Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
            
                
                     
04/15/2025 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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 recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
       
    
                
                                               
                        | Audio | Topic | 
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB34 | |
| SB120 | |
| SJR13 | |
| Adjourn | 
                                * first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
                            
                        + teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 34 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 120 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 116 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SJR 13 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
               SJR 13-APPOINTMENT OF STATE JUDGES                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:09:40 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  KAWASAKI   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration  of  SENATE  JOINT   RESOLUTION  NO.  13  Proposing                                                               
amendments to  the Constitution of  the State of  Alaska relating                                                               
to the appointment of state judges by the governor.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:10:08 PM                                                                                                                    
TREG  TAYLOR, Attorney  General,  Department  of Law,  Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska, presented  a brief recap of  SJR 13 and stated  that this                                                               
resolution seeks to restore balance  between Alaska's branches of                                                               
government by  changing how judicial candidates  are forwarded to                                                               
the  governor. Instead  of only  advancing  the "most  qualified"                                                               
applicants, the Judicial Council would  be required to pass along                                                               
all  individuals  who  meet  the  constitutional  qualifications,                                                               
giving the governor a broader selection.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:11:25 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated that he  has heard of mistrust in the                                                               
Federal  Judiciary  Council  but  not  in  the  Alaska  Judiciary                                                               
Council and asked for examples of lack of confidence and trust.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:11:43 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY GENERAL  TAYLOR noted increased  "no" votes  in judicial                                                               
retention  elections.  He  said  experts  suggest  this  reflects                                                               
broader anti-system  sentiment rather  than specific  issues with                                                               
judges.  The concern  has  led  to the  creation  of groups  like                                                               
Alaskans  for  Fair  Courts,  signaling  a  perception  that  the                                                               
judiciary no longer represents ordinary Alaskans.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:13:57 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI asked  whether disliking  Alaska's judicial                                                               
system  on  social  media  should   justify  changing  the  state                                                               
constitution to fix it.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:14:08 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAYLOR replied no.  He said the person on social                                                               
media said the attorney general  was doing a horrible job running                                                               
the judiciary.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  asked for  a name of  the person  that said                                                               
the  attorney  general  was  doing a  horrible  job  running  the                                                               
judiciary and asked for proof.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY GENERAL  TAYLOR replied that  he can look for  the post,                                                               
though  numbers  speak  for  themselves.  He  said  the  judicial                                                             
retention votes  in Alaska  are showing  a declining  trend, with                                                               
support dropping below 60 percent.  This growing concern over the                                                               
judicial system's operation led to  the formation of Alaskans for                                                               
Fair Courts.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI read a section  of the letter from the group                                                               
named, Justice not Politics:                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The mean  "yes" vote  percentages for  appellate judges                                                                    
     and  trial judges  in the  1st, 2nd,  and 4th  Judicial                                                                    
     Districts are consistently above  60 percent, with many                                                                    
     judges  polling  above  65 percent.  The  3rd  Judicial                                                                    
     District  is more  volatile,  but  still positive.  The                                                                    
     mean "yes"  vote percentages for trial  court judges in                                                                    
     the  3rd Judicial  District were  above  60 percent  in                                                                    
     2020,  fell below  60 percent  in 2022,  but then  rose                                                                    
     again in 2024 to just below 60 percent.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  asked if the  data from the  letter sounded                                                               
accurate.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:15:41 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY  GENERAL  TAYLOR  replied   that  he  can't  cite  those                                                               
numbers. He  noted that recent judicial  elections show declining                                                               
support and  the top public  complaint he hears is  that Alaska's                                                               
judiciary does not reflect the values of the average Alaskan.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:16:14 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI asked  whether  he and  the attorneys  that                                                               
work for him believe Alaska's judicial system is unfair.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:16:26 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY GENERAL  TAYLOR replied  that he isn't  debating policy,                                                               
however  he is  representing  the governor's  proposal to  change                                                               
judicial selection, so all qualified  candidates are forwarded to                                                               
the governor, rather than only the "most qualified."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  asked if, as  head of the largest  law firm                                                               
in the state,  Attorney General Taylor agreed  that Alaska should                                                               
have  a  qualified  judiciary  that  attorneys  could  trust  and                                                               
whether he had confidence in the state's judicial system.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY GENERAL  TAYLOR replied  that he supports  requiring the                                                               
Judicial  Council  to advance  all  qualified  candidates to  the                                                               
governor,  arguing   this  returns   power  to  the   people  and                                                               
legislature. He cited art. IV,  sec. 4, Constitution of the State                                                               
of   Alaska  and   noted  the   constitution  sets   three  basic                                                               
qualifications and allows the legislature  to add other authority                                                               
that  should  rest  with  elected  lawmakers,  not  an  unelected                                                               
council with three members.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:17:54 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI  asked,  if   under  the  proposed  system,                                                               
someone  could become  a  lifetime judge  simply  by meeting  the                                                               
minimum years as an attorney, even if otherwise unqualified.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY  GENERAL TAYLOR  answered that  under the  proposal, the                                                               
Judicial  Council would  forward  all  qualified candidates,  but                                                               
legislaturenot   the councilwould   determine qualifications.  He                                                               
said this  would return  power to  the people  to decide  who can                                                               
become a judge in Alaska.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI commented  that  legislators  don't have  a                                                               
direct legislative  say. He  asked if  legislators would  vote to                                                               
confirm judges under SJR 13.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY  GENERAL TAYLOR  replied  that  the Alaska  Constitution                                                               
gives the  legislature authority to set  judicial qualifications.                                                               
He  said  the  proposal   empowers  lawmakersnot   the  unelected                                                               
Judicial Councilto decide who becomes a judge.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:19:15 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  asked if he  would be open to  an amendment                                                               
so that potential  judges are subject to  legislative approval or                                                               
confirmation.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY  GENERAL TAYLOR  said SJR  13 was  a starting  point and                                                               
represented  the  governor's  policy choice  to  address  growing                                                               
concern among  Alaskans with  the judicial  system. He  stated it                                                               
was within the committee's rights to amend SJR 13.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  asked how  long Alaska  has been  without a                                                               
federal district court judge.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:19:49 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY  GENERAL TAYLOR  replied  that there  are currently  two                                                               
federal openings,  with names being  submitted by  the committees                                                               
of Senators  Murkowski and  Sullivan, following  the longstanding                                                               
federal system process.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  asked how  long has  Alaska been  without a                                                               
judge in the Federal District Court.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY  GENERAL TAYLOR  replied  that he  can't  say for  sure,                                                               
maybe half a year.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said  there hasn't been a  federal judge for                                                               
several  years. He  asked  if he  thought  emulating the  federal                                                               
system  and not  having  a  judge for  the  state  of Alaska  for                                                               
several years is a good process.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAYLOR replied that  SJR 13 is not emulating the                                                               
federal system. He said the  Alaska judicial council puts forward                                                               
all qualified applicants.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI  stated  that  under  the  current  system,                                                               
judges are  evaluated by  colleagues, the  public, and  those the                                                               
judges  represent. The  proposed  legislation  would forward  all                                                               
candidates meeting  minimum qualificationsregardless   of scores                                                                
for the  governor's consideration.  He asked  if that's  a better                                                               
system.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY  GENERAL  TAYLOR responded  that  SJR  13 only  forwards                                                               
"qualified" candidates,  comparing it to other  professions where                                                               
meeting basic  credentials suffices.  This resolution  shifts the                                                               
power from six unelected council  members back to the legislature                                                               
and, by extension, the people.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:21:39 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI  asked  if the  Judicial  Council  includes                                                               
public members  who are nominated  by the governor  and confirmed                                                               
by  the legislature,  countering  the characterization  of it  as                                                               
solely unelected.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAYLOR answered yes.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI asked  if there  are several  attorneys who                                                               
are selected by colleagues.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY  GENERAL  TAYLOR  answered   yes,  three  attorneys  are                                                               
selected by colleagues.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI asked  for  examples of  when the  Judicial                                                               
Council has been unfair in forwarding names.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:22:08 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY  GENERAL TAYLOR  said he  has noticed  several attorneys                                                               
with stellar careers  that the Alaska Judicial  Council (AJC) has                                                               
not  passed  through for  consideration.  There  is a  perception                                                               
among residents that the Alaska  judiciary does not represent the                                                               
people.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked for the  names of the [attorneys] that                                                               
weren't forwarded by the Judicial Council.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:22:27 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAYLOR  replied he would not  give names because                                                               
what  is  important is  the  people's  distrust of  the  judicial                                                               
system. In increasing numbers people  are voting to recall judges                                                               
regardless  of  their  performance,  which is  an  indication  of                                                               
growing distrust for how judges are selected in Alaska.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked how many  judges have been recalled in                                                               
the state's history.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY  GENERAL  TAYLOR  replied  that  six  judges  have  been                                                               
recalled.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated that it seems the system is working.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY  GENERAL TAYLOR  replied  that  Senator Wielechowski  is                                                               
entitled to  his opinion. He  explained that SJR 13  reflects the                                                               
governor's policy aimed at  addressing increasing public distrust                                                               
in Alaska's judiciary.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:23:54 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  YUNDT  asked for  a  clear,  simple explanation  of  the                                                               
judicial  selection process,  including how  ties are  handled on                                                               
the six-member Judicial Council.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:24:23 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAYLOR replied  that the Alaska Judicial Council                                                               
consists  of  six  selected  members,   three  public  and  three                                                               
attorneys,  plus  the Chief  Justice  as  a tiebreaker.  He  said                                                               
historically, the Chief Justice  have sided with attorney members                                                               
that  vote  the same,  fostering  public  distrust that  the  bar                                                               
controls  judicial selection.  He provided  an anecdote  and said                                                               
there is  a tendency  for public members  to defer  to attorneys,                                                               
creating   an  imbalance   in  decision-making   and  reinforcing                                                               
perceptions  that  the  system favors  legal  insiders  over  the                                                               
public.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:27:22 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR YUNDT  asked if there  are three members selected  by the                                                               
bar and  three members  selected by  the public,  who constituted                                                               
the public members.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY GENERAL  TAYLOR replied  that the  three members  of the                                                               
public are selected by the governor.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR YUNDT asked who selects the Chief Justice.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY  GENERAL  TAYLOR  replied  that  the  Chief  Justice  is                                                               
selected by the other justices of the Supreme Court.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  YUNDT   asked  if  it  was   Attorney  General  Taylor's                                                               
assertion  that the  courts have  a 43   advantage in  the seven-                                                               
member  Judicial  Council,  since   they  helped  determine  four                                                               
members  while neither  the legislature  nor  the governor  could                                                               
ever have a fourth representative on the body.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAYLOR replied that is exactly right.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  YUNDT  acknowledged it  could  be  seen as  a  potential                                                               
issue.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:28:27 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON noted  that while  many emails  and letters                                                               
have been received regarding the  resolution, none have expressed                                                               
support. He asked why the  public hasn't communicated approval of                                                               
the resolution.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:29:06 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAYLOR replied  that public complaints about the                                                               
judiciary  are commonly  received  by his  office. He  emphasized                                                               
that  the  power  to  select  judges  should  rest  with  elected                                                               
legislatorswhom  voters  know and  trustrather  with  the largely                                                               
unknown members of the Alaska Judicial Council.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:30:14 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked how frequently  tie votes occur on the                                                               
Judicial Council, given its equal  split between attorney members                                                               
and public members.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:30:26 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY  GENERAL  TAYLOR  replied  he did  not  know  the  exact                                                               
number, but  it has occurred a  handful of times since  he became                                                               
attorney general. In  each case the Chief Justice  voted with the                                                               
attorney  members   to  block  an  applicant,   making  the  vote                                                               
underinclusive rather than overinclusive.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:31:14 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked what percentage of votes were ties.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY GENERAL  TAYLOR said he  would review the last  30 votes                                                               
for ties and report back to the committee.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked how  often disagreements occur between                                                               
attorney members and non-attorney members.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY  GENERAL  TAYLOR  replied  that  in  3-3  votes  on  the                                                               
Judicial  Council, the  split  consistently  occurs along  member                                                               
type  the  three  attorney  members  vote  against  forwarding  a                                                               
candidate the three public members vote in favor.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI  asked  for  the  number  of  disagreements                                                               
between attorneys and non-attorneys.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAYLOR replied that  he cant  speculate and will                                                               
report back to the committee.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  stated that the Judicial  Council evaluates                                                               
nominees   based    on   professional    competence,   diligence,                                                               
administrative   skills,    integrity,   fairness,   temperament,                                                               
judgment,   common  sense,   legal  and   life  experience,   and                                                               
commitment to public service, equal  justice, and the legal needs                                                               
of all Alaskans. He asked if this was his understanding.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:32:59 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY  GENERAL   TAYLOR  replied  that  the   Alaska  Judicial                                                               
Council's standards  listed above  also include  criteria related                                                               
to  Diversity,  Equity,  and   Inclusion  (DEI),  are  inherently                                                               
subjective  and,  as  a  result,  contribute  to  growing  public                                                               
distrust of  the judicial selection  process. He  emphasized that                                                               
nowhere  in the  Alaska Constitution  is there  a requirement  to                                                               
select the "most qualified" candidate;  this concept of the "most                                                               
qualified"  is  entirely  a  creation  of  the  Judicial  Council                                                               
itself,  rather  than  a  mandate  from  elected  officials,  the                                                               
governor, or the  people. He said by relying  on these subjective                                                               
standards,  the  council  introduces   potential  bias  into  the                                                               
selection  process,  which  undermines transparency  and  fosters                                                               
skepticism  among  Alaskans  about whether  the  judiciary  truly                                                               
reflects the interests and values of the public.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:33:55 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI asked  where  the DEI  requirements can  be                                                               
found.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAYLOR replied that  the DEI requirements can be                                                               
found in Alaska Judicial Council Bylaws, Art. 1, Sec. 2:                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     the   Council  shall   also   consider  the   following                                                                    
     criteria:  other  candidates   who  have  applied;  the                                                                    
     position applied  for; and the  community in  which the                                                                    
     position  is   located.  The  Council   shall  actively                                                                    
     encourage  qualified   members  of  the  bar   to  seek                                                                    
     nomination  to such  offices,  making  every effort  to                                                                    
     promote   diversity,   including  gender   and   ethnic                                                                    
     diversity,  and shall  strive to  inform the  public of                                                                    
     Alaska's   judicial  and   public  defender   selection                                                                    
     process.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:34:49 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  asked Attorney  General Taylor if  he would                                                               
like the  legislature to  change Section 2  so that  diversity is                                                               
not promoted.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAYLOR replied, as  a person concerned about the                                                               
qualifications of a judge, does he  think the color of that judge                                                               
should matter.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated that the  governor is free to propose                                                               
legislation, and  suggested he do  so if he feels  strongly about                                                               
diversity.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAYLOR stated that  the discussion is a starting                                                               
point regarding public distrust in  the Judiciary in the state of                                                               
Alaska.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  asked which  judges were  appointed because                                                               
of their diversity.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAYLOR  replied that this wasn't  his rule; it's                                                               
a bylaw passed by the Alaska Judicial Council.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  asked Attorney  General Taylor to  name any                                                               
judge  in  Alaska's  history   that  was  appointed  specifically                                                               
because of DEI considerations.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAYLOR  reiterated that it was not  his rule and                                                               
that he did not know.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI stated  that Attorney  General Taylor  said                                                               
DEI requirements played a part  in [the appointment of a Judges].                                                               
He asked for  the identity of a single judge  in Alaska's history                                                               
who was appointed specifically due to DEI considerations.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:36:13 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY GENERAL  TAYLOR replied that  he could not name  a judge                                                               
appointed as a result of DEI.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI interjected exactly.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ATTORNEY  GENERAL TAYLOR  explained that  the Judicial  Council's                                                               
process is  closed to  the public, making  it impossible  to know                                                               
the  reasoning  behind decisions.  He  emphasized  that only  the                                                               
final  outcomes are  visible,  and that  secrecy  stems from  the                                                               
council's own rules, not from elected officials.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:36:56 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR YUNDT asked whether the  legislature would have authority                                                               
to  establish a  list  of  qualifications for  judges  if SJR  13                                                               
passed.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:37:14 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY GENERAL TAYLOR replied  that the legislature already has                                                               
a  list   of  qualifications  found  in   statute:  Justices-  AS                                                               
22.05.070,  Court of  Appeals of  Judges- AS  22.07.040, Superior                                                               
Court    Judges-   AS    22.10.090,    District   Court    Judges                                                               
qualifications-  AS   22.15.160.  He  stated  that   there  isn't                                                               
anything stopping the legislature from adding to the template.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:37:42 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  YUNDT  asked whether  the  Legislature  could amend  the                                                               
process  to  allow the  governor  to  select from  all  qualified                                                               
candidates,  with  the  legislature confirming  the  appointment,                                                               
similar to other appointments.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:38:18 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY  GENERAL TAYLOR  replied there  is nothing  stopping the                                                               
legislature from amending SJR 13.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR YUNDT doubted  that any judge was ever  selected based on                                                               
DEI  and acknowledges  that  its inclusion  in  the bylaws  could                                                               
create   public   perception    that   it   influences   judicial                                                               
appointments.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:39:03 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  BJORKMAN  asked about  the  role  of the  Commission  on                                                               
Judicial Conduct in  ensuring judges are accountable,  act in the                                                               
public interest, and fulfill duties appropriately.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:39:28 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY  GENERAL  TAYLOR  admitted  his  knowledge  of  judicial                                                               
accountability is  rusty, suggesting the court  system may better                                                               
explain.  He  noted  there  are  mechanisms  for  holding  judges                                                               
accountable and  referenced a past  attempt involving a  judge in                                                               
Kenai.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:40:22 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BJORKMAN read art. IV,  sec 10, Constitution of the State                                                               
of Alaska:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The  Commission on  Judicial Conduct  shall consist  of                                                                    
     nine  members,  as  follows:   three  persons  who  are                                                                    
     justices  or judges  of state  courts,  elected by  the                                                                    
     justices and judges of state  courts; three members who                                                                    
     have  practiced  law  in  this  state  for  ten  years,                                                                    
     appointed by the governor from  nominations made by the                                                                    
     governing  body of  the organized  bar  and subject  to                                                                    
     confirmation  by  a  majority  of the  members  of  the                                                                    
     legislature  in joint  session; and  three persons  who                                                                    
     are  not  judges, retired  judges,  or  members of  the                                                                    
     state  bar, appointed  by the  governor and  subject to                                                                    
     confirmation  by  a  majority  of the  members  of  the                                                                    
     legislature  in joint  session.  In  addition to  being                                                                    
     subject  to  impeachment  under   section  12  of  this                                                                    
     article, a  justice or judge  may be  disqualified from                                                                    
     acting  as  such and  may  be  suspended, removed  from                                                                    
     office, retired, or censured  by the supreme court upon                                                                    
     the recommendation  of the  commission. The  powers and                                                                    
     duties  of the  commission and  the bases  for judicial                                                                    
     disqualification shall be established by law.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:41:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI opened public testimony on SJR 13.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:42:04 PM                                                                                                                    
HEATHER ARNETT, Board  Member, League of Women  Voters of Alaska,                                                               
Anchorage, Alaska,  testified with concerns  on SJR 13.  She said                                                               
the  League of  Women Voters  of  Alaska conducted  a 2015  study                                                               
comparing  judicial  selection  systems  and  concluded  Alaska's                                                               
current merit-based  process works well.  She argued that  SJR 13                                                               
would undermine  this system by  eliminating the  Alaska Judicial                                                               
Council's evaluative role, giving  the governor full control over                                                               
appointments. The  council's current  process ensures  judges are                                                               
chosen for  competence, integrity, fairness, and  public service,                                                               
resulting in  highly qualified candidates  who best  uphold equal                                                               
justice.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:45:09 PM                                                                                                                    
DONNA GOLDSMITH,  Co-Chair, Alaskans for Fair  Courts, Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska, testified with  concerns on SJR 13.  She refuted Attorney                                                               
General  Taylor's  claims,  that   the  Alaska  Judicial  Council                                                               
ensures  transparency,  rigor,   and  nonpartisan  evaluation  of                                                               
judges. She  noted the  Chief Justice does  not always  side with                                                               
attorneys, the "best/tallest timber"  standard has historical and                                                               
constitutional  precedent, and  the  current system  is open  for                                                               
public  review.  Granting  full   appointment  authority  to  the                                                               
governor would politicize the  process and reduce accountability,                                                               
unlike the  merit-based, transparent  system that  maintains high                                                               
public support for judges statewide.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KAWASAKI stated that  questions regarding statistically how                                                               
many  go to  a 3-3  tie breaker  would be  helpful to  the Senate                                                               
State Affairs Committee.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:52:23 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI asked  for statistics  on the  frequency of                                                               
tie votes within the Alaska Judicial Council.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:52:41 PM                                                                                                                    
SUSANNE  DIPIETRO, Executive  Director, Alaska  Judicial Council,                                                               
Anchorage,  Alaska,  answered  questions  regarding  SJR  13  and                                                               
stated that since 1984, the  Alaska Judicial Council has recorded                                                               
a total  of 1,605  votes on judicial  nominations. In  most cases                                                               
about 84 percent of the time all  members, or all but one, are in                                                               
agreement on whether  to forward a candidate. She  said tie votes                                                               
that  require the  Chief  Justice  to cast  a  deciding vote  are                                                               
extremely  rare, occurring  in  only 1.4  percent  of all  votes,                                                               
which amounts to  just a couple dozen instances  since 1984. When                                                               
the Chief  Justice is called  upon to break  a tie, they  vote to                                                               
forward the  nominee to  the governor roughly  72 percent  of the                                                               
time,  giving the  governor  the opportunity  to  make the  final                                                               
appointment.  This  demonstrates  that  the  process  is  largely                                                               
consistent  and non-contentious,  with the  Chief Justice's  tie-                                                               
breaking  role  being  an infrequent  and  generally  affirmative                                                               
intervention.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:54:33 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI asked  if the  Alaska Judicial  Council has                                                               
ever chosen a judge based on DEI.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:54:47 PM                                                                                                                    
MS.  DIPIETRO  replied  not  to   her  knowledge.  She  said  the                                                               
statement   about   the   council's  nomination   standards   was                                                               
incorrect.   The   council   encourages   qualified   applicants,                                                               
including diverse candidates, though  nominees must meet only the                                                               
following  standards:  professional   competence;  diligence  and                                                               
administrative   skills;    integrity;   fairness;   temperament;                                                               
judgment,  including  common  sense  and  legal/life  experience;                                                               
commitment  to public  and community  service; and  commitment to                                                               
equal  justice  and Alaska's  diverse  communities.  She said  no                                                               
other considerations  are used, though the  council does consider                                                               
the pool of applicants for each position.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:56:09 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI asked  if it  was accurate  that tie  votes                                                               
between  attorneys  and  non-attorneys  on  the  Alaska  Judicial                                                               
Council  occur only  1.4  percent of  the time,  and  that in  72                                                               
percent of  those cases, the  Chief Justice votes to  forward the                                                               
nominee to the governor.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. DIPIETRO replied that tie  votes on the council are uncommon,                                                               
and a  split specifically between attorneys  and non-attorneys is                                                               
very  rare. When  the Chief  Justice casts  a tie-breaking  vote,                                                               
they  vote yes  about 72  percent of  the time.  She stated  that                                                               
within  the last  five  years  there are  examples  of the  Chief                                                               
Justice voting with non-attorneys.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:58:22 PM                                                                                                                    
MIKE  GERAGHTY, representing  self, Anchorage,  Alaska, testified                                                               
in opposition to SJR 13. He  stated that from 2012-2014 he served                                                               
as the Attorney  General for the State of Alaska.  He argued that                                                               
SJR-13 would weaken  the Alaska Judicial Council  by limiting its                                                               
role  to  listing only  minimally  qualified  applicants for  the                                                               
governor, rather  than those with the  highest qualifications. He                                                               
emphasized  that the  council's  bipartisan, transparent  process                                                               
has  worked effectively  under both  parties  and helps  maintain                                                               
judicial independence. He viewed the  resolution as a step in the                                                               
wrong direction  that could undermine  the rule of law  and hopes                                                               
it does not pass.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
5:01:15 PM                                                                                                                    
DAVID LANDRY, representing self,  Anchorage, Alaska, testified in                                                               
opposition  to SJR  13.  He warned  that  removing safeguards  on                                                               
executive power over the judiciary,  as proposed in SJR 13, could                                                               
replicate the  problems seen  in the federal  system. He  cited a                                                               
2024 Alaskan federal  judge who resigned after five  years due to                                                               
inappropriate behavior,  highlighting how  political appointments                                                               
of   minimally  qualified   candidates  can   create  chaos.   He                                                               
emphasized that Alaska needs  judges with maximum qualifications,                                                               
a  standard  ensured  by  the  current  Alaska  Judicial  Council                                                               
process.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:03:53 PM                                                                                                                    
MIKE  COONS, representing  self,  Wasilla,  Alaska, testified  in                                                               
support of  SJR 13. He argued  that the judiciary has  become too                                                               
powerful   and  biased,   favoring  liberal   policies  and   DEI                                                               
principles,   rather  than   being   independent  or   reflecting                                                               
conservative  values.  He claimed  the  current  system allows  a                                                               
small  group  of  lawyers  on the  Judicial  Council  to  control                                                               
judicial  appointments and  advocate  for judges  who align  with                                                               
liberal views.  He supports a constitutional  amendment requiring                                                               
the council to  forward all qualified candidates  so the governor                                                               
can  select,   including  the  ability  to   choose  outside  the                                                               
council's   recommendations,    ensuring   judges    uphold   the                                                               
constitution rather than political or ideological preferences.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
5:06:06 PM                                                                                                                    
ED MARSHALL,  representing self,  Soldotna, Alaska,  testified in                                                               
opposition to SJR  13. He stated that he  initially supported SJR
13 yet  changed his  mind after  hearing testimony.  He distrusts                                                               
both the Judicial Council and  the governor to make fair judicial                                                               
appointments,  citing past  political  manipulations. He  opposed                                                               
the  resolution as  written and  instead advocates  for a  system                                                               
where Supreme Court justices are  elected directly by the people,                                                               
similar to  Wisconsin, rather than  being selected by  lawyers or                                                               
legislative bodies.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:08:42 PM                                                                                                                    
ATTORNEY GENERAL  TAYLOR emphasized  that his  testimony reflects                                                               
personal experience and  public feedback, not the  history of the                                                               
Alaska Judicial  Council. He  explained that SJR  13 is  a policy                                                               
proposal aimed  at restoring public  confidence in  the judiciary                                                               
by  ensuring  all  qualified  candidates  are  forwarded  to  the                                                               
governor.  The legislature,  elected  by  the people,  determines                                                               
qualifications, not the unelected Alaska Judicial Council.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:10:01 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI held SJR 13 in committee.                                                                                        
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects | 
|---|---|---|
| SB 62 Support parole reform AP_Redacted.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SB  62 | 
| SB 62 Support parole reform JY_Redacted.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SB  62 | 
| SB 62 Support parole reform_Redacted RG.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SB  62 | 
| SJR 13 Opposition LH_Redacted.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SJR 13 | 
| JNPA opposition to SJR13 letter.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SJR 13 | 
| SJR15 TW.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SJR 15 | 
| Opposition to SJR 13 DL.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SJR 13 | 
| Trust Responses to S&H STA Committee Questions 2025 4.11.25.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | AMHTA presentation | 
| SJR 13 Opposition LH.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SJR 13 | 
| SJR 13 Opposition FT_Redacted.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SJR 13 | 
| SJR 13 opposition WC.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SJR 13 | 
| Support of Senate Bill 19 DA.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SB  19 | 
| Support of Senate Bill 19 KM_Redacted.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SB  62 | 
| LWVAK supports SB 116.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SB 116 | 
| Climate Hoax SB 120 Oppose.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SB 120 | 
| SJR 13-3.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SJR 13 | 
| SJR 13 Fiscal Note.pdf | SSTA       4/15/2025 3:30:00 PM | SJR 13 |