A Comparative Perspective of the Alaska Constitution
(Video 2 of “60 Years Later: The Alaska Constitution, History in Context”)

This presentation seeks to clarify what is distinctive about the Alaska Constitution by placing it in comparative perspective. This begins with a review of the characteristics of state constitutions themselves, in contrast to the more familiar United States Constitution. Next, an introduction to the New Judicial Federalism, whereby state high courts may interpret, or at least consider interpreting, their own state constitutions to provide more protective rights than those under the US Constitution. This is one of the most important developments in state constitutional law, and Alaska is part of it. Finally, the presentation evaluates selected Alaska constitutional provisions and doctrines in the larger context of American state constitutional law.

Moderator:
Tom Metzloff, Duke University

Panelists:
G. Alan Tarr, Rutgers University; Center for State Constitution Studies
Robert Williams, Rutgers School of Law; Center for State Constitution Studies

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60 YEARS LATER: THE ALASKA CONSTITUTION, HISTORY IN CONTEXT

In anticipation of the sixtieth anniversary of Alaska statehood, "60 Years Later: The Alaska Constitution, History in Context" was presented Friday, October 12, 2018 at the UAA/APU Consortium Library. The Constitution of the State of Alaska (https://ltgov.alaska.gov/services/ala...) was adopted by the Alaska Constitutional Convention February 5, 1956; ratified by the people of Alaska April 24, 1956; and became operative with the formal proclamation of Alaska statehood on January 3, 1959.

This free symposium on the history of Alaska's constitution was cosponsored by the UAA Justice Center and the Alaska Law Review in cooperation with the Historians Committee of the Alaska Bar Association. The symposium was coordinated by Prof. Ryan Fortson, J.D., Ph.D., of the UAA Justice Center. Videos in the series were produced and edited by Eric Baldwin, UAA Academic Innovations and eLearning.

Complete information and symposium materials from "60 Years Later" are available on the UAA Justice Center website at https://goo.gl/yzn9GB (full link https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/....

Videos in the series:
1. Symposium Introduction and Keynote: Erwin Chemerinsky (44:40)
2. A Comparative Perspective of the Alaska Constitution (49:46)
3. The Alaska Judicial Council and Merit Selection of Judges (43:46)
4. A Native Perspective of Alaska's Constitution (48:58)
5. Lunch Presentation: Thomas Stewart (10:33)
6. Lunch Conversation: Vic Fischer and Sen Tan (41:19)