Valdez Appeals to Alaska Supreme Court for Legal Fees in Redistricting Case

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – On Thursday, the Alaska Supreme Court examined whether the City of Valdez and Mark Detter are entitled to attorney’s fees and associated costs stemming from their lawsuit against the state’s 2021 legislative redistricting plan. Valdez and Detter contested a Superior Court ruling that denied their claim for $224,436.56 in fees, despite acknowledging Valdez’s success on a constitutional claim.

Valdez’s attorney, Jake Staser, argued that the lower court misapplied the fee law and incorrectly dismissed fees due to block billing practices. He claimed that the city had trimmed its request substantially, retaining only fees related to three trial days and minimal pleading work. Staser cited an earlier Supreme Court ruling that partially awarded fees in similar redistricting disputes as a precedent for their claim. Meanwhile, board attorney Matthew Singer urged for the denial to stand, asserting that the Cantwell issue was minor compared to Valdez’s primary focus on district placement. The court did not issue a ruling immediately but stated it would provide a written decision in due course.