Split decision on Alaska English-only law

JUNEAU, Alaska, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The Alaska Supreme Court has struck down parts of the state's English-only law in a split decision that both sides claim as a victory.

The high court said Friday that the first section of the law, which says English is the only language that can be used for government functions, is unconstitutional. In practice, that means Native Alaskan communities can continue to conduct meetings in their own languages, The Anchorage Daily News said.

The second part, which requires English for all government documents and records, is constitutional as long as duplicates can be made in other languages, the justices said. The decision was 4-1 with the dissenter urging that the entire law be declared void.

The law was passed by referendum in 1998. It has never been enforced because of the legal action brought by the Alaska Civil Liberties Union and three Native Alaskan groups -- the borough of Togiak, the North Slope Borough and the Native American Rights Fund.