2006-01-13                     Senate Journal                      Page 1901
SB 237                                                                                            
SENATE BILL NO. 237 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                   
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                               
                                                                                                    
          "An Act increasing the number of superior court                                           
          judges designated for the third judicial district, to                                     
          provide additional superior court judges at                                               
          Anchorage, Palmer, and Kenai; and providing for an                                        
          effective date."                                                                          
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Finance                                   
Committees.                                                                                         
                                                                                                    
The following fiscal information was published today:                                               
 Fiscal Note No. 1, Alaska Court System                                                             
                                                                                                    
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 13:                                                     
                                                                                                    
Dear President Stevens:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am                          
transmitting a bill that would add a total of four superior court judge                             
positions to the third judicial district in the state court system.                                 

2006-01-13                     Senate Journal                      Page 1902
As Alaska's population grows, the demand on the court system from                                   
both civil and criminal cases increases.  The population growth does                                
not occur uniformly throughout the state.  The Matanuska-Susitna                                    
Borough had a 77 percent increase in population from 1990 to 2004                                   
and a 39 percent increase in felony case filings for fiscal year 2004.                              
The Palmer court is perhaps the most overcrowded court in the system.                               
                                                                                                    
The impact on the court system of felony criminal cases is very                                     
burdensome.  Criminal cases, particularly violent felony criminal                                   
cases, are often the most complex and time-sensitive types of cases                                 
handled by the court system.  They are also the most likely type of                                 
case to proceed to a time-consuming trial.  Time is of the essence to                               
both the victims of crimes waiting for justice to be served and the                                 
accused seeking resolution to the criminal charges.                                                 
                                                                                                    
The additional superior court judge positions provided for under this                               
bill are essential to the efficient operation of the court system.                                  
                                                                                                    
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                            
                                                                                                    
Sincerely yours,                                                                                    
/s/                                                                                                 
Frank H. Murkowski                                                                                  
Governor