Criminal Law

R.B. v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Olivia Wagner In R.B. v. State, 533 P.3d 542 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that (1) mandatory commitment of an incompetent felony defendant to the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) does not violate due process under either the United States or the Alaska Constitution, Continue Reading »

Alaska Public Defender Agency v. Superior Court

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL JUSTICE Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Shaun Thompson In Alaska Public Defender Agency v. Superior Court, 530 P.30 604 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that a trial court may not toll the speedy trial clock if a defendant affirmatively objects to defense counsel’s motion for continuance. (Id. at 616). Continue Reading »

Douglas v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Cindy Cheng In Douglas v. State, 527 P.3d 291 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that a defendant is entitled to in camera review of privileged mental health records if he shows a reasonable likelihood that the records contain exculpatory evidence that relevant to Continue Reading »

Duty v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL JUSTICE Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Catherine Cole In Duty v. State, 532 P.3d 742 (Alaska Ct. App.) the court of appeals reasonable suspicion of the presence of drugs, but not suspicion of imminent public danger or recent serious harm, is necessary to ask about the presence of drugs in a vehicle. (Id. Continue Reading »

Cunningham v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Cara Shanahan In Cunningham v. State, 536 P.3d 739 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that (1) to elevate second-degree indecent exposure to first-degree on the basis of a prior conviction in another jurisdiction, the defendant’s prior offense must have elements similar to those Continue Reading »

Baines v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Johanna Crisman In Baines v. State, 535 P.3d 899 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that the questionable admission of showup identifications are not grounds to reverse conviction if remaining evidence is sufficient to support the jury’s verdict. (Id.) Baines was convicted following a Continue Reading »

Esguerra v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Sammy Sawyer In Esguerra v. State, 536 P.3d 241 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that the State is not precluded from pursuing criminal charges under the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel when the State failed to prove those same charges in Continue Reading »

Mack v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Katie Raya In Mack v. State, 523 P.3d 1235 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that an appellate attorney has a duty to consult with their client regarding the possibility of filing an appeal or petition for hearing, and that the failure to consult Continue Reading »

Clayton v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Shaun Thompson In Clayton v. State, 535 P.3d 909 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that erroneous statements comprising only a small part of an expert’s testimony did not render a trial fundamentally unfair in violation of due process. (Id. at 920). In 1987, Continue Reading »

Tommy v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Sammy Sawyer In Tommy v. State, 531 P.3d 365 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that the requirement that a defendant must provide express consent for magistrate judges to preside over misdemeanor criminal cases is not waived by defense counsel not raising the issue Continue Reading »

Criminal Law

R.B. v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Olivia Wagner In R.B. v. State, 533 P.3d 542 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that (1) mandatory commitment of an incompetent felony defendant to the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) does not violate due process under either the United States or the Alaska Constitution, Continue Reading »

Alaska Public Defender Agency v. Superior Court

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL JUSTICE Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Shaun Thompson In Alaska Public Defender Agency v. Superior Court, 530 P.30 604 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that a trial court may not toll the speedy trial clock if a defendant affirmatively objects to defense counsel’s motion for continuance. (Id. at 616). Continue Reading »

Douglas v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Cindy Cheng In Douglas v. State, 527 P.3d 291 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that a defendant is entitled to in camera review of privileged mental health records if he shows a reasonable likelihood that the records contain exculpatory evidence that relevant to Continue Reading »

Duty v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL JUSTICE Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Catherine Cole In Duty v. State, 532 P.3d 742 (Alaska Ct. App.) the court of appeals reasonable suspicion of the presence of drugs, but not suspicion of imminent public danger or recent serious harm, is necessary to ask about the presence of drugs in a vehicle. (Id. Continue Reading »

Cunningham v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Cara Shanahan In Cunningham v. State, 536 P.3d 739 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that (1) to elevate second-degree indecent exposure to first-degree on the basis of a prior conviction in another jurisdiction, the defendant’s prior offense must have elements similar to those Continue Reading »

Baines v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Johanna Crisman In Baines v. State, 535 P.3d 899 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that the questionable admission of showup identifications are not grounds to reverse conviction if remaining evidence is sufficient to support the jury’s verdict. (Id.) Baines was convicted following a Continue Reading »

Esguerra v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Sammy Sawyer In Esguerra v. State, 536 P.3d 241 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that the State is not precluded from pursuing criminal charges under the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel when the State failed to prove those same charges in Continue Reading »

Mack v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Katie Raya In Mack v. State, 523 P.3d 1235 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that an appellate attorney has a duty to consult with their client regarding the possibility of filing an appeal or petition for hearing, and that the failure to consult Continue Reading »

Clayton v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Shaun Thompson In Clayton v. State, 535 P.3d 909 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that erroneous statements comprising only a small part of an expert’s testimony did not render a trial fundamentally unfair in violation of due process. (Id. at 920). In 1987, Continue Reading »

Tommy v. State

Posted on March 29th, 2024

CRIMINAL LAW Court of Appeals of Alaska (2023) Sammy Sawyer In Tommy v. State, 531 P.3d 365 (Alaska Ct. App. 2023), the court of appeals held that the requirement that a defendant must provide express consent for magistrate judges to preside over misdemeanor criminal cases is not waived by defense counsel not raising the issue Continue Reading »