I want to remind Skagway that the state court system maintains a part-time office in town. Until 2017, a full-time magistrate was stationed in Skagway, but the office closed when the magistrate left that year and the work was transferred to the court in Haines. The Skagway office reopened in 2018 with a part-time clerk of court.

Since taking the position as court clerk, I have repeatedly heard from folks that they didn’t know the office had reopened. I’d like to explain what we do and the services we can provide.

Skagway District Court is housed on Seventh Avenue and Spring Street in the McCabe Building across from the borough assembly chambers. The court is typically open 10 hours per week: noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday. Outside of these hours, if you have court business that cannot wait, call the Haines office that is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Fridays.

Much of the court’s work is done telephonically with a regional magistrate. Otherwise, a judge travels into town if a trial is scheduled. We do not currently have a resident magistrate in Skagway.

The Skagway court office can handle a lot of matters, including issue marriage licenses, accept small claims court filings, process civil protective orders (commonly referred to as a restraining order), and process eviction requests. The Superior Court in Juneau handles cases such as felonies, probate and name changes. If you have questions, the Skagway court can help with answers.

In addition, you can go to the state court system’s website www.courts.alaska.gov. There you can search through the forms section for directions and required paperwork. The self-help tab offers insight about estates, traffic cases, domestic violence and how to represent yourself, among other helpful starters.

And always remember that if you are in danger, our police department and 911 are available. There are also other agencies in our state that can help, such as Battering Intervention Programs and AWARE. If you would like more information, please stop by the court during office hours to talk with the clerk or look through the handouts available on the table in the lobby outside the assembly chambers.

Jan Marie Tronrud

Clerk of Court, Skagway District