60 Years Later: The Alaska Constitution, History in Context — videos and symposium materials available online

"60 Years Later: The Alaska Constitution, History in Context" drew over 75 attendees on October 12 at the UAA/APU Consortium Library.

The symposium was co-sponsored by the UAA Justice Center and the Alaska Law Review in cooperation with the Historians Committee of the Alaska Bar Association. The program was approved for 4.5 CLE credits (including 1.5 Ethics credits) by the Alaska Bar Association. Prof. Ryan Fortson, J.D., Ph.D., is the Justice Center faculty coordinator for this event.

The topic of this year's symposium was selected in anticipation of the sixtieth anniversary of Alaska statehood. The Constitution of the State of Alaska was adopted by the Alaska Constitutional Convention February 5, 1956; ratified by the people of Alaska April 24, 1956; and became operative with the formal proclamation of Alaska statehood on January 3, 1959.

Erwin Chemerinsky,
Dean of Berkeley Law

Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of Berkeley Law, was keynote speaker for the event. Symposium topics included the Alaska Judicial Council and the merit selection of judges, Alaska Native perspectives on Alaska's Constitution, a presentation on unpublished materials written by the late Judge Thomas B. Stewart — who served as secretary of the Alaska Constitutional Convention — about the movement for Alaska Statehood and the development of the Alaska Constitution, and a lunchtime conversation between retired Judge Sen K. Tan and Alaska Constitutional Convention delegate Vic Fischer.

The Alaska Law Review will be publishing an issue at a later date with articles prepared for the symposium. The Alaska Law Review is published by Duke University School of Law for the Alaska Bar Association. Meantime, symposium drafts of conference papers and videos of all sessions are available for download at the UAA Justice Center website.

Erwin Chereminksy, Dean, Berkeley Law delivers the keynote address at the Alaska Law Symposium "60 Years Later: The Alaska Constitution, History in Context," 12 Oct 2018.

Panel on "A Comparative Persepctive of the Alaska Constitution." Left to right: moderator Tom Metzloff of Duke University and presenters G. Alan Tarr, Rutgers University and Center for State Constitution Studies, and Robert F. Williams, Rutgers School of Lawz

Panel on "The Alaska Judicial Council and Merit Selection of Judges." Left to right: Judge Larry Card (ret.) and presenters Susie Mason Dosik, administrative attorney for the Alaska Judicial Council, and Brett Frazer of Latham & Watkins.

Prof. Ryan Fortson, UAA Justice Center (right) introduces "A Native Perspective of Alaska's Constitution" panelists (seated left to right): Andy Erickson of Landye Bennett Blumstein LLP, John "Sky" Starkey of Landye Bennett Blumstein LLP, and Willie Hensley, University of Alaska Anchorage.

Judge Sen K. Tan (ret.) and Alaska Constitutional Convention delegate Vic Fischer.

Justice Center co-sponsors Oct 12 symposium on the Alaska Constitution

In anticipation of the sixtieth anniversary of Alaska statehood, "60 Years Later: The Alaska Constitution, History in Context" will be presented Friday, October 12 at the UAA/APU Consortium Library. The symposium is co-sponsored by the UAA Justice Center and the Alaska Law Review in cooperation with the Historians Committee of the Alaska Bar Association. Admission is free, and lunch will be provided.

Date: Friday, October 12
Time: 8:30 - 1:15 p.m.
Place: UAA/APU Consortium Library, LIB 307
Parking: Free parking on Fridays.

This symposium is geared for lawyers, members of the judiciary, representatives of Alaska Native organizations, state government officials, UAA students, faculty, and staff, and members of the public. The Alaska Law Review will be publishing an issue at a later date with articles prepared for this symposium.

This program has been approved for 4.5 CLE credits (including 1.5 Ethics credits) by the Alaska Bar Association.

Program

Keynote Address

• Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean, Berkeley Law

“A Comparative Perspective of the Alaska Constitution”

• Professor G. Alan Tarr, Rutgers University; Center for State Constitution Studies
• Professor Robert Williams, Rutgers School of Law; Center for State Constitution Studies

“The Alaska Judicial Council and Merit Selection of Judges”

• Susie Mason Dosik, Administrative Attorney, Alaska Judicial Council
• Brett Frazer, Latham & Watkins

“A Native Perspective of Alaska’s Constitution”

• John “Sky” Starkey, Landye Bennett Blumstein LLP
• Willie Hensley, University of Alaska Anchorage

Lunch Presentation

• Mike Schwaiger, Alaska Bar Association, Historians Committee

Lunch Conversation

•  Vic Fischer, Member of the Alaska Constitutional Convention & Hon. Sen Tan, Alaska Superior Court, ret.

Prof. Ryan Fortson, J.D., Ph.D., is the Justice Center faculty coordinator for this event. Questions? Call 907-786-1810 or email uaa.justice@alaska.edu.

Call for papers on Alaska's Constitution for October symposium

Papers are being accepted for the Alaska Law Review and Justice Center sponsored symposium on the Alaska Constitution to be held Friday, October 12, at UAA.

In recognition of the 60th anniversary of Alaska statehood in January 2019, the Alaska Law Review is dedicating its December 2018 issue to the Alaska Constitution and hosting, with the Justice Center, a symposium on that topic.

This is the third in a series of  jointly sponsored symposiums designed to bring together students, lawyers, academics and judges on current and pressing legal issues facing Alaska. Past topics have included the changing implications of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and environmental and economic changes facing Alaska.

The December 2018 issue of the Law Review will be a "Symposium Publication" issue that includes articles related to the symposium topic.

Suggested topics for papers relevant to Alaska's Constitution include:

• The history and evolution of the Alaska Constitution
• Important Alaska Supreme Court constitutional law cases
• Significant provisions of the Alaska Constitution
• Emerging constitutional issues
• Recommendations for amendment
• Comparison to other state constitutions

Submissions of any length are welcome. Deadline is August 1, 2018, with the possibility of extension if necessary. Contact the Alaska Law Review staff by email or read Alaska Law Review's submission guidelines..

Alaska Law Review looks at 2017 tax act, Alaska legal history sources, and more

The June 2018 issue of the Alaska Law Review is now available and features an article on the 2017 Tax Act, a book review on  "Sources of Alaska Legal History," and notes on eyewitness identification and renewable energy production in the arctic.

"The 2017 Tax Act and Settlement Trusts," by Bruce N. Edwards, looks at the Alaska Native provisions of the 2017 Tax Act, noting that any ambiguities should be "interpreted in favor of the Alaska Native entities and individuals that seek to utilize those provisions in accordance with canons of statutory construction for Indian Law and ANCSA."

"Sources of Alaska Legal History: An Annotated Bibliography' by W. Clinton 'Buck' Sterling," is a new resource for Alaskans and others interested in Alaska's legal history, and is reviewed favorably by Samuel G. Gottstein.

"Fresh Eyes: Young v. State’s New Eyewitness Identification Test and Prospects for Alaska and Beyond," by Savannah Hansen Best, looks at how Alaska has joined New Jersey and Oregon in "employing a new and evolving admissibility test [for eyewitness identification] with scientific support, consideration of both systemic and estimator variables, and a call for corresponding jury instructions."

"Breaking Barriers to Renewable Energy Production in the North American Arctic," by Henrik Strand, looks at examples of how other countries have solved technical, economic, regulatory and community engagement problems to support renewable energy in remote areas. Strand advocates for Alaska Native Corporations to play a role in breaking down barriers, along with the development of public-private partnerships.

All articles are free for download.