ALR Symposium 2018: 60 Years Later | A Comparative Perspective of the Alaska Constitution

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.

The symposium is co-sponsored by the UAA Justice Center and the Alaska Law Review in cooperation with the Historians Committee of the Alaska Bar Association

Recorded on October 12, 2018.

Appearing: G. Alan Tarr (Rutgers University, Center for State Constitution Studies) and Robert Williams (Rutgers School of Law, Center for State Constitution Studies)