Commencement of an Action

(a) Civil Cover Sheet Every civil action initiated in or removed to the United States District Court for the District of Alaska must be accompanied by a completed Civil Cover Sheet, Form JS44, available on the court’s website and at the clerk’s office. (b) Identification of Related Cases The Civil Cover Sheet must list all related cases, open or closed, in this or any other federal or state court, of which the filer is aware. Cases are related when they: (1) concern substantially the same parties, claims, property, transaction, events, or substantially identical facts and legal issues; and (2) are likely to create an unduly burdensome duplication of labor and expense or the potential for conflicting results if assigned to different judges. Plaintiff must also file a Notice of Related Cases pursuant to Local Rule 16.1(e).

(c) Fees/Waiver of Fees (1) All fees required by law must be paid at the time of filing a complaint or other document for which a fee is required, except for parties seeking to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. (2) The schedule of fees will be posted on the court’s website and at the clerk’s office. (3) Applications to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 must be fully completed and signed before an application to waive prepayment of fees will be considered. Prisoners must include a certified copy of their prison trust account statement, dating back six months.

The clerk’s office will provide all necessary forms. Local Civil Rules for the District of Alaska Effective October 15, 2025 (4) Refunds of duplicate filing fees made via electronic filing and payment are considered pursuant to Miscellaneous General Order 12-02. (d) Case Assignment Unless otherwise ordered: (1) upon commencement of a case and upon any subsequent recusal, all actions, causes, and proceedings in this district must be randomly assigned to the judges. (2) related cases that are consolidated pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 42 will be assigned to the judge assigned to the case first filed.