03/24/2005 08:30 AM Senate JUDICIARY

         SJR 12-URGE CONFIRM US SUPREME COURT NOMINEES                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:52:46 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GENE  THERRIAULT, sponsor of  SJR 12, asserted SJR  12 is                                                               
an expression  on behalf  of the Alaska  Legislature to  the U.S.                                                               
Congress  that supports  expeditious nomination  of U.S.  Supreme                                                               
Court Justices by President George W. Bush.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:54:59 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SEEKINS called for public testimony.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. MERLE THOMPSON  testified in opposition to SJR  12. He stated                                                               
the process  for nominating justices  has been the same  for both                                                               
republicans and democrats for eons and  a filibuster is a part of                                                               
the process. He argued SJR 12  did not represent all Alaskans and                                                               
ended by saying SJR 12 borders on the ridiculous.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HOLLIS  FRENCH  asked Senator  Therriault  if  he  would                                                               
consider tempering the  language to allow for a  fair hearing and                                                               
a vote.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:57:47 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  THERRIAULT replied  he  had concerns  with changing  the                                                               
language of SJR 12.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR FRENCH suggested  he add, "Bring to a vote  of the entire                                                               
body"  to  the  language.  He asked  Senator  Therriault  if  his                                                               
objection was to the filibuster process.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  THERRIAULT answered  yes. He  felt comfortable  with the                                                               
language in SJR 12, but asked committee members for suggestions.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:00:12 AM                                                                                                                    
The committee  considered changing the language  structure of SJR
.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT suggested  the committee set SJR  12 aside and                                                               
move on the agenda.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:00:57 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR FRENCH  passed an  article from  the Atlantic  Monthly to                                                               
the  committee  and  asked  them  to consider  the  will  of  the                                                               
majority.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SEEKINS commented  the proper  responsibility of  the U.S.                                                               
Supreme Court is to comment  on the constitutionality of laws. He                                                               
announced the committee would set aside SJR 12.                                                                                 
         SJR 12-URGE CONFIRM US SUPREME COURT NOMINEES                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:09:56 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SEEKINS announced SJR 12 to be up for consideration.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT suggested an amendment on Page 2, line 4,                                                                    
after the word "quickly", insert the words, "to a majority floor                                                                
vote of the Senate".                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR FRENCH agreed.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Hearing no objections, Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT moved CSSJR 12(JUD) from committee with                                                                      
individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes.                                                                       
Hearing no objections, the motion carried.