Alakayak v. Alaska
Attorney: Heather Kendall-Miller

Case Update

This case challenges the constitutionality of the 1998 English-Only law as a violation of the free speech clause of the Alaska Constitution. Plaintiffs are individuals that would be injured by being forced to speak only English in any circumstance in which they must deal with state government employees. A decision was rendered March 25, 2002, striking down the English-only law as we requested. The State of Alaska has declined to appeal but Alaskans for a Common Language filed its appeal to the Alaska Supreme Court on September 26, 2002. Oral argument was heard on June 17, 2003. After oral argument the Court requested additional briefing on whether certain provisions of the law could be severed. We are now waiting for a decision.