Court rule · Alaska · Child welfare · Family procedure
Alaska order requires counsel for children placed in hospital under CINA provision
Supreme Court Order 2051 amends the mandatory appointment rule and states a September 20, 2026 effective date.
Published November 3, 2026 · Reviewed by David Martino
Alaska Supreme Court Order No. 2051 amends Child in Need of Aid Rule 12.1(b) to require appointment of an attorney for a child placed in a hospital as authorized under Alaska Statutes section 47.10.105. The court dated the order July 22, 2026 and specified September 20, 2026 as its effective date.
The new mandatory-appointment provision appears in Rule 12.1(b)(1)(B). It is separate from the circumstances listed in paragraph (A), which apply to a child age 10 or older. The order also retains the rule's discretionary appointment provisions for other circumstances.
The order adds a note describing the statutory hospital placement as short-term psychiatric care. The operative rule refers to hospital placement authorized under section 47.10.105; the statute itself should be consulted when applying that reference. The rule concerns appointment of counsel, not a determination of the child's placement or the merits of a particular case.