Alaska State Judiciary

Per 25th Alaska Legislature 1st Session

Regarding the salaries of justices/judges, SCS CSHS HB 417(FIN) Page 9 Section 20 (a) (b) and (c) per http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=HB%20417&session=25 , the salaries were increased by reference to 417 (FIN) 3 % per http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/ADMIN/dop/socc/docs/bkgrnd_socc12.pdf. These levels of justices/judges will get another 3% on July 1, 2009.

Justices, Alaska Supreme Court

24th Alaska Legislature, 2nd Session 2006

HB 363 “Additional Judges” and HB 428 “Compensation for Judges” both passed Alaska Legislature this Spring, 2006. These two bills were combined in CSSB237 creating six new Superior Court judgeships including two in Anchorage, two in Palmer, one in Fairbanks, and 1 in Kenai. HB 428 gave Alaska Supreme Court. "Compensation for Judges” allowed 50% salary increases to Alaska Supreme Court, Superior Court, and District Court levels commencing July 1, 2006. Examples follow:

Judgeship	Current	Increase	New	%Incr
Chief Justice AK Supreme Ct	$110,436	$55,260	$165,696	50%
Justice AK Supreme Ct	$109,908	$55,296	$165,204	50%
AK Court of Appeals	$103,824	$52,260	$152,760	50%
AK Superior Court	$101,628	$51,132	$152,760	50%
AK District Court	$86,148	$43,368	$129,516	50%

The CSSB237 also states:"Magistrates are entitled to receive salary adjustments provided for in secs. 4-6, ch. 53, SLA 205, in accordance with AS 22.15.220(b) and (e).

Of the 31 judges on the November, 2006 Ballot standing for Retention, 15 are first time Retainees including Bolger, Huguelet, Morse, Suddock, Volland, Clark, Estelle, Heath, Landry, Smith, Wolfe, Devaney, Olsen, Wood, and Burbank. For further information regarding Judicial Selection and/or the Retention Election, please contact Mr. Larry Cohn, Executive Director, Alaska Judicial Council, 1029 West 3rd Avenue, Suite 201, Anchorage, Alaska 99501-1969, (907)279-2526, lcohn@ajc.state.ak.us.

We as Americans own our courts. It is the duty of all citizens to understand and help make certain our courts are strong and administer justice.