Alaska Third District Superior Court, Alaska
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The Alaska Third District Superior Court resides in Alaska. Click on the links below to learn more about the court's...
Jurisdiction
This court holds the following jurisdiction:[1]
| “ | The Superior Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction. There are 45 Superior Court judges located throughout the state. The Superior Court has the authority to hear all cases, both civil and criminal, properly brought before the state courts, with the very limited exception of matters taken directly to the Supreme Court. However, the Superior Court does not routinely hear cases that may be brought in the District Court, a court of limited jurisdiction.[2] | ” |
Judges
Elections
Alaska is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. To learn more about judicial selection in Alaska, click here.
- Alaska local trial court judicial elections, 2025
- Alaska local trial court judicial elections, 2024
- Alaska local trial court judicial elections, 2023
- Alaska local trial court judicial elections, 2022
- Alaska local trial court judicial elections, 2021
- Alaska local trial court judicial elections, 2020
- Alaska local trial court judicial elections, 2019
- Alaska local trial court judicial elections, 2018
- Alaska local trial court judicial elections, 2017
- Alaska local trial court judicial elections, 2016
- Alaska judicial elections, 2014
- Alaska judicial elections, 2012
- Alaska judicial elections, 2010
Selection method
- See also: Judicial selection in the states
- See also: Assisted appointment
The forty judges of the Alaska Superior Courts are chosen by gubernatorial appointment from a list provided by a nominating commission. After an initial term of at least three years, judges run in a yes-no retention election that allows them to serve a full six-year term.[3]
The chief judge of the superior court is selected by the chief justice of the state supreme court. He or she serves in that capacity for one year.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a justice must be: [3]
- a U.S. citizen;
- a state resident for at least five years;
- licensed to practice law in the state;
- active in law practice for at least five years; and
- under the age of 70.
Judicial elections in Alaska
- See also: Alaska judicial elections
Alaska is one of six states that use retention elections to determine whether judges should remain on the bench without using another type of election as an initial selection method. To read more about how states use judicial elections to select judges across the country, click here.
Retention election
In these elections, judges do not compete against another candidate, but voters are given a "yes" or "no" choice in deciding whether to keep the judge in office for another term. The judge must receive a majority of "yes" votes to remain in office. Judges must face their first retention at the next general election occurring at least three years after their appointment. The exception to this are the district court judges, who face retention two years after their appointment.[4]
Judges must file their intention to run for retention by August 1.[4] At least 60 days prior to the election, the Alaska Judicial Council publishes its evaluations of the judges up for retention.[5][6][7][8]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Alaska State Court System ADMINISTRATION, "Superior Court," accessed May 10, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Alaska," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 FindLaw - Alaska Statutes, "Chapter 15.35, Article 3," accessed June 18, 2014
- ↑ FindLaw, "Alaska Stat. § 22.05.100.," accessed June 18, 2014
- ↑ FindLaw, "Alaska Stat. § 22.07.060.," accessed June 18, 2014
- ↑ FindLaw, "Alaska Stat. § 22.10.150.," accessed June 18, 2014
- ↑ FindLaw, "Alaska Stat. § 22.15.195.," accessed June 18, 2014
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Alaska • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Alaska
State courts:
Alaska Supreme Court • Alaska Court of Appeals • Alaska Superior Court • Alaska District Court
State resources:
Courts in Alaska • Alaska judicial elections • Judicial selection in Alaska
