Babcock shouldn’t be confirmed to Alaska Judicial Council Author: Matt Claman
Print article The Alaska Constitution established the Alaska Judicial Council to serve an essential role in building and maintaining fair and impartial courts throughout Alaska. Our Alaska Constitution commands that appointments to the Council by the governor and the bar association “shall be made with due consideration to area representation and without regard to political affiliation.” Sadly, the governor has taken the unprecedented step of nominating a third public member from Southcentral Alaska and failed to appoint a public member “with due consideration to area representation.” If confirmed, Kristie Babcock from the Kenai would join Dave Parker from the Mat-Su and Lynne Gallant from Anchorage as the third public member of the Council from Southcentral. Now, the Legislature must decide whether to follow our constitution and decline to confirm the governor’s unfortunate nomination.
Alaska court finds for Native corporation in land dispute
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Alaska court finds for Native corporation in land dispute
apnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from apnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Print article JUNEAU Anchorage residents opposed to pandemic-related measures and furious at the Anchorage Assembly are supporting legislation that would allow fines of up to $1,000 for violations of the state law that requires local governments to act in public. Opponents of the proposal include the Alaska Municipal League, Association of Alaska School Boards and the Municipality of Anchorage, and say the proposal is ripe for abuse and frivolous complaints that could discourage Alaskans from running for local office or volunteering for boards and commissions. If Senate Bill 15 becomes law, anyone could file a complaint with the Alaska Public Offices Commission, alleging that a public official had violated the state’s Open Meetings Act. The commission is required to investigate the complaint, and if commissioners agree that the complaint is valid, the official could be fined up to $1,000.
By BECKY BOHRER
Associated Press
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) â Attorney General Treg Taylor said Monday he takes seriously his duty to decide which cases to pursue in the public interest and is hopeful that under his leadership the state won t see a âstring of losing cases.
His comments were in response to questions during a confirmation hearing before the House Judiciary Committee. Rep. Matt Claman, the chair and an attorney, said he was âtroubledâ by a number of cases that seem like political positions but legally, they re very, very poor positions to take.â
Some of the cases Claman cited were still moving through the legal system, including a school funding dispute set for arguments before the Alaska Supreme Court. In another case, a judge found Gov. Mike Dunleavy unconstitutionally used his veto powers to punish the courts after a Supreme Court decision that invalidated proposed abortion restrictions.