2006-01-13                     House Journal                      Page 2265
HB 363                                                                                            
HOUSE BILL NO. 363 by the House 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 note(s) apply:                                                                 
                                                                                                    
1.  Fiscal, Alaska Court System                                                                     
                                                                                                    
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 13, 2006, follows:                                  
                                                                                                    
"Dear Speaker Harris:                                                                               
                                                                                                    
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.                                 
                                                                                                    
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.                               
                                                                                                    

2006-01-13                     House Journal                      Page 2266
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"