SB 246-INCREASING NUMBER OF SUPERIOR CT JUDGES  2:36:20 PM CHAIR FRENCH announced the consideration of SB 246. DOUG WOOLIVER, Administrative Attorney, Alaska Court System, said that SB 246 adds one superior court judge to the Third Judicial District. That judge will be located in Anchorage and will handle civil cases. He explained that this change requires a bill because the number of superior court judges is determined in statute. MR. WOOLIVER said the court could justify three more superior court judges in Anchorage, but they hope to make some procedural reforms so that one additional judge will suffice, at least for this year. He related that a couple of case types, not additional filings, have resulted in increased workload for superior court judges. These are child in need of aid (CINA) cases and cases where one or both parties are unrepresented by counsel. Judges are spending more time on CINA cases now because standing masters are doing less work. Previously, a CINA case would come to a standing master and proceed through the master until it was a contested hearing in which case it would be sent to a superior court judge temporarily and then back to the master. That system saved judge time but it sent families bouncing back and forth between one judge and the master then another judge and the master. Superior court judges have the ultimate authority to make decisions in CINA cases, but the judge wasn't always familiar with the case. More frequently, the family wasn't familiar with the judge that was deciding the case. The new practice in Anchorage takes more time for superior court judges even though the cases don't take longer. Superior court judges are spending more time on these cases, which is better for the families and the outcome of the case. MR. WOOLIVER said that CINA cases also have more status hearings than in the past. The way the process works now is that families are told all the things they have to do in order to get their children back. Judges found, largely through the therapeutic court process, that regular status hearings before a judge keep families focused on what they need to do and the judge informed about their progress. This increases the likelihood that the family will be reunited. These two things are keeping superior court judges busier. 2:39:56 PM MR. WOOLIVER said that the other case type that causes more work for judges is when parties are unrepresented. In divorce cases about 80 percent of people are unrepresented in all post decree motion work. When domestic relations cases are first filed about 37 percent have counsel on both sides, 37 percent have no counsel on either side, and about 25 percent have counsel on one side but not the other. The court has taken steps to make it easier for people who can't afford a lawyer to access the court system, but that takes more time. By making it easier for pro se litigants, particularly with the Family Law Self-Help Center, more people go to court unrepresented. Adding one superior court judge will help the workload somewhat, but the court is also looking at less expensive ways to improve the system so it doesn't have to ask for more than one additional judge, he said. 2:42:31 PM SENATOR COGHILL asked if therapeutic courts are similarly time consuming or if these cases are on a different level. MR. WOOLIVER replied they're a little different. In the therapeutic court process it takes a lot of time during the 18 month program, but the hope is that it won't take time in the future. In contrast, custody cases can be before the court for 18 years. The therapeutic approach with CINA cases doesn't save time, but hopefully better decisions are made increasing the likelihood that parents will get their act together and they'll get their kids back. 2:44:26 PM THERESA OBERMEYER, representing herself, said she was motivated to testify when she learned that SB 246 is about creating more judgeships. "It's fine with me, but I know this - it's all becoming so bureaucratic," she concluded. CHAIR FRENCH held SB 246 in committee. 2:50:38 PM There being no further business to come before the committee, Chair French adjourned the meeting at 2:50 p.m.