AK · rules
Alaska R. Crim. P. 5.1
Preliminary Examination in Felony Cases
(a) Representation by Counsel. The defendant is
entitled to be represented by counsel. If the defendant cannot
secure counsel, counsel shall be appointed for the defendant.
(b) Order of Proof—Witnesses Called by the State.
The state shall first present the evidence in support of its case.
All witnesses called by the state shall be examined in the
presence of the defendant and may be cross-examined by the
defendant’s or by the defendant’s counsel.
(c) Witnesses Called by the Defendant. The defendant
may produce and examine witnesses on the defendant’s behalf.
All witnesses, including the defendant should the defendant
choose to testify, may be cross-examined. The production of
witnesses shall be governed by Rule 17, so far as it is
applicable.
(d) Evidence. At the preliminary examination, the
admissibility of evidence other than written reports of experts
shall be governed by the Alaska Rules of Evidence. Rulings
pertaining to the admissibility of evidence shall not be binding
upon any subsequent judicial proceeding.
(e) Telephonic Testimony.
(1) A witness may participate telephonically if the
witness:
(A) would be required to travel more than 50 miles to
court; or
(B) lives in a place from which people customarily travel
by air to the court.
(2) A witness who is not entitled to participate
telephonically under subparagraph (1) may participate
telephonically with approval of the court.
(f) Record. The proceedings shall be electronically
recorded.
(g) Exclusion of Witnesses. At the request of either
party, the judge or magistrate judge shall exclude from the
courtroom any witness of an adverse party, if at the time of the
request the witness is not under examination.
(h) Discharge of the Defendant. If from the evidence, it
appears that
(1) there is no probable cause to believe that an offense
has been committed, or
(2) if there is probable cause to believe that an offense
has been committed, but no probable cause to believe that
defendant committed the offense, then the judge or magistrate
judge shall dismiss the complaint and discharge the defendant.
The discharge of the defendant shall not preclude the state
from instituting a subsequent prosecution for the same offense.
(i) Commitment of Defendant. If from the evidence it
appears that there is probable cause to believe that an offense
has been committed and that the defendant committed it, the
judge or magistrate judge shall enter an order holding the
defendant to answer to the charge and committing the
defendant to proper custody. The judge or magistrate judge
shall admit the defendant to bail as provided by law and by
these rules.
(j) Records. When a judge or magistrate judge has held
a defendant to answer, the judge or magistrate judge shall
transmit to the clerk of the superior court of the judicial district
in which the offense is triable all papers in the proceedings,
any bail taken by the judge or magistrate judge, and all exhibits
introduced at the examination.
(k) Counsel for Complaining Witness—Counsel for
Prosecution. A complaining witness may be represented by
counsel at every stage of the preliminary hearing. The attorney
general or some attorney authorized to act for the attorney
general may appear on behalf of the State of Alaska and
control the conduct of the prosecution.
History
(Added by SCO 157 effective February 15, 1973; amended by SCO 368 effective August 1, 1979; by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; by SCO 1460 effective October 15, 2003; by SCO 1799 effective October 15, 2013; and by SCO 1829 effective October 15, 2014)
Provenance
- Source
- courts.alaska.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-24
- Edition
- 2026-09-24
- Content hash
12ce9050e1cf65b5c0a1f788165886634969e198fd42c718c81b4dae6d515cc3
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