JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska judge has ruled that Gov. Mike Dunleavy unconstitutionally used his veto powers to punish the courts following a state Supreme Court ruling that invalidated proposed abortion restrictions.
Superior Court Judge Jennifer Henderson said Dunleavy’s vetoes of $334,700 from the appellate courts for each of the state’s last two budgets violates the separation of powers doctrine.
She voided the cut for the current-year budget but said a request to restore funds for the prior year became moot when that year ended.
A message seeking comment was sent to the Department of Law.
