Yes. Jury trials have resumed in Alaska. Jury service is vital to the pursuits of truth and justice, and we appreciate you doing your part! If you want to reschedule or be excused from jury duty, go to the Jury Service page and send a request using your Jury Dashboard.

• Trial Jury
  • Jury Trials were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but criminal and civil jury trials have resumed. If a local court needs to suspend jury trials, it will be listed in Suspended Jury Trial Locations
  • The presiding judge in each district will monitor local COVID numbers and may suspend jury trials in a location if necessary to protect the public’s health. See Suspended Jury Trial Locations
  • Trial courts will follow the health and safety guidelines in the Alaska Court System Conducting Criminal and Civil Jury Trials, and Grand Jury During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
  • When jurors come to court, the court will take steps to protect everyone’s health. See “What changes will be made for trial Jury Duty to keep everyone safe?.”
  • Read more about jury service, including the Trial Jury Handbook.
• Grand Jury
  • Grand Jury proceedings have resumed. If a local court needs to suspend grand jury, it will be listed in Suspended Grand Jury Locations
  • In each court location, the presiding judge will decide if public health allows for in- person grand jury proceedings. See Suspended Grand Jury Locations
  • Read more about jury service, including the Grand Jury Handbook.

See the letter from Chief Justice Bolger to prospective jurors about planned measures to ensure juror safety in the courthouses.

See COVID-19 related orders.

See Court Locations by Judicial District.

• Jury Trial Safety Measures

The Court System is changing procedures to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn about the Court System’s plan to conduct criminal and civil jury trials during the pandemic recognizing that different locations must address the issues based on their specific circumstances.

• Picking a Jury
  • The court will send potential jurors a summons and qualifying questionnaire before their jury duty starts.
    • If you receive a jury summons and want to reschedule or be excused from jury duty, make that request when you fill out the qualifying questionnaire, or go to the Jury Service page and send the request using your Jury Dashboard
  • Some juries may be picked through a videoconference platform like Zoom, instead of in person.
  • Fewer people will be called to come at the same time. Jurors may be asked to check in for service online and fill out a second questionnaire using the Jury Dashboard to shorten their time at the courthouse.
  • Masking and social distancing requirements will depend on the CDC COVID 19 Community Level designation for the community where the courthouse is located. If the COVID-19 Community Level is:
    • “high,” all visitors must wear masks and socially distance six feet from others;
    • “medium,” all visitors must wear masks or socially distance from others. For jury trials, the judge will determine if:
      • All courtroom participants will wear masks and do not need to socially distance from others, or
      • No courtroom participants will wear masks but must socially distance at least six feet from others; or
      • Some participants will wear masks but others will socially distance. This means some jurors may be masked in the jury box but others may feel more comfortable sitting socially distanced if the courtroom size can accommodate that arrangement.
    • “low,” visitors do not have to mask or socially distance from others, but masking may be done voluntarily.
• Being on a Jury
  • Everyone may need to answer health questions each day, depending on the local COVID-19 situation.
  • Most people may need to stay six feet apart from each other, depending on the local COVID-19 situation. The judge can allow exceptions to this for things like a lawyer and client sitting together, but only if they both agree.
  • Surfaces will be cleaned daily.
  • If jurors need to see pictures or something in writing, they will either be shown on a screen or every juror will get their own copy. When this is not possible, the court will have safety measures in place like hand sanitizer or gloves.

For more information on Jury Duty, including Jury Dashboard, Handbooks, Online Questionnaire etc. visit the Jury Service homepage.