Alaska
Alaska’s highest court is the Alaska Supreme Court. The court consists of five justices who select the chief justice for a three-year term by majority vote. The chief justice may not serve consecutive terms. (Source: Alaska Supreme Court)
Judicial Selection
The governor appoints Alaska Supreme Court justices from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. After at least three years on the bench, the justice may stand for a 10-year term in an unopposed yes/no retention vote in Alaska’s next general election. Justices may stand for additional terms through retention elections. The governor fills interim vacancies from a list provided by the judicial nominating commission. The mandatory retirement age is 70.
State Constitution
Alaska’s first and only constitution was adopted in 1956. As of January 1, 2024, it had 29 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
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The Right to Petition in State Constitutions, Explained
Some states protect citizens’ right to make requests of or complaints against the government more broadly than the federal Constitution.
The Active Environmental Agendas of State Attorneys General
The U.S. Supreme Court this week paved the way for Democratic attorneys general to proceed with suits against fossil fuel companies under state law.
Executive Orders and Threatened Cuts Challenge Public Education and the Courts
Education rights expert Joshua Weishart discusses the effects of Trump’s education policy changes and how states are pushing back.
State Constitutional Resources We Love
For those who want to know more about state constitutions, a compilation of tools including case databases, interactive maps, and more.
Protecting Youth in the Criminal Justice System
A man sentenced to life in prison at 18 years old explains why state laws that funnel kids into the adult system are unjust and short-sighted.
Fifty Unique, Ever-Changing State Constitutions
A new resource from the State Democracy Research Initiative makes the current text of all 50 state constitutions available and searchable on one site.
What the SCOTUS Term Means for State Courts
Some of the Court’s most important holdings — including on abortion, gun restrictions, and presidential immunity — have implications for state courts and constitutions.
2024’s Most Significant State Constitutional Cases
Legal experts identified the most important cases that advanced state constitutional rights this year.