Nome Census Area Criminal Court Records Search
Criminal court records for the Nome Census Area are on file at Nome Superior and District Court, located at 113 Front Street in Nome. Search cases for free through CourtView online or contact the clerk's office directly to request certified copies of documents.
Nome Census Area Overview
Nome Superior and District Court
The Nome Superior and District Court is the resident court for the Nome Census Area. It is part of the 2nd Judicial District, which covers a large part of western and northern Alaska. The court sits at 113 Front Street in Nome, right along the Bering Sea coast. It handles both felony cases at the Superior Court level and misdemeanor and minor criminal matters at the District Court level. All criminal cases from Nome Census Area communities run through this court.
The clerk's office at Nome is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The phone number for the clerk is (907) 443-5216. For faxed records requests, the records fax line is (907) 443-8186. This court serves not only the city of Nome itself but also a wide region that includes communities such as White Mountain, Elim, Golovin, Shaktoolik, Stebbins, and Saint Michael. Judges may travel to some of these villages for certain proceedings, but the case file stays at Nome.
The court handles a range of criminal case types. Misdemeanor drug and alcohol offenses are common, as are domestic violence cases, assault charges, and fish and wildlife violations. Felony matters at the Superior Court level include more serious charges. All of these are public records, and the clerk's office can assist with locating and copying case documents.
| Office | Nome Superior and District Court - Clerk's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 113 Front Street, Nome, AK 99762 |
| Phone | (907) 443-5216 |
| Records Fax | (907) 443-8186 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Judicial District | 2nd Judicial District |
Criminal court records for the Nome Census Area are searchable through the Alaska CourtView system, which covers all cases filed at the Nome Superior and District Court.
Search Nome Census Area Criminal Records Online
CourtView at records.courts.alaska.gov is the free public case search tool for all Alaska trial courts. To find a criminal case from the Nome Census Area, go to that site and search by party name, case number, or citation number. Select "Nome" as the court location or search all courts. The system returns case dockets, charge details, hearing dates, and case status. No account is required, and there is no fee to search.
CourtView covers cases filed at Nome going back to approximately 1990. Cases from communities throughout the Nome Census Area will be listed under the Nome court. This includes cases originating in Nome itself and cases from surrounding villages that were filed there. If you search a name and get multiple results, look at the case type and filing location to identify the right case. Criminal cases are labeled as such in the case type field.
The system does not include juvenile records, sealed cases, or matters restricted by court order. Appeals from Nome cases are handled by a separate system. You can access appellate records at appellate-records.courts.alaska.gov. That system is separate from CourtView and covers cases that moved to the Court of Appeals or the Alaska Supreme Court.
The CourtView portal provides free public access to Nome Census Area criminal case records, including dockets, charges, and hearing dates for cases filed at Nome court.
How to Request Nome Court Records
To get copies of documents from a Nome criminal case, contact the clerk's office at (907) 443-5216. You can also fax a request to (907) 443-8186. Provide the case number, the defendant's name, and the type of document you need. If you do not have the case number, the clerk can search by name. Research fees may apply for extensive name searches. Ask about current fees before you submit a formal request.
Plain copies cost $5 for the first page and $3 for each additional page. Certified copies cost $10 for the first page and $3 per additional page. Certification confirms the copy is a true and accurate reproduction of the original court document. Certified copies are usually required for legal proceedings, background checks, or immigration purposes. Plain copies are fine for general reference.
Mail requests should include your name and return address, the case number or identifying details, a list of the documents you want, and payment or instructions for how you want to pay. The clerk can advise on acceptable payment methods for mail requests. Processing time is typically five to seven business days, but remote court locations like Nome may take a bit longer for complex requests. Call ahead if you have a deadline.
In-person requests can be made during normal business hours. You will need a valid photo ID. The clerk's office can assist with case lookups and copy orders at the counter. Audio recordings of hearings are available through the clerk's office as well. These are often the only way to get a verbatim record of what was said in court, since formal transcripts must be ordered through a court-approved transcription service.
Types of Criminal Records Available in Nome
Under AS 40.25.110, most criminal court records are public. At the Nome court, public records include charging documents, bail orders, arraignment records, court hearing minutes, sentencing orders, probation conditions, and final judgments. These cover both District Court misdemeanor cases and Superior Court felony cases. Anyone may request copies of public criminal case records.
Fish and wildlife criminal cases are a notable record type in the Nome area. Alaska Wildlife Troopers and fish and game enforcement file criminal charges in court for violations related to subsistence, commercial fishing, and wildlife. These cases show up in CourtView and are subject to the same access rules as other criminal matters. If you are looking for records on a specific fish and wildlife case, search CourtView under the Nome court location.
Records that are not public include juvenile cases, sealed records, and portions of files restricted by court order. The court may also limit access to parts of a file containing sensitive personal information about victims or witnesses under certain circumstances. Expungement under AS 12.62.180 applies in limited situations. Arrests without charges, dismissed cases, and acquittals may qualify. Expunged records do not appear in CourtView and cannot be obtained through standard request channels.
Legal Framework for Nome Criminal Court Records
Criminal proceedings in the Nome Census Area are governed by Alaska state law and the rules of the 2nd Judicial District. Public access to court records is established by the Alaska Public Records Act at AS 40.25.110. Alaska Court Rules 37 and 37.5 set out the specific access rules for court files, confirming that most filed documents are public unless a rule or order restricts them.
Probation orders that are part of the criminal case file fall under AS 12.55.085, which governs probation conditions in Alaska sentencing. These orders are public and show up in the case docket. They can be copied from the clerk's office. Conditions may include substance abuse treatment, no-contact orders, geographic restrictions, and reporting requirements.
The rules for criminal justice information held by law enforcement, as distinct from what is in the court file, are found at AS 12.62.160. This covers arrest records, booking data, and criminal history information maintained by law enforcement agencies. If you need this type of information rather than a court record, contact the Alaska Department of Public Safety's Criminal Records and Identification Bureau.
The full Alaska statute database is searchable at akleg.gov. If you have a question about a records denial or believe a request was improperly refused, the Alaska Office of the Attorney General handles complaints and inquiries related to the Public Records Act.
Cities in Nome Census Area
No cities in the Nome Census Area meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. The city of Nome is the main population center and the location of the courthouse. Other communities in the area include White Mountain, Elim, Golovin, Shaktoolik, and Stebbins. All criminal records for this census area are filed at and accessible through the Nome Superior and District Court.
Nearby Boroughs and Census Areas
These neighboring areas are also part of western Alaska. Criminal records for each are accessible through the Alaska CourtView system.