2006-02-13                     Senate Journal                      Page 2148
SB 237                                                                                            
Forthcoming Judiciary Committee Substitute (page 2121) for                                          
SENATE BILL NO. 237 "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 received today:                                                
                                                                                                    
          CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 237(JUD) "An Act                                                   
          increasing the number of superior court judges                                            
          designated for the third and fourth judicial districts to                                 
          provide additional superior court judges at                                               
          Anchorage, Palmer, Kenai, and Fairbanks; and                                              
          providing for an effective date."                                                         
                                                                                                    
Forthcoming Judiciary Committee Letter of Intent (page 2121) for                                    
SENATE BILL NO. 237 was received today:                                                             
                                                                                                    
     The legislature finds that the Alaska Court System has                                         
     experienced a steady multi-year trend in the growth of the                                     
     criminal caseload.  Much of the growth in criminal caseload                                    
     has occurred in Anchorage, Palmer, Kenai, and Fairbanks in                                     
     part due to rapid increases in population in some areas.  For                                  

2006-02-13                     Senate Journal                      Page 2149
     example, 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 alone.                                    
     Overall, felony criminal case filings with the court have                                      
     increased by approximately 20 percent from fiscal year 2002                                    
     to fiscal year 2004.                                                                           
                                                                                                    
     Felony criminal cases are typically the most complex and                                       
     time intensive criminal cases that the Alaska Court System                                     
     handles.  Over the years, these cases have become even                                         
     more complex and therefore time consuming due to changes                                       
     in the nature of criminal cases and the use of scientific                                      
     evidence in a greater number of cases.  Additionally,                                          
     increased participation by victims and other new court                                         
     procedures have resulted in cases requiring more actual                                        
     courtroom time prior to resolution.   Felony criminal cases                                    
     are becoming back-logged to a degree that undermines the                                       
     criminal justice system.                                                                       
                                                                                                    
     Prosecutors, law enforcement and others who regularly                                          
     appear before the Alaska Court System recognize that                                           
     additional superior court judges are essential for the efficient                               
     handling of the felony caseload.  The legislature finds that                                   
     justice will be better served for victims, defendants and the                                  
     general public if the court system has the resources                                           
     necessary for efficient processing of these cases.                                             
                                                                                                    
     Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature that the additional                             
     superior court judges authorized by this bill be assigned to                                   
     criminal matters, or be utilized by the court system in a                                      
     manner that will allow criminal matters to be more                                             
     efficiently processed by the court.