Virginia and Kevin Stephens have named Officer James Esbenshade, Chief of Police Ed Mercer and the City of Borough of Juneau in a civil lawsuit for the wrongful death of their son.
Crime & Courts
Family of Juneau man killed by police say they’re filing a wrongful death lawsuit
Juneau police officer James Esbenshade shot and killed Jelly Michael Stephens in late December while responding to a 911 call.
Zoom in to jury duty: a pilot project in rural Alaska starts in August
The pilot project in the Second Judicial District, which includes Utqiagvik, Kotzebue and Nome, is part of the court system’s response to COVID-19.
A fisherman was arrested after stealing a fire truck and driving it to a bar in Naknek
Porter turned on the emergency lights and drove the firetruck 15 miles to Fishermen’s Bar in Naknek. He had parked the truck in front of the bar when police officers arrived and arrested him.
There hasn’t been a jury trial in Alaska in 3 months. How has COVID-19 changed the state’s justice system?
Many Alaskans’ court cases have been thrown into legal limbo because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Face coverings now required to enter federal courthouses in Alaska
Anyone entering a federal courthouse in Alaska must wear a mask or face covering or they will not be allowed inside.
Feds drop charges for released California inmate who allegedly violated coronavirus quarantine
Duane Fields, 48, is the only person known to have been criminally prosecuted in the state for violating coronavirus quarantine rules.
Alaska’s courtrooms remain closed to jury trials due to pandemic
Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Joel Bolger issued the order on Monday, saying it’s not possible to maintain social distancing in courthouses around the state.
Have questions about police accountability and use of force in Alaska? We’ve got some answers.
What do the data show about police shootings and use of force in Alaska, and how often it’s used on black and Alaska Native people? What policies govern use of force by the police? What do we know about how officers are disciplined for violating those policies? And does the ethnic makeup of Alaska law enforcement agencies mirror the communities they police?
‘No justice, no peace!’: Thousands demonstrate in Southcentral Alaska against racism and police killings
Protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement drew thousands of residents from around Southcentral Alaska who marched peacefully over the weekend. One of the most-watched – and well-attended – was a protest in Palmer that raised concerns about violence but ended mostly peacefully on Saturday. The march, advertised as the Palmer Vigil for…