Alaska

Civil Procedure

Rule 63 – Disability of a Judge

(a)Before Trial. If by reason of death, sickness or other disability, a judge before whom an action is pending is unable to perform the duties to be performed by the court under these rules prior to the beginning of the trial or hearing, then any other judge of the court assigned by the presiding judge of the judicial district where the action is pending or by the chief justice of the supreme court may perform those duties.

(b)During Trial. If by reason of death, sickness or other disability, a judge before whom an action is pending is unable to perform the duties to be performed by the court under these rules after the trial or hearing of the action has commenced, then any other judge of the court, assigned by the presiding judge of the judicial district where the action is pending or by the chief justice of the supreme court, may perform those duties, as if such other judge had been present and presiding from the commencement of such trial or hearing; provided, however, that from the beginning of the taking of testimony at such trial or hearing a stenographic or electronic recording of the proceedings shall have been made so that the judge so continuing may become familiar with the previous proceedings.

(c)After Verdict, etc. If by reason of death, sickness or other disability, a judge before whom an action has been tried is unable to perform the duties to be performed by the court under these rules after a verdict is returned or findings of fact and conclusions of law are filed, then any other judge of the court, assigned by the presiding judge of the judicial district where the action has been tried or by the chief justice of the supreme court, may perform those duties; but if that judge is satisfied that that judge cannot perform those duties because the judge did not preside at the trial or for any other reason, that judge may grant a new trial.

Alaska R. Civ. P. 63

Adopted by SCO 5 October 9, 1959; amended by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994

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