Contact:
Barbara Hood
Judicial Outreach Coordinator
Staff Contact, ATJN
Alaska Court System
820 W. 4th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907)264-8230
(907)264-8291
bhood@courts.state.ak.us
Alaska Court System
Introduction
The Alaska Court System has court locations in forty-six Alaskan communities.
There are four levels of courts—the supreme court, the court of
appeals, the superior court and the district court—and each level
has different powers, duties and responsibilities. The supreme court and
court of appeals are appellate courts headquartered in Anchorage. Appellate
courts hear appeals from decisions of the trial courts. The superior court
and district court are trial courts. There are superior courts in sixteen
communities statewide, and district courts (with a district court judge
or magistrate) in thirty communities. Courts across the state handle approximately
140,000 new cases each year.
A detailed description of the Alaska Court System, including the judicial officers and information about individual court locations, is provided in the court system’s Annual Report, which is available free by contacting:
Lesa Robertson
Office of the Administrative Director
Alaska Court System
303 K Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
(907)264-0548
lrobertson@courts.state.ak.us
Educational Programs
The Alaska Court System offers a variety of educational programs to schools and community groups, as outlined in our free brochures Teaching Kids About Courts and Connecting Courts & Community. Programs of special interest to teachers are described briefly below.
Courthouse Tours
Tours allow students to examine the court facilities and meet with court
personnel, and are available at many trial court locations. Often, judicial
officers are able to speak to the tour groups. In Anchorage, tours of
the appellate courts may be arranged by contacting the Clerk of the Appellate
Courts.
Visits to Actual Court Sessions
Visits to actual court proceedings allow students to witness the judicial
process first-hand.
Supreme Court Oral Arguments
The Supreme Court routinely hears arguments in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. Oral argument sessions are open to the public and the schedule of cases is available on the court system’s website.Trial Court Sessions
Most trial sessions in the Superior Court and District Court are open to the public, and student groups may sit quietly and observe. Of particular interest to students are “MCA” (Minors Consuming Alcohol) proceedings and Therapeutic Court proceedings such as Felony DUI & Drug Court, Wellness Court, or Mental Health Court proceedings.
Mock Trials
Mock trials are an especially effective way to teach about the court process.
The court system maintains a library of mock trial scripts for judicial
officers to use in the classroom. Script themes range from fairy tales
for the elementary grades to current legal issues for middle and high
school grades. Judicial officers and other members of the legal community
can serve as coaches or judges for mock trials.
Class Presentations by Judges
Do you have a lesson plan addressing the role of courts that would benefit
from a judicial perspective? Judicial officers are often happy to visit
your classroom and discuss the fundamental principles of our legal system.
For ethical reasons, judges cannot discuss particular cases or particular
legal controversies that may come before them. But with this caveat, there
are still many subjects they may be comfortable discussing with your students,
including careers in law and other justice fields.
Speakers on Justice Themes
Do you have an event such as a school assembly for which you need a speaker?
There are certain events during the year—for example, Constitution
Day in September, Democracy Week in October, Martin Luther King Day in
January, and Law Day in May—when a speaker on a judicial theme may
be appropriate. Judges are sometimes able to speak at such events, and
can add a valuable perspective.
Judges for School Competitions
Whether a speech or debate contest, a moot court or mock trial competition,
an essay contest, or an art contest, judges are good at judging! Consider
inviting a judicial officer to join the panel of judges for your next
competition.
Law Day (Usually on May 1st of each year.)
Courts across the state sponsor Law Day events and activities in their
local communities.
Note: Please be aware that not all programs are available in all communities because of staffing and other constraints. Court calendars are very busy. Judicial officers and court staff may not be able to accommodate all requests, but the court system encourages inquiries from teachers and will try hard to meet your needs.
Contact Information:
For further information about educational opportunities in your community
or region, or to arrange an educational program for your students, please
contact the Area Court Administrator for your region (listed below) or
your Local Clerk of Court.
First Judicial District
(Southeastern Alaska)
Neil Nesheim
Area Court Administrator
P.O. Box 114100
Juneau, AK 99811-4100
(907)463-4753
(907)463-4720 (FAX)
Second Judicial District
(Northern Alaska)
Tom Mize
Area Court Administrator
101 Lacey Street
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(907)451-9251
(907)451-8103(FAX)
Third Judicial District
(Southcentral Alaska)
Gwendolyn Lyford
Area Court Administrator
825 W. 4th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907)264-0415
(907)264-0504(FAX)
Fourth Judicial District
(Interior & Southwest Alaska)
Ronald J. Woods
Area Court Administrator
101 Lacey Street
Fairbanks, AK 99701
(907)452-9201
(907)452-9206(FAX)
Appellate Courts (Statewide)
Marilyn May
Clerk of the Appellate Courts
303 K Street, 4th Floor
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907)264-0608
(907)264-0878(FAX)
Upcoming events:
March 1, 2004
“Educating for Law & Democracy”
Statewide Conference on Law-Related EducationAnchorage Court Campus, Alaska Court System
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, including Luncheon
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Reception
March 1, 2004
“Equal Education Through Law”
Public Luncheon
In conjunction with the “Educating for Law & Democracy” ConferenceHotel Captain Cook, Anchorage
Noon – 1:30 PM
May 3, 2004
Law Day 2004
“To Win Equality by Law: Brown v. Board at 50”Activities Statewide To Be Announced