04/17/2001 09:14 AM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
     CS FOR SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 22(JUD)                                                                                 
     Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of                                                                 
     Alaska relating to the retention elections for justices of the                                                             
      Alaska supreme court and judges of the superior court.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This  was the  second  hearing for  this  resolution  in the  Senate                                                            
Finance Committee.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Donley reminded  that the  legislation  was held from  the                                                            
previous meeting to give members an opportunity to review it.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Leman  commented  that  the  subject   of  this  resolution                                                            
addresses matters that  should have been addressed some time ago. He                                                            
stated that  the resolution promotes  "a judiciary that is  not only                                                            
independent,  but also accountable",  which  he asserted,  "Alaskans                                                            
deserve." He  added that the public  also deserves a judiciary  that                                                            
is "speaking  for Alaskans"  and expressed,  "any  time we can  help                                                            
make  it more  accountable  to the  people  rather than  to  special                                                            
interests  that are  trying to  put people  there  and control  them                                                            
while they're there" the legislature should do so.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Donley  offered a  motion to  move  CS SJR  22 (JUD)  from                                                            
Committee with  accompanying $20,000 Alaska Judicial  Council fiscal                                                            
note.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
There was no objection and the resolution MOVED from Committee.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
AT EASE 9:17 AM / 9:17 AM