Redistricting Litigation
Alaska Supreme Court Full Decision & New Litigation Deadline
- 5/16/23 – The Board filed Notice with the Superior Court – New Litigation deadline June 14, 2023 >
- 4/21/23 – The Alaska Supreme Court details rationale behind earlier orders and provides direction >
On February 16, 2022, the Superior Court ruled for the Board on three of the 5 lawsuits, finding that all 40 of the Board's adopted House districts fully complied with the Alaska Constitution. One plaintiff, Calista retired their claims. The remaining plaintiffs and the Board petitioned the Alaska Supreme Court to review the Superior Court's findings and rulings.
The Supreme Court found for the Board on 4 of the 5 challenges and remanded the Board to make changes to Senate District K and to return Cantwell to House District 30 with the remainder of the Denali Borough. The Board met 8 times between April 2 and April 13 culminating in the adoption and issuance of a 2022 Proclamation Plan.
On April 20, the East Anchorage Plaintiffs filed a motion for the Superior Court to reject the adopted 2022 Anchorage Senate pairings. On April 22, three Girdwood residents challenged the 2022 Proclamation Senate pairings for Anchorage. On May 17, the Superior Court found for the Girdwood plantiffs and directed the Board to adopt Anchorage Senate pairings Option #2 as an Interim plan for the 2022 Statewide elections. The Board appealed to the Supreme Court who affirmed the Superior Court order and directed that the Board await their full decision before taking any further redistricting action.
On April 21, 2023 the Alaska Supreme Court issued it's full 144 page decision on all 2022 Redistricting actions.
On May 15, 2023 the Board adopted the 2022 Interim Plan as a Final Redistricting plan. No new litigation was filed within 30 days making the 2023 plan the final plan until a new map is adopted following the 2030 Census.
Superior Court Filings & Order
- 5/24/22 – The Alaska Supreme Court orders the Board to Adopt Option #2 as Interim Plan >
- 5/20/22 – The Girdwood Plaintiffs Oppose the Board's Petition to Review >
- 5/18/22 – The Board Petitions the Alaska Supreme Court to review Superior Court Decision >
- 5/17/22 – The Superior Court Finds for Girdwood Plaintiffs and Orders Interim Plan >
- 5/17/22 – The Superior Court Denies East Anchorage Plaintiffs Motion to Reject >
- 5/05/22 – Board Opening Response to Girdwood Complaint >
- 4/22/22 – Girdwood Plaintiffs' Initial Complaint >
- 4/27/22 – Superior Court Sets May 3 deadline for new challenges >
- 4/28/22 – Initial Record Produced to the Court on April 28 >
- 4/20/22 – Superior Court Scheduling Order >
- 4/20/22 – East Anchorage Plantiff Response >
- 4/20/22 – Board Response to Motion to Reject >
- 4/18/22 – East Anchorage Plantiff Motion to Reject April Proclamation Senate Pairings >
Alaska Supreme Court Remand
- March 25, 2022 – The Alaska Supreme Court Affirms 39 of 40 House Districts and 19 of 20 Senate Districts while remanding the Board to re-work the boundary of House District 36 and Senate District K. The remand order is brief with a full decision explaining the Court's order to follow at a later date.
Supreme Court March 25, 2022 Order > - March 30, 2022 – The Supreme Court order remanded the Proclamation Plan back to Superior Court Judge Matthews who then issued a remand order passing jurisdiction of the Plan back to the Board.
Superior Court Remands the Plan to the Board >
Alaska Supreme Court Pleadings
- Mar 2 – The Board Petitions that the Alaska Supreme Court review the Superior Court rulings which would require the Board to make changes to the 2021 Proclamation Plan: Download PDF >
- Mar 2 - The Mat-Su Borough Petitions the Alaska Supreme Court to review the Superior Court's dismissal of its claims: Download PDF >
- Mar 2 - The City of Valdez Petitions the Alaska Supreme Court to review the Superior Court's dismissal of its claims: Download PDF >
- Mar 2 - The City of Skagway Petitions the Alaska Supreme Court to review the Superior Court's findings regarding its claims: Download PDF >
2021 Litigation
The Alaska Constitution provides that lawsuits brought against the Board's adopted Redistricting Proclamation must be filed within 30 days of Proclamation adoption. The Board adopted the 2021 Proclamation of Redistricting on November 10, 2021 meaning that lawsuits must be brought no later than December 10, 2021.
The Board's Response to Challenges:
- Alaska Redistricting Board Trial Brief >
The Board lays out the reasons it believes the litigants' challenges should be resolved in the Board's favor
Five lawsuits were filed with Alaska Court system
- The Matanuska-Susitna Borough >
Doyon Coalition moves to Intervene on Behalf of the Board in the Matsu Case > - The City of Valdez >
- The City of Skagway >
- Wilson, Martinez & Silvers >
- Calista Corporation >
Two months of legal work later...
From December 10 to February 9 legal teams for all sides worked long nights and weekends to refine and advance their cases to the Superior Court.
On February 9th, the Superior Court received written Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law from each party. These are the most complete distillation of each complaint and the Board's defense in light of the extensive testimony and discovery which had occurred over the course of the previous two months.
Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
- East Anchorage Plaintiffs >
- Mat-Su Borough Plaintiffs >
- Valdez Plaintiffs >
- Calista Plaintiffs >
- Skagway Plaintiffs >
- Intervenor Defendants >
- Alaska Redistricting Board >
Court System List of Case Files
Superior Court Decision and Process Orders
- Feb 16 –Judge Thomas Matthew's Decision >
- Jan 4 – Fourth Court Order>
- Dec 23 – Supreme Court Scheduling Order >
- Dec 22 – Third Pretrial Order >
- Dec 21 – The Court requests software training >
- Dec 21 – Laying out potential deadlines for affidavits, witness counts and board duties >
- Dec 15 – Pretrial order regarding trial schedule and stipulations >
- Dec 14 – The Court ordered all cases consolidated and moved the venue to Anchorage >