The Alaska Department of Law announced on Tuesday a step toward expanding public oversight of government by launching a new process that allows citizens to request investigative grand juries to examine suspected systemic wrongdoing by public officials or entities.
This effort establishes a more accessible and transparent pathway for citizens to bring forward evidence of misconduct affecting public welfare or safety. The initiative includes a dedicated webpage, procedures and policies, and designated legal staff to review citizen-submitted requests.
The move follows a 2022 ruling by the Alaska Supreme Court, known as SCO 1993, which amended Alaska’s criminal rules to clarify the role of investigative grand juries. Under those rules, the Alaska Attorney General is tasked with reviewing citizen requests to determine whether they meet the legal threshold to warrant a grand jury investigation.
Attorney General Treg Taylor emphasized the constitutional foundation of the program, pointing to a key provision in Alaska’s Constitution which guarantees the right of grand juries to investigate public welfare matters.
Taylor said the formalized process ensures that “every Alaskan’s voice can be heard when it comes to safeguarding our community and holding our government accountable.”
The investigative grand jury process is distinct from criminal grand juries. While criminal grand juries are typically initiated by prosecutors or jurors to consider indictments in criminal cases, investigative grand juries are focused on examining broader issues related to public safety or governance when requested by citizens. Once convened, these panels have authority to subpoena witnesses, review documents, and take testimony under oath. After completing their work, grand juries can issue public reports—subject to judicial review—that highlight findings and recommendations.
The newly created webpage hosted by the Department of Law contains detailed guidance on how Alaskans can petition for an Investigative Grand Jury, including the criteria their request must meet and the application process. Citizens are now able to review the standards being applied, track the status of their submissions, and challenge outcomes if necessary.
The Department of Law noted that if a citizen request involves alleged wrongdoing within the department itself, a neutral prosecutor will be assigned to advise the grand jury, ensuring impartiality.
This formalization of the citizen-initiated investigative grand jury process comes amid increasing public interest in government accountability, following years of public disputes over the use of grand juries in Alaska. Legal observers point to recent debates surrounding judicial oversight and public transparency as factors pushing the Department to clarify procedures.
While the policy shift does not alter the grand jury’s authority, it creates the first structured and public-facing mechanism to petition for such investigations since the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling. The department characterized the launch as the “first phase” of its ongoing work to uphold constitutional rights and pledged continued improvements.
Isn’t this about rights we already had being given back to us in a limited fashion, or am I missing something?
This will be great. A conservative governor or senator or representative is elected and BAM! hundreds of these grand juries are convened to investigate an official for every imaginable “offense.” This will not have the hoped-for result. It will provide nitrous for the outrage machine and clog the court with frivolous accusations. It will provide cover for the Leftwaffe’s constant carpet-bombing of conservatives. And we just handed that tactic to them.