--- title: "Chris Darnall | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/chris-darnall-district-court-judge-alaska-district-court-anchorage-ak" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Chris Darnall Alaska District Court, Anchorage · District Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Alaska District Court, Anchorage - State: Alaska - Role: District Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-10-02 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Anchorage District Court Judge; appointed July 1, 2024 - Anchorage District Attorney's Office, approximately one year - Pre-judicial career: Clerk for the Superior Court in Kenai; served as a prosecutor for over a decade, including complex cybercrime cases. ### Education - in Biological Sciences, cum laude, University of Alaska Anchorage — B.S. (2010) - J.D., University at Buffalo School of Law. ### Additional information - Anchorage District Court judge in Alaska’s Third Judicial District, appointed in July 2024 and up for retention in 2026. - Alaska Air National Guard, 2005–2011 - Alaska Air National Guard before and during college. - Judicial law clerk in Kenai for approximately 18 months after law school. - Alaska Department of Law, Office of Special Prosecutions, cybercrime and trafficking work before judicial appointment. - Birthplace: Fairbanks, Alaska - Special interests: Weightlifting, firearms, family, and computers. - Led the Anchorage Exhibits Subcommittee to improve handling of digital evidence. - Judge Darnall emphasizes fairness, respect, and dignity in all cases. - Co‐chaired Anchorage’s Veterans Court to address veterans’ needs and promote rehabilitation. - Attended East Anchorage High School. - Served on the Judicial Conference Planning Committee and helped train other judges. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### photography filming recording Scope: statewide Alaska generally prohibits photographing, filming, and recording in courthouse common areas unless an application is approved, while separate courtroom and adjacent-area rules remain governed by Administrative Rule 50 and Administrative Bulletin No. 45. Evidence excerpt: Except as specifically authorized by this order, photographing, filming, and recording are permitted in common areas inside the courthouse only upon the issuance of an approved application. [Presiding Judges' Statewide Order on Use of Cameras and Electronic Devices in Common Areas of Court Facilities](https://courts.alaska.gov/jord/docs/2023/statewide-electronic-devices.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### courtroom media requests Scope: statewide Alaska states that media may request permission from a judicial officer for coverage inside a particular courtroom or adjacent area, and the judicial officer rules on those requests. Evidence excerpt: not intended to interfere with or restrict the rights of the media to request permission from a judicial officer to allow media coverage within a particular courtroom or adjacent area [Presiding Judges' Statewide Order on Use of Cameras and Electronic Devices in Common Areas of Court Facilities](https://courts.alaska.gov/jord/docs/2023/statewide-electronic-devices.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/index.htm) - [Official roster](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/index.htm) - [Alaska Court System official judicial roster](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/index.htm) - [Presiding Judges' Statewide Order on Use of Cameras and Electronic Devices in Common Areas of Court Facilities](https://courts.alaska.gov/jord/docs/2023/statewide-electronic-devices.pdf) - [Hearings & Trials](https://courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts/hearings.htm) - [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/) - [www.ajc.state.ak.us](https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/judges/jdgapps/darnall2024.pdf) - [www.ajc.state.ak.us](https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/judges/judgemain.html) - [ajc.alaska.gov](https://ajc.alaska.gov/judges/judgemain.html) - [www.ajc.state.ak.us](https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/selection/docs/Selection/may-2024-applicants/darnall.pdf) - [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/) - [www.ajc.state.ak.us](https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/judges/jdgapps/darnall2024.pdf) - [www.ajc.state.ak.us](https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/judges/judgemain.html) - [ajc.alaska.gov](https://ajc.alaska.gov/judges/judgemain.html) - [www.ajc.state.ak.us](https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/selection/docs/Selection/may-2024-applicants/darnall.pdf) - [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/) - [www.ajc.state.ak.us](https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/judges/jdgapps/darnall2024.pdf) - [www.ajc.state.ak.us](https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/judges/judgemain.html) - [ajc.alaska.gov](https://ajc.alaska.gov/judges/judgemain.html) - [www.ajc.state.ak.us](https://www.ajc.state.ak.us/selection/docs/Selection/may-2024-applicants/darnall.pdf) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/chris-darnall-district-court-judge-alaska-district-court-anchorage-ak", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/chris-darnall-district-court-judge-alaska-district-court-anchorage-ak", "name": "Chris Darnall | KnowJudges", "description": "Chris Darnall, Alaska District Court, Anchorage. 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Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://courts.alaska.gov/jord/docs/2023/statewide-electronic-devices.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.