Legislature(2003 - 2004)
01/29/2003 01:00 PM House JUD
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE
January 29, 2003
1:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Lesil McGuire, Chair
Representative Tom Anderson, Vice Chair
Representative John Coghill
Representative James Holm
Representative Ralph Samuels
Representative Les Gara
Representative Max Gruenberg
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW: ALASKA COURT SYSTEM
TAPES
03-1, SIDE(S) A & B
CHAIR LESIL MCGUIRE convened the meeting of the House Judiciary
Standing Committee at 1:00 p.m. Representatives McGuire,
Anderson, Holm, Samuels, and Gara were present at the call to
order. Representatives Gruenberg and Coghill arrived as the
meeting was in progress.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
CHRIS S. CHRISTENSEN, Deputy Administrative Director,
Administrative Staff, Office of the Administrative Director,
Alaska Court System (ACS), presented an overview of the ACS. In
doing so, he spoke about how and why the ACS first came about;
how it differed from the federal court system and court systems
in other states; and how it differed and how it resembled
aspects of the other two branches of government - the executive
branch and the legislative branch - at both the state and
federal levels. In addition, he provided details and statistics
pertaining to the different types of courts in Alaska and their
respective duties and jurisdictions.
MR. CHRISTENSEN explained to members that the ACS does not offer
opinions either in support of or in opposition to legislation;
the ACS will, however, provide information regarding how it is
impacted by particular legislation and offer advise on ways to
improve that legislation. Citing some examples, he cautioned
members to be aware, when creating legislation, that the
judicial branch of government is generally the branch most
affected by legislation, and asked members to consider the
criminal justice system as a whole in that what is done to one
aspect of it affects all the others.
MR. CHRISTENSEN offered a brief explanation regarding the duties
of the Alaska Commission on Judicial Conduct (ACJC) and the
Alaska Judicial Council (AJC) and responded to questions
regarding those two entities. He also responded to questions
regarding the therapeutic courts such as the wellness court, the
felony drug court, the felony driving while intoxicated (DWI)
court, and the mental health court.
DOUG WOOLIVER, Administrative Attorney, Administrative Staff,
Office of the Administrative Director, Alaska Court System
(ACS), also responded to questions pertaining to the therapeutic
courts.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked Mr. Christensen and Mr. Wooliver
to give thought to ways of improving and streamlining the
current criminal justice system.
CHAIR McGUIRE asked Mr. Christensen and Mr. Wooliver to provide
the committee with additional statistical information.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
There were no announcements.
COMMITTEE ACTION
The committee took no action.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Judiciary Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:05 p.m.
NOTE: The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were
taken. A copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained by
contacting the House Records Office at State Capitol, Room 3,
Juneau, Alaska 99801 (mailing address), (907) 465-2214, and
after adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-Third
Alaska State Legislature this information may be obtained by
contacting the Legislative Reference Library at (907) 465-3808.
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