Terms Used In Alaska Statutes 22.10.050

  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • state: means the State of Alaska unless applied to the different parts of the United States and in the latter case it includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060

The superior court shall always be open, except on judicial holidays as determined by rule of the supreme court. Injunctions, writs of prohibition, mandamus, and habeas corpus may be issued and served on holidays and nonjudicial days. The superior court is a court of record and is vested with all power and authority necessary to carry into complete execution all its judgments, decrees, and determinations in all matters within its jurisdiction according to the constitution, the laws of the state, and the common law. The superior court shall hold regular sessions in each district at the times and places as may be designated by rule or order of the supreme court.