United States District Court for the District of Alaska
About This Court
The United States District Court for the District of Alaska is the sole federal district court serving the state of Alaska, which constitutes the entire Ninth Circuit district for that state. As the only federal trial court in the largest state by land area, it exercises jurisdiction over an extraordinarily vast and geographically challenging territory, covering approximately 663,000 square miles that includes remote areas accessible only by air or water.
The court handles the full range of federal civil and criminal matters, including cases involving Alaska Native rights, natural resource disputes, federal land management, and maritime and admiralty law given Alaska's extensive coastline and fishing industry. The intersection of federal Indian law and Alaska Native corporation law generates a distinctive category of litigation not commonly seen in other districts.
The court sits primarily in Anchorage, with the ability to hold court in other locations across the state as needed. It is part of the Ninth Circuit, and appeals from its decisions are heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, District of Alaska. Appeals go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Caseload
The court's docket is distinguished by cases involving Alaska Native rights, federal public lands, natural resources, commercial fishing regulations, and maritime law. The vast geography of the state and the legal status of Alaska Native communities and corporations shape a significant portion of the civil litigation before the court.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to the bar of the United States District Court for the District of Alaska to practice before the court, which generally requires membership in good standing with the Alaska Bar Association or another state bar along with compliance with the court's local admission rules.
Clerk's Office
222 West 7th Avenue, Room 229, Anchorage, Alaska 99513
(907) 677-6100
Active Judges 7
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ralph Beistline | George W. Bush | 2002 | University of Puget Sound School of Law (now Seattle University School of Law) |
| Timothy Burgess | George W. Bush | 2005 | Northeastern University School of Law |
| Sharon Gleason | Barack Obama | 2011 | University of California, Davis, School of Law |
| H[ezekiah] Holland | Ronald Reagan | 1984 | University of Michigan Law School |
| Aaron Peterson | Donald J. Trump | 2026 | Gonzaga University School of Law |
| John Sedwick | George H.W. Bush | 1992 | Harvard Law School |
| James Singleton | George H.W. Bush | 1990 | University of California, Berkeley, School of Law |
Local Rules
The Local Rules of the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, which supplement the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.