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
  • In response to an increase in COVID-19 cases, jury trials are suspended in some locations. See Suspended Jury Trial Locations
  • Civil jury trials are suspended statewide until at least September 7, 2021. A presiding judge may approve a jury trial in exceptional circumstances.
    • Some civil jury proceedings, such as presumptive death trials, may be held in person or by video conference.
  • Criminal jury trials have resumed in most 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 Order No. 8259 Update Regarding Covid-19 and Criminal Jury Trials
  • 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?.”
  • See “What are the COVID-19 related orders affecting Jury Duty?.”
  • Read more about jury service, including the Trial Jury Handbook.
• Grand Jury
  • In-person jury service for grand jury has resumed in all locations. Some courts may have grand jury by Zoom or telephone.
  • Grand Jury is suspended in Sitka until at least August 6, 2021.
  • In each court location, the presiding judge will decide if public health allows for in- person grand jury proceedings.
  • See “What are the COVID-19 related orders affecting Jury Duty?.”
  • 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.

• Trial Jury
  • Presiding Judge Order #893 dated July 27, 2021 The Suspension of Jury Trials in the Municipality of Anchorage.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order No. 891 dated July 22, 2021 The Suspension of Jury Trials in the Kenai Peninsula Borough.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order 21-15 dated July 26, 2021 Proceedings in the Sitka Court.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order 21-11 dated July 13, 2021 Re: Sitka Trials and In-Person Grand Jury.
  • ** REPLACES Order 21-04 ** Presiding Judge's Administrative Order 21-10 dated June 7, 2021 Establishing Minimum Standards for In-Person Proceedings.
    
  • Presiding Judge's Administrative Order dated May 14, 2021 Notice of Resumption of Fairbanks Region Jury Trials.
  • ** SECOND UPDATED ** Presiding Judge Order #881 dated May 13, 2021 Extension Of The Tolling Of Criminal Rule 5 In The Third Judicial District And The Extension Of The Suspension Of Misdemeanor Jury Trials In Anchorage And Palmer.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order 21-09 dated May 13, 2021 Re: In-Person Grand Jury Proceedings Held in Ketchikan.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order 21-08 dated May 13, 2021 Re: Prince of Wales Island.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order 21-07 dated May 5, 2021 Re: In-Person Grand Jury Proceedings Held in Ketchikan.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order 21-06 dated May 5, 2021 Re: Prince of Wales Island.
  • Special Order of the Chief Justice No. 8259 dated April 6, 2021 Update Regarding Covid-19 and Criminal Jury Trials.
  • Special Order of the Chief Justice No. 8235 dated February 4, 2021 Update Regarding COVID-19 and Criminal Jury Trials.
  • Special Order of the Chief Justice No. 8202 dated October 29, 2020 Update Regarding COVID-19 and Jury Trials.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order 20-07 dated October 30, 2020 Re: Misdemeanor Jury Trials Held In Juneau.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order 20-05 dated November 2, 2020 Order Regarding Misdemeanor Jury Trials for Kotzebue, Nome, and Utqiagvik Courts.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order No. 868 dated November 2, 2020 Re: District Court Misdemeanor Trials.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order 20-06 dated November 2, 2020 In Re: Suspension of Misdemeanor Trials Due to High COVID-19 Case Counts in the Fourth Judicial District.
• Grand Jury
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order 21-15 dated July 26, 2021 Proceedings in the Sitka Court.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order 21-11 dated July 13, 2021 Re: Sitka Trials and In-Person Grand Jury.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order 21-09 dated May 13, 2021 Re: In-Person Grand Jury Proceedings Held in Ketchikan.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order 21-08 dated May 13, 2021 Re: Prince of Wales Island.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order 21-07 dated May 5, 2021 Re: In-Person Grand Jury Proceedings Held in Ketchikan.
  • Presiding Judge Administrative Order 21-06 dated May 5, 2021 Re: Prince of Wales Island.
  • Fourth Judicial District Presiding Judge's Administrative Order 21-03 dated February 8, 2021
    Suspending Grand Jury for the Bethel Service Area for February 2021.
    
  • Fourth Judicial District Presiding Judge's Administrative Order 21-02 dated February 1, 2021
    Re: In-Person Grand Jury Proceedings Held at Fairbanks.
    
  • Special Order of the Chief Justice No. 8234 dated February 1, 2021 Update Regarding COVID-19 And Grand Jury Proceedings.
  • First Judicial District Presiding Judge Administrative Order 21-2 dated January 21, 2021
    Re: In-Person Grand Jury Proceedings Held In Sitka.
  • First Judicial District Presiding Judge Administrative Order 21-1 dated January 13, 2021
    Re: In-Person Grand Jury Proceedings Held In Juneau.
  • First Judicial District Presiding Judge Administrative Order 20-12 dated December 29, 2020 Re: In-Person Grand Jury Proceedings Held in Ketchikan.
  • First Judicial District Presiding Judge Administrative Order 20-09 dated November 5, 2020. Re: Videoconference and Teleconference Grand Jury Proceedings.
  • Fourth Judicial District Presiding Judge Administrative Order dated October 14, 2020. Extension of Time for Preliminary Hearings Under Criminal Rule 5(e) COVID-19 Fairbanks.
  • Fourth Judicial District Presiding Judge Administrative Order dated October 16, 2020. Extension of Time for Preliminary Hearings Under Criminal Rule 5(e) COVID-19 Bethel.
  • First Judicial District Presiding Judge Administrative Order 20-08 dated November 2, 2020 Re: Grand Jury Proceedings Held In Juneau.
  • Special Order No. 8204 dated November 2, 2020 Update Regarding Authorizing Videoconference Grand Jury Proceedings.
  • Special Order of the Chief Justice, Order No. 8148 Regarding Grand Jury Proceedings, issued May 20, 2020.
  • Special Order of the Chief Justice - Order No. 8184, issued August 10, 2020.
  • Paragraphs 6 to 10 of the Third Presiding Judges' Statewide COVID-19 Pandemic Administrative Order.
  • In Anchorage, see Presiding Judge's Order #851, dated June 4, 2020.
  • In Palmer and Kenai, see Presiding Judge Administrative Order No. 852, dated June 15, 2020. The Temporary Reduction in the Number of Members of Kenai and Palmer Grand Jury Panels.
  • In Kotzebue, Nome, Unalakleet, and Utqiagvik see Presiding Judge Administrative Order 20-04, dated June 23, 2020. Temporary Order on Grand Jury Proceedings.
• All Juries
  • Special Order of the Chief Justice Order No. 8213, dated November 25, 2020. Update regarding COVID-19 and Jury Trials.
  • Special Order of the Chief Justice Order No. 8210, dated November 13, 2020. Update regarding COVID-19 and Jury Trials.

See Court Locations by Judicial District.

• Courthouse Safety Precautions
• Planned Measures for Restarting Jury Trials

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.
  • If potential jurors are asked to come to the courthouse:
    • Everyone will answer health questions each day and have their temperature checked.
    • Everyone will need to use social distancing and stay at least 6 feet apart from others.
    • 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.
• Being on a Jury
  • Everyone will answer health questions each day and have their temperature checked.
  • Most people will need to stay six feet apart from each other. 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 wiped down with disinfectant regularly.
  • 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.