IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

                        ORDER NO.   1285  

                                  Amending Administrative Rule 18
                                  concerning court hours.

IT IS ORDERED:

    Administrative Rule 18 is amended to read:

         Rule 18.  Superior and District Courts   Time
and Place of Sitting.

              * * * *

              (b)  Magistrates   Time of Sitting  
Office Hours. Magistrates shall sit in the conduct of trials and
hearings as the business of their courts and the status of their
calendars require. Offices of full-time magistrates shall be open
to the public for the transaction of business during business hours
from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on all days except judicial holidays
and Saturdays. Offices of part-time magistrates shall be open to
the public for the transaction of business as prescribed by the
presiding judge.

              In addition, magistrates shall be
available at all times:

              (1)  to issue arrest warrants, search
warrants, and summonses in criminal cases;

              (2)  to set bail;

              (3)  as may be necessary to conduct
         proceedings required under Criminal Rule 5,
         District Court Criminal Rule 1, CINA Rule 5
and Delinquency Rule 5; and

              (4)  to make emergency appointments of
temporary property custodians under AS 22.15.110(a)(3).

              Weekend and holiday duty must be
equitably shared between magistrates and other judges except at
court locations at which committing magistrates have been hired to
perform weekend and holiday duty.

              (c)  Courts Open During Noon Hour.  All
courts with more than two employees will be open for business
during the noon hour (12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.).


DATED:          August 7, 1997      

EFFECTIVE DATE:   January 15, 1998  



                                  _______________________________
                                  Chief Justice Matthews


                                  _______________________________
                                  Justice Compton


                                  _______________________________
                                  Justice Eastaugh


                                  _______________________________
                                  Justice Fabe
    

                                  _______________________________
                                  Justice Bryner