Justice
Gun safety advocacy group sees increased membership in Alaska
The Alaska chapter of a gun safety advocacy group has seen substantial growth in the past month since the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. More than 400 new people statewide have signed up to join Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “We had quite a few in our major cities, like Anchorage, Juneau, […]
The District of Columbia allows incarcerated people to vote, a rarity in the U.S.
This article is published through a collaboration between States Newsroom and Bolts. WASHINGTON — Earlier this month, about 10 men detained in the Young Men Emerging unit in the Washington, D.C., jail sat around a TV to watch the Democratic candidates for mayor debate issues including affordable housing and gun violence. “It was on a […]
Alaska prepares for a new state Supreme Court justice
Alaska has begun the process of replacing one of the five members of the Alaska Supreme Court, though the final selection could depend upon the results of November’s general election. On Friday, the Alaska Judicial Council began accepting applications from attorneys interested in replacing Chief Justice Daniel Winfree, who reaches the state’s mandatory retirement age […]
August trial set for former Alaska legislator Gabrielle LeDoux, accused of elections misdeeds
A former Alaska legislator accused of voter misconduct will have a trial in August. On June 7, Anchorage Superior Court Judge William Morse signed a scheduling order that will put former Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Anchorage, on trial later this summer. A preliminary court-call hearing has been scheduled for July 12. The trial is expected to […]
Mat-Su schools’ ban on transgender girl athletes raises concern for ACLU, may violate federal law
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District board on Wednesday approved an activities policy that would prohibit transgender girls from competing in girls sports. The action comes as federal agencies continue to affirm legal protection for people discriminated against based on gender identity. Attempting to ban transgender girls from playing on girls’ teams constitutes illegal discrimination under […]
Alaska Department of Corrections wants people in prison to have tablets to aid reentry
In his 26 years of being incarcerated, Sylvester Byrd Jr. never had access to the internet. “I went to prison in 1995, like, right as the internet started.” When he got out in 2021, Byrd said he felt like he had missed “the whole entire thing.” Byrd was lucky to have a “phenomenal support network” […]
State will ask judge to keep Alaska election on track despite new lawsuit
The Alaska Division of Elections has ‘serious concerns’ about a lawsuit filed this week that seeks to pause certification of the state’s special U.S. House primary election. The lawsuit was filed by the chairman of the Alaska State Human Rights Commission, who alleges that the procedures used in Alaska’s first-ever statewide by-mail election are discriminatory […]
Alaska senator faces civil trial after blocking a constituent on Facebook
An Anchorage Superior Court judge is considering when and if it is legal for a state legislator to ban a constituent from the lawmaker’s legislative Facebook page. On Wednesday afternoon, Judge Thomas Matthews heard oral arguments in a lawsuit brought by an Eagle River woman against Sen. Lora Reinbold, R-Eagle River. After hearing arguments, Matthews […]
Alaska Human Rights Commission sues to pause special U.S. House election certification
The chairman of the Alaska State Human Rights Commission filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer and the Alaska Division of Elections, seeking to pause the ongoing special U.S. House primary election. According to plaintiff Robert Corbisier, the election — Alaska’s first statewide vote conducted entirely by mail — discriminates against “visually impaired […]
After transgender sports bill falls short, Mat-Su school board proposes change to achieve same goal
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School Board last week introduced an activities policy revision that would prohibit transgender girls from competing in girls sports. It resembles a bill that the Legislature failed to pass during the regular session. If adopted, the revised policy would change current practices at the Mat-Su Borough School District. “The proposed amendment more […]
Alaska attorney general recused himself from legal review of using public funds for private education
As the Alaska Department of Law looks into the legality of using public funds for private education through the state’s correspondence school, or homeschool, allotment program, Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor has recused himself. Taylor’s wife, Jodi Taylor, is a major proponent of the concept and wrote publicly in mid-May about her plan to seek […]
Special prosecutor charges former Alaska attorney general nominee with sexual abuse of a minor
A special prosecutor on Friday charged former Alaska Attorney General-designee Ed Sniffen with three counts of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor. Third-degree sexual abuse of a minor is a Class C felony punishable by two to 12 years in prison. The charges were not initially available to the public, but Deputy Attorney General Cori […]