Alaska

BigLaw firm made ‘Herculean’ effort to avoid discovery obligations, judge concludes

A superior court judge in Alaska has entered a judgment against Holland & Knight and ordered a trial on damages after finding that the law firm engaged in “truly astounding” failure to comply with discovery orders in a lawsuit alleging malpractice by the firm.

Nov 18, 2025 2:58 PM CST

Illinois moves toward approving nonlawyers to offer limited legal advice

In an effort to increase access to justice, Illinois is moving toward developing a program to allow certified nonlawyers to offer limited legal advice under the supervision of a licensed attorney.

Oct 3, 2025 1:51 PM CDT

Nikole Nelson champions a national model to bring legal services to those without access

Nikole Nelson spent much of her career trying to close the justice gap in Alaska. As the executive director of Alaska Legal Services Corp., Nelson helped provide free civil legal aid to low-income residents in about a dozen communities across the state. But Nelson and her team encountered many other people they couldn’t assist because of a lack of resources.

Oct 1, 2025 12:35 AM CDT

Sarah Palin and the NY Times are in court again; here’s why

Sarah Palin has returned to a lower Manhattan courtroom this week, determined to prove that the New York Times defamed her in a 2017 editorial that suggested a link between a map published by her political action committee and the 2011 shooting of former Democratic congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Apr 18, 2025 10:06 AM CDT

Prosecutor who sent nude photos to federal judge ‘felt trapped,’ thought she had no choice, cited letter says

An assistant U.S. attorney in Alaska said she felt “completely powerless” when then-U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Kindred of the District of Alaska asked for nude photos around the same time that he allegedly texted her about holding grudges and his power to help her win a nomination to the federal bench, according to documents unsealed Monday.

Dec 11, 2024 2:57 PM CST

Want to help rural Alaskans with their tax needs? Volunteers sought for pro bono

The ABA is looking for volunteers to go to Alaska. The ABA Section of Taxation recently launched its Alaska Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Project, a pro bono initiative that will take six attorneys to prepare tax returns in remote villages in the state.

Nov 25, 2024 1:56 PM CST

Alaska man charged with threatening to kill six Supreme Court justices

An Alaska man has been arrested after allegedly threatening to torture and assassinate six Supreme Court justices and their relatives, the Justice Department announced Thursday.

Sep 19, 2024 10:40 AM CDT

Ballard Spahr announces merger that ‘is just the tip of the next iceberg’ in Pacific Northwest

Ballard Spahr is expanding into the Pacific Northwest through a merger with Lane Powell, the law firms announced Monday.

Sep 10, 2024 9:32 AM CDT

2nd Circuit cites push notifications to jurors as one reason why Sarah Palin deserves new defamation trial

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a Republican, is entitled to a new trial in her defamation case against the New York Times, partly because a jury finding of no liability was marred by push notifications received by jurors, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.

Aug 28, 2024 2:54 PM CDT

Conflicts controversy follows revelation prosecutor sent nude photos to federal judge

A revelation that a prosecutor sent nude photos to a federal judge has led to an allegation that a U.S. attorney’s office tried to use the situation to force recusal.

Aug 15, 2024 1:10 PM CDT

Judiciary employees filed 17 complaints against federal judges over 3-year period, new report says

Judiciary employees filed 161 complaints alleging wrongful conduct over three fiscal years beginning in 2020, and 17 of those complaints concerned judges, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office released Tuesday.

Jul 31, 2024 11:17 AM CDT

Federal judge who abruptly resigned had been referred for possible impeachment recommendation

A federal judge in Alaska abruptly announced his resignation last week after a determination that he had “no filter” in conversations with his law clerks, had “no hesitation” in using inappropriate language, and had a “sexualized relationship” with a law clerk.

Jul 9, 2024 2:30 PM CDT

Lowered bar pass cut scores mean better bar pass rates in 4 states

Of the five states that lowered the minimum score required for passing the bar last year, four of them had increases in their February 2024 bar passage rates, according to the latest data compiled by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

May 7, 2024 10:23 AM CDT

Warrant required for overhead zoom-lens search that could reveal ‘intimate’ and ‘unflattering’ details, top state court says

The Alaska Constitution requires police to get a warrant if they use binoculars or cameras with zoom lenses to look into a yard from a plane, the Alaska Supreme Court has ruled.

Mar 12, 2024 1:29 PM CDT

2023 was a record year for Disaster Legal Services program

It’s been a busy 12 months for the ABA Young Lawyers Division’s Disaster Legal Services program. According to Amanda Brown, the director of the program, Disaster Legal Services helped survivors navigate the aftermath of a record 23 federally declared natural disasters in 2023.

Dec 18, 2023 8:28 AM CST