Alaska Supreme Court, 1970

The Alaska Supreme Court reversed Whitton's robbery convictions and remanded for a new trial because the trial court too restrictively limited cross-examination of a key state witness about his expectation of immunity and the uncharged acts underlying it, and the error was not harmless.

In the first state appeal under Alaska's 1969 sentence-appeal statute, the Alaska Supreme Court held that when the State alone appeals a sentence as too lenient under AS 12.55.120(b), the court may not increase the sentence but may express its approval or disapproval, with reasons, in a written opinion.

The Alaska Supreme Court held that a person charged with assault in violation of a Fairbanks municipal ordinance, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $600 fine, is entitled to a jury trial on demand. Applying Duncan v.

The Alaska Supreme Court held that first degree felony murder under AS 11.15.010 requires a specific purpose to kill, reversing both brothers' felony-murder convictions because the jury was instructed that an accidental or unintentional killing during a robbery would suffice.