Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/08/1993 01:00 PM House JUD
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HJR 21: IN MEMORIAM THURGOOD MARSHALL CHAIRMAN PORTER proceeded to the next order of business, HJR 21, honoring United States Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. He asked Rep. John Davies to address the committee. Number 685 REP. JOHN DAVIES, PRIME SPONSOR OF HJR 21, noted that approximately half of the members of the House had co- sponsored HJR 21. He stated that he felt it was appropriate to note the death of someone as significant as Justice Marshall. He expressed an opinion that Justice Marshall's life embodied democracy and liberty. He noted Justice Marshall's concern for the rights of the poor and minorities. Number 709 REP. PHILLIPS said that resolutions often included a statement of where they would be sent. She asked if Rep. Davies would like to have the resolution sent to Justice Marshall's family or to the U. S. Supreme Court. Number 714 REP. DAVIES indicated that sending the resolution to Justice Marshall's family and to the Supreme Court might be appropriate. Number 718 REP. PHILLIPS called Rep. Davies' attention to page 2, line 10, of the resolution where Justice Marshall is referred to as an "Associate Justice." She asked Rep. Davies why that term had been used, in light of the term "Supreme Court Justice" ascribed to Sandra Day O'Connor. Number 722 REP. DAVIES said that he did not know why that term had been used. Number 729 CHAIRMAN PORTER noted that an associate justice was any supreme court justice except for the chief justice. He added that both "Supreme Court Justice" and "Associate Justice" were correct terms, but one or the other ought to be used in the resolution. Number 738 REP. PHILLIPS recommended that a committee substitute for HJR 21 be drafted, changing the term "Associate Justice" to "Supreme Court Justice" and directing the resolution to Justice Marshall's family and to the court. Number 742 REP. KOTT asked why this was a joint resolution and not a concurrent resolution. Number 747 REP. NORDLUND said that any time a resolution was sent outside of the Alaska state government, a joint resolution was the appropriate vehicle to use. REP. DAVIES noted that he had researched the question at the time he drafted the resolution, but could not remember at this time why he had used a joint resolution instead of a concurrent resolution. Number 759 CHAIRMAN PORTER said that the paperwork requirements for a joint resolution were still far less than those required for a bill. He noted his belief that HJR 21 was a very appropriate resolution. He cited Justice Marshall's role in the Brown vs. Board of Education case and expressed his opinion that there would never be another supreme court justice as dedicated to civil rights as Justice Marshall had been. Number 777 REP. KOTT moved to pass HJR 21, as amended, out of committee. Number 784 CHAIRMAN PORTER, seeing no objections, approved the motion. CHAIRMAN PORTER outlined the schedule of Judiciary Committee meetings for the next week. He mentioned that he had sent the names of Rep. Davidson, Rep. Kott, and Rep. James to the Senate Judiciary Committee as delegates to the joint subcommittee on Sentencing Commission recommendations. ADJOURNMENT CHAIRMAN PORTER adjourned the meeting at 1:50 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|