{"id":371419,"date":"2023-09-19T18:37:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T23:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/alaska-law\/alaska-district-attorneys.html"},"modified":"2023-09-19T18:37:00","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T23:37:00","slug":"alaska-district-attorneys","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/alaska-law\/alaska-district-attorneys.html","title":{"rendered":"Alaska District Attorneys"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Alaska District Attorneys<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lisa Burden, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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The Alaska district courts are trial courts. They handle misdemeanor criminal cases and civil cases where the amount in controversy is less than $100,000. If there is an appeal in district court, it goes to the superior courts. Despite its large land mass, the sparsely populated state of Alaska has just four regional judicial districts.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

District Attorneys (D.A.) assess, prepare, and file criminal charges<\/a>. They refer cases, such as violent crimes and DUIs, to a grand jury<\/a> for possible indictment. A grand jury is a group of people who consider evidence to determine if there is cause to charge someone with a criminal offense. The grand jury decides if there is enough evidence to prosecute a case, while a trial jury determines guilt or innocence.<\/p>\r\n

The Anchorage District Attorney’s Office<\/a> is Alaska’s largest district attorney’s office. It employs 37 attorneys and 12 victim-witness paralegals focusing on victims’ rights. The office has several specialized units, including:<\/p>\r\n