---
title: "Heather O'Brien | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/heather-obrien-magistrate-judge-alaska-magistrate-court-anchorage-ak"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Heather O'Brien

Alaska District Court, Anchorage · Magistrate Judge

## Profile

- Court: Alaska District Court, Anchorage
- State: Alaska
- Role: Magistrate Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-10-02

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career


### Education


### Additional information

- Magistrate Judge, Anchorage; appointed 2018
- Assistant Public Defender in Alaska by 1995

## 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/mj.htm#3)
- [Official roster](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/mj.htm#3)
- [Alaska Court System official judicial roster](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/mj.htm#3)
- [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/)
- [member.alaskabar.org](https://member.alaskabar.org/cv5/cgi-bin/memberdll.dll/Info?CUSTOMERCD=972&WRP=Customer_Profile.htm)
- [www.courts.alaska.gov](https://www.courts.alaska.gov/judges/mj.htm)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/mj.htm)
- [law.justia.com](https://law.justia.com/cases/alaska/court-of-appeals/1995/a-5120-1.html)
- [Alaska Court System official judicial roster](https://www.courts.alaska.gov/judges/mj.htm)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/jord/docs/2023/statewide-electronic-devices.pdf)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts/hearings.htm)
- [member.alaskabar.org](https://member.alaskabar.org/cv5/cgi-bin/memberdll.dll/Info?CUSTOMERCD=972&WRP=Customer_Profile.htm)
- [www.courts.alaska.gov](https://www.courts.alaska.gov/judges/mj.htm)
- [law.justia.com](https://law.justia.com/cases/alaska/court-of-appeals/1995/a-5120-1.html)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/mj.htm#3)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/mj.htm)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/jord/docs/2023/statewide-electronic-devices.pdf)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/mj.htm#3)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/trialcourts/hearings.htm)
- [member.alaskabar.org](https://member.alaskabar.org/cv5/cgi-bin/memberdll.dll/Info?CUSTOMERCD=972&WRP=Customer_Profile.htm)
- [www.courts.alaska.gov](https://www.courts.alaska.gov/judges/mj.htm)
- [courts.alaska.gov](https://courts.alaska.gov/judges/mj.htm)
- [law.justia.com](https://law.justia.com/cases/alaska/court-of-appeals/1995/a-5120-1.html)

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## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Presiding Judges' Statewide Order on Use of Cameras and Electronic Devices in Common Areas of Court Facilities](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-4195c4aa8c36145cd11c25b9) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  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.