Alaska Court Docket Search

Alaska court dockets provide an official account of judicial proceedings within the state's courts. They are a critical reference point for members of the judiciary and the public as they offer insight into a case and allow for the expeditious location and tracking of an ongoing case.

The information contained in Alaska court dockets is also relevant for statistical and administrative purposes. They can be used to generate a docket report containing details of case filings, dispositions, opinions, and other court activities.

An Alaska court docket search offers searchers a means to access relevant court record information using information about the case or the ascribed identifiers of the docket. The Alaska Public Records Act permits the dissemination of Alaska court records and related documents, provided they are not exempt from public disclosure. These records are usually available at the administrative office of the court where the case was heard.

What is a Court Docket in Alaska?

A court docket in Alaska is an official record of court proceedings and actions taken in a court case. It chronologically lists documents, scheduling of hearings, and the issuance of orders or judgments pertaining to the case. Dockets also contain basic case information about the personal information of the subject(s) involved in the case, such as their names and addresses. Note that the disclosure of personal/identifying information is regulated per state law.

Are Court Dockets Public Records in Alaska?

Yes, court dockets are public records in Alaska.

In Alaska, the public's right to access court records is protected by the Alaska Constitution. However, certain types of court record information may be sealed or restricted from public access in Alaska. Alaska courts disallow the disclosure of any docket report or court records containing sensitive information, such as juvenile records or records that contain information about victims of sexual assault. Also, some court records may be sealed by court order.

Where to Find a Court Docket in Alaska

Alaska court dockets can be accessed through the Alaska Court System's online portal, CourtView. The portal provides public access to court records and other court-related information, including dockets. Alternative to the CourtView online portal, inquirers may request court dockets from the courthouse where the case (of interest) was heard. Dockets are typically maintained by the Office of the Court Clerk in each of the state's courthouses. These custodians, in turn, provide self-service computers with which inquirers may search for the record of interest by themselves or request help from the court clerk's office. Persons who opt to use the self-service option may direct any questions or queries about the process to the court clerk or staff in the custodian's office.

How to Conduct Alaska Court Docket Search

To conduct a court docket search in Alaska, inquirers may visit the Alaska Court System's website and use their CourtView online portal. On the website, docket searches may be performed using the case number, the party name, the date of the proceeding, or the docket number (if known). When the relevant case information is located, users can proceed to view or download the docket information.

Inquirers may also make in-person queries to the courthouse where the case was filed. These requests may also be made via mail or email, depending on the services offered by the office. In most cases, across the board, inquirers will need to provide the information required to facilitate the search and pay nominal fees to cover the cost of research and duplication of the record (where applicable). Ultimately, the procedure employed to conduct an Alaska court docket search will vary by judicial district.

What Do Court Dockets Contain in Alaska?

An Alaska court docket typically features:

Case information: The name of the parties involved in the case, the case number, and the type of case (e.g., criminal, civil, etc.).
Court schedule: The date and time of the court hearings, including the initial hearing, pretrial hearings, trials, and any other proceedings pertaining to the case - including appellate hearings where they apply
Filing information: All documents filed in the case are also featured, including motions, pleadings, and other legal documents.
Case summary: The docket often includes a summary of a court case, it includes the nature of the allegations and the relief sought by the parties
Case status: This is whether the case is open or closed and whether any judgments, opinions, or orders have been entered in the case.

What is a Court Docket Number in Alaska?

A court docket number in Alaska is a unique identifier assigned to a specific case by the court. It serves as a reference point for accessing case information, such as hearing dates, court orders, and judgments.

Court docket numbers are comprised of several parts that provide information about the case.

The first part of the docket number typically identifies the court in which the case was filed. For example, the code "3AN" refers to the Third Judicial District, Anchorage, while "4FA" refers to the Fourth Judicial District, Fairbanks.
The second part of the docket number is usually a combination of letters that identify the type of case filed. For instance, "CR" denotes criminal cases, "CV" civil cases, and "PA" probate cases.
The third part is usually a number that indicates the year the case was filed.
The fourth part is a unique sequential number that is assigned to each case as it is filed.

For example, a docket number for a case filed in 2022 in the Anchorage Superior Court might look like 3AN-22-01234CR. Here are other examples.

CR-19-00354-001: This is a criminal case docket number in the superior court of Alaska. The "CR" indicates that it's a criminal case, "19" represents the year it was filed, "00354" is a unique number assigned to the case, and "001" refers to the case sequence number.

3AN-17-09824CI: This is a civil case docket number in the third district of the Anchorage court in Alaska. The "3AN" stands for the court district, "17" is the year the case was filed, "09824" is the unique number assigned to the case, and "CI" stands for civil case.

Court docket numbers are also used to issue court orders, subpoenas, and other legal documents that are associated with a particular case.

How to Conduct a Court Docket Number Lookup in Alaska

To conduct a court docket number lookup in Alaska, the inquirer must first know the court where the case was filed. Once the specific court is identified, inquirers can contact the court to request information that can be used to conduct a docket search or use the details of the case as a query. However, most office court clerks may be obliged to provide the court docket number of a case if details of its participants are provided.

Alternatively, requestors may visit the Alaska court system website and use their efiling system to search cases depending on whether the case was heard in a trial or appellate court. Cases that are usually unavailable on the website are those that have been removed from public index.