Lance Pruitt v. State of Alaska, Division of Elections, and Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer and Director Gail Fenumiai, in…

Summary

The court held that Pruitt’s voter-residency challenge was a nonfrivolous constitutional claim, so the statutory constitutional-claimant protection barred a Rule 82 attorney-fee award for work related to that claim. The superior court nevertheless could impose sanctions for sanctionable discovery or litigation conduct, but it had to use the procedures required by the applicable civil rules, including notice and an opportunity to be heard. The court therefore reversed the fee and cost award and remanded for further proceedings concerning possible sanctions.