SINCE STATEHOOD, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN ALASKA HAS FACED NUMEROUS GEOGRAPHIC, LOGISTIC, AND CULTURAL CHALLENGES IN THE DELIVERY OF LEGAL SERVICES TO BOTH URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES. EFFORTS TO IMPROVE JUDICIAL SERVICES HAVE BEEN RELATED TO ADMINISTRATIVE REORGANIZATION, THE EXPANSION OF JUDICIAL AND MAGISTRATE TRAINING PROGRAMS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, FULFILLING REQUIREMENTS OF THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN, UPGRADING COURT SYSTEM LAW LIBRARIES, AND THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN DEVELOPING THE COURT MODULE OF THE ALASKA JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM AND THE MICROFILMING OF COURT RECORDS. THERE ARE THREE LEVELS OF COURTS IN ALASKA (SUPREME, SUPERIOR, AND DISTRICT). THE SUPREME COURT IS THE COURT OF LAST RESORT. IT HEARS APPELLATE MATTERS, WITH NO INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT IN EXISTENCE. THE SUPERIOR COURT, THE TRIAL COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION, HAS ORIGINAL JURISDICTION IN ALL CIVIL AND CRIMINAL MATTERS. THE SUPERIOR COURT HAS EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION IN DOMESTIC RELATIONS MATTERS, CHILDREN'S PROCEEDINGS, PROBATE CASES, GUARDIANSHIP CASES, AND CIVIL COMMITMENTS. THE DISTRICT COURT IS THE TRIAL COURT OF LIMITED JURISDICTION. IN CRIMINAL MATTERS, IT HAS JURISDICTION OVER ALL MISDEMEANOR VIOLATIONS AND VIOLATIONS INVOLVING POLITICAL SUDIVISION ORDINANCES. IN CIVIL MATTERS, IT HEARS CASES FOR THE RECOVERY OF MONEY OR DAMAGES NOT EXCEEDING $10,000 AND FOR THE RECOVERY OF SPECIFIC PERSONAL PROPERTY WHEN THE VALUE CLAIMED FOR DAMAGES DOES NOT EXCEED $10,000. IN MOTOR VEHICLE TORT CASES, THE CIVIL JURISDICTION IN THE DISTRICT COURT IS $15,000. THE AUTHORITY OF MAGISTRATES IS MORE LIMITED THAN THE AUTHORITY OF DISTRICT COURT JUDGES. PROCEDURES PERTAINING TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED: THE QUALIFICATIONS, SELECTION, AND TERM OF THE JUDICIARY; THE DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL OF JUDGES; COMPENSATION; AND RETIREMENT AGE AND ACTIVE SERVICE. THERE ARE NO PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS IN ALASKA. THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD OF ALL COURTS IN ALASKA. THE DETAILED PROFILE OF THE COURT SYSTEM CONCERNS THE COURT OF LAST RESORT, INTERMEDIATE APPELLALE COURT, TRIAL COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION, TRIAL COURT OF LIMITED JURISDICTION, JUDGES, PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS, NONJUDICIAL PERSONNEL, JUDICIAL POLICYMAKING AND ADVISORY BODIES, COURT ADMINISTRATION, COURT FINANCING, AND COURT RECORDS AND STATISTICS. SOURCES OF INFORMATION USED TO PREPARE THE PROFILE ARE LISTED. ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS OF THE COURT SYSTEM ARE INCLUDED. DATA ON SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE ALASKA COURT SYSTEM AND AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION STANDARDS RELATING TO COURT ORGANIZATION ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)