Frank v. State of Alaska
Alaska Supreme Court
604 P.2d 1068 (1979)
- Written by Nathan Benedict, JD
Facts
Carlos Frank (defendant), an Athabascan Indian, shot a moose out of season and took the meat to a funeral potlatch, a religious ceremony performed after an individual’s death. Frank was charged with unlawful transportation of illegally taken game. Frank sought to dismiss the complaint, arguing that the law violated the free-exercise clauses of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 4 of the Alaska Constitution, because moose meat was an integral element of a funeral potlatch. The superior court ruled against Frank, and Frank appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Matthews, J.)
Dissent (Connor, J.)
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