19 Mar Alaska Supreme & Appellate Court Headnotes From 3.13.2017

Featured Case: Family Law | Adoption | Child’s Best Interest | Waiver Of Consent

A court’s denial of a stepfather’s adoption petition was not in error because the stepfather incorrectly argued that consent findings were necessary even though the court concluded the adoption was not in the child’s best interest.

Alaska Supreme Court Headnotes

District Court Judge. Alaska Supreme Court

The Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct’s informal private admonishment of a district court judge was reviewable by the Alaska Supreme Court because it was a final disposition and concerned disciplinary matters of the judiciary.

Judicial discipline – Judicial sanctions – Informal admonishment

District Court Judge. Alaska Supreme Court

A judge does not have the duty to address false or misleading statements made by independent supporters during a campaign, as long as those independent supporters are outside the judge’s control and the statements are clearly attributed to the independent supporters and not the judge.

Alaska Code of Judicial Conduct

Adoption of Hannah L. Alaska Supreme Court

Civil rules of procedure are mandatory when enforced against litigating parties, but not the court. Additionally, to the extent a delayed reconsideration order clarifies the record and litigating parties are granted extensions, there can be no prejudice from such delay.

Civil rules of procedure

Adoption of Hannah L. Alaska Supreme Court

Because Alaska law allows, but does not require, the application of the nine factor child custody test in adoption proceedings, the trial court did not err when it determined that the stepfather’s request for adoption was not in the child’s best interest despite choosing not to apply the nine factor child custody test.

Family law – Adoption – Child’s best interest – Nine factor child custody test