Alaska?
Alaska's court system handles about 90,000 cases every year. The most prevalent offenses are minor offenses such as parking and traffic violations, which amounted to 36,000 cases. The following is a breakdown of the estimated number of cases filed in Alaska courts every year according to government reports:
- Probate: Some 6,746 probate cases are filed. The largest share of these cases involved commitment proceedings, with estates coming in second.
- Family: Some3,600 family cases are filed annually. The largest share of these cases involved divorce.
- Minor Cases:Over 49,804 minor civil cases are filed annually. Civil Judgments and Conciliation made up about 75 percent of cases.
- Misdemeanors: Over 18,076 misdemeanors are filed. Most of these cases are filed in Anchorage alone.
- Juvenile: At least 600 juvenile delinquency cases are heard across the state annually.
- Felony: Over 12,000 felony cases are filed in Alaska annually. Crime against persons and property crimes are the most common felony cases in the state.
How Do I Look Up Court Cases in Alaska?

The clerk at each court location in Alaska maintains court case records. If a case is appealed, the appellate clerk's office manages the respective documents.
You can access Alaska court records through the statewide Courtview portal. This portal allows you to search for criminal, civil, small claims, domestic relations, and child support cases using the parties' names or the case number.
For other court records, interested parties may visit the court where the case was heard and submit their requests at the courthouse counter. In some instances, individuals may also have the option to request court records via mail. This involves downloading, completing, and submitting the necessary request form. It is essential to note that this method only applies to specific counties across the state, underscoring the importance of understanding the relevant procedural guidelines for the county where the case was handled.
What Court Records Are Not Available to the Public in Alaska?
While most Alaska court records are public, some may be sealed or confidential by a court rule or Alaska statute. These records are usually restricted to protect the parties' privacy in the case or because they do not affect the state's commitment to privacy or accountability.
Records in this category typically include:
- A criminal case in which 60 days have passed since the acquittal or dismissal of the case
- A criminal or minor offense case that was dismissed
- Domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault protective order
- The personal information of minors
- Details of juvenile court proceedings
- All information about mental and psychological evaluation
Alaska Counties
- Aleutians East
- Aleutians West
- Anchorage
- Bethel
- Bristol Bay
- Denali
- Dillingham
- Fairbanks North Star
- Haines
- Hoonah Angoon
- Juneau
- Kenai Peninsula
- Ketchikan Gateway
- Kodiak Island
- Lake And Peninsula
- Matanuska Susitna
- Nome
- North Slope
- Northwest Arctic
- Petersburg
- Prince Of Wales Hyde
- Sitka
- Skagway
- Southeast Fairbanks
- Valdez Cordova
- Wade Hampton
- Wrangell
- Yakutat
- Yukon Koyukuk