During his State of the Judiciary Address Wednesday, Alaska’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Craig Stowers told lawmakers that judicial services have been significantly changed because of budget cuts.
He also proposed steps to help absorb the cuts that are projected in the coming year.
Stowers told a joint legislative session that the court system took a $3.4 million budget cut this year and is anticipating a similar cut during the next fiscal year.
His address listed ways the cuts have impacted the court system: purchases of new equipment have been put on hold, over 9,000 hours of voluntary leave without pay have been taken by employees, and courts closed for additional days.
Senator John Coghill of Fairbanks stated Stowers’ address showed a goverment committed to working together in efforts to reduce spending.
