Alaska Case Commentaries

Probate Rule 2(f) Preservation in Alaska Commitment & Medication Appeals: Mandatory Objections to Master’s Reports; Voluntary-Treatment Advisement Errors Require Prejudice for Reversal

Date: Sep 12, 2026

Probate Rule 2(f) Preservation in Alaska Commitment & Medication Appeals: Mandatory Objections to Master’s Reports; Voluntary-Treatment Advisement Errors Require Prejudice for Reversal 1....

Alaska Supreme Court Upholds DNR Rule Requiring Rent on Expired Leases During Appeals

Date: Aug 31, 2026

New Rule Confirmed: DNR May Require Annual Rent on Expired Oil & Gas Leases During Pending Unitization Applications/Appeals, and Nonpayment Validly Terminates Leases—Rendering Related Unitization...

Quiet Title Judgments Must Depict Both the Historic Easement and Its Prescriptive Extinguishment; Remand Cannot Be Used to Reroute Access

Date: Aug 21, 2026

Quiet Title Judgments Must Depict Both the Historic Easement and Its Prescriptive Extinguishment; Remand Cannot Be Used to Reroute Access Introduction In Donald Edward Bloom, Deborah Jane Bloom, and...

Intertribal Consortium Arm-of-the-Tribe Immunity Under Ito; Tribal Plaintiffs Waive Immunity to Rule 82 Fees by Filing Suit

Date: Aug 21, 2026

Intertribal Consortium Arm-of-the-Tribe Immunity Under Ito; Tribal Plaintiffs Waive Immunity to Rule 82 Fees by Filing Suit 1. Introduction In Dot Lake Village v. Dená Nená Henash, d/b/a Tanana...

Hospital Staff Housing as Tax-Exempt Property When “Directly Incidental and Vitally Necessary” to Hospital Operations

Date: Aug 8, 2026

Hospital Staff Housing as Tax-Exempt Property When “Directly Incidental and Vitally Necessary” to Hospital Operations I. Introduction In City of Nome Equalization Board v. Norton Sound Health...

Legislative Immunity Bars Judicial Challenges to Alaska Legislative Ethics Committee Discipline Decisions (Including Due Process Claims)

Date: Aug 8, 2026

Legislative Immunity Bars Judicial Challenges to Alaska Legislative Ethics Committee Discipline Decisions (Including Due Process Claims) Case: Lora Reinbold v. State of Alaska and Alaska Legislature...

Concurrent Tribal–State Custody Disputes: Alaska Adopts a “First-to-File” Preferred Forum Rule and Requires Exhaustion of Tribal Jurisdictional Remedies

Date: Aug 8, 2026

Concurrent Tribal–State Custody Disputes: Alaska Adopts a “First-to-File” Preferred Forum Rule and Requires Exhaustion of Tribal Jurisdictional Remedies 1. Introduction Sarah Rachel Mallette v....

Alaska Adopts a Post-Waiver “Stop and Clarify” Rule for Ambiguous Requests for Counsel Under Article I, Sections 9 and 11

Date: Aug 8, 2026

Alaska Adopts a Post-Waiver “Stop and Clarify” Rule for Ambiguous Requests for Counsel Under Article I, Sections 9 and 11 Introduction In State of Alaska v. Steven Ridenour (Aug. 7, 2026), the Alaska...

Rule 60(a) Correction of Attorney-Drafted Findings That Deviate from Oral Custody Rulings; Law of the Case Bars Late Clear-Error Attacks

Date: Jul 27, 2026

Rule 60(a) Correction of Attorney-Drafted Findings That Deviate from Oral Custody Rulings; Law of the Case Bars Late Clear-Error Attacks 1. Introduction Darren M. v. Destiny D. (Alaska Supreme Court,...

Alaska “Small Business Exemption”: “Field of Health” Is a Federal Term of Art; Status Is Measured as of Tax-Year Day One, Not Decided Then

Date: Jul 22, 2026

Alaska “Small Business Exemption”: “Field of Health” Is a Federal Term of Art; Status Is Measured as of Tax-Year Day One, Not Decided Then Case: Alyeska International, Inc., d/b/a Alaska Sleep Clinic...

Capital Gains Tax as Marital Debt: Merrill-Factor Findings Required When Allocation Changes the Net Property Split

Date: Jul 21, 2026

Capital Gains Tax as Marital Debt: Merrill-Factor Findings Required When Allocation Changes the Net Property Split Case: Jonathan J. Cline v. Melinda L. Duckett, f/k/a Melinda L. Cline Court: Supreme...

Erin I. v. State of Alaska, DFCS, OCS — Clarifying that AS 47.10.011(8)(B)(ii) Encompasses Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Exposure (Including Fourth-Degree Assault)

Date: Jul 21, 2026

Clarifying that AS 47.10.011(8)(B)(ii) Encompasses Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Exposure (Including Fourth-Degree Assault) Case: Erin I. v. State of Alaska, Department of Family & Community...

Unchallenged Adoption After Custody Transfer Moots CINA Proceedings Under AS 25.23.140(b)

Date: Jul 18, 2026

Unchallenged Adoption After Custody Transfer Moots CINA Proceedings Under AS 25.23.140(b) I. Introduction In Jonah B. v. State of Alaska, Department of Family & Community Services, Office of...

OCS “Reasonable Efforts” and Language Barriers: No Interpreter Required Absent Notice or Demonstrated Communication Failure

Date: Jul 11, 2026

OCS “Reasonable Efforts” and Language Barriers: No Interpreter Required Absent Notice or Demonstrated Communication Failure I. Introduction In Hamza B. (Father) v. State of Alaska, Department of...

ICWA Termination Requires Culturally Grounded Expert Testimony Tethered to Case-Specific Parental Conduct

Date: Jul 3, 2026

ICWA Termination Requires Culturally Grounded Expert Testimony Tethered to Case-Specific Parental Conduct 1. Introduction Viva G. v. State of Alaska, Department of Family and Community Services,...

ICWA “Active Efforts” Are Satisfied by Thorough, Multi-Channel Location and Engagement Attempts When Parents Disappear; ICWA Harm Finding Requires Proof of Likely (Not Certain) Serious Damage

Date: Jun 13, 2026

ICWA “Active Efforts” Are Satisfied by Thorough, Multi-Channel Location and Engagement Attempts When Parents Disappear; ICWA Harm Finding Requires Proof of Likely (Not Certain) Serious Damage I....

Disruptive Civil Litigants May Forfeit the Due-Process Right to Be Present at Trial After Warnings (Abuse-of-Discretion Review)

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Disruptive Civil Litigants May Forfeit the Due-Process Right to Be Present at Trial After Warnings (Abuse-of-Discretion Review) 1. Introduction In Dion K. Humphrey v. Robert K. Reges, Jr. and Mala J....

ICWA “Active Efforts” Require Proactive Referrals and Support—Not Just a Case Plan, UA Referrals, and Unsuccessful Outreach

Date: May 30, 2026

ICWA “Active Efforts” Require Proactive Referrals and Support—Not Just a Case Plan, UA Referrals, and Unsuccessful Outreach 1. Introduction In Jace B. (Father) v. State of Alaska, DFCS, OCS (Alaska...

DVPO Fee Awards Require Itemized Proof Upon Request: Courts May Deny AS 18.66.100(c)(14) Fees Absent Documentation

Date: May 9, 2026

DVPO Fee Awards Require Itemized Proof Upon Request: Courts May Deny AS 18.66.100(c)(14) Fees Absent Documentation 1. Introduction Vanessa Emery v. Jason Stone (Alaska Supreme Court, Opinion No....

Universities Owe No Negligence Duty To Prevent Injury From A Student’s Voluntary Misuse Of A Non-Defective Safety Feature; ADA/AHRA Do Not Supply A Tort Safety Standard

Date: May 2, 2026

Universities Owe No Negligence Duty To Prevent Injury From A Student’s Voluntary Misuse Of A Non-Defective Safety Feature; ADA/AHRA Do Not Supply A Tort Safety Standard Case: Michael Carey-Thomann v....