Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Craig Stowers delivered address to Legislature Wednesday, describing impacts of budget cuts to Judiciary.
Alaska Public transcript: Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Craig Stowers says the court system has taken steps to cut costs.
In the annual State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the legislature Wednesday, he said the courts plan on more cuts.
But Stowers also gave legislators some advice as they shape the budget. He said if leaders act in the interest of Alaskans, their constituents will support them.
“My friends, do not be afraid: Fear is the mind-killer. Be bold. Also, be selfless and look to the greater good. You are our elected leaders and leaders sometimes have to make hard decisions their constituents don’t immediately understand or agree with.”
Stowers also urged legislators to ensure that the state’s budget problems don’t fall too heavily on any one group.
The court system cut its budget by 3.5 percent this year, equal to $3.8 million.
The chief justice says all levels of court employees, from Supreme Court justices down to lower-paid staff members, agreed to voluntary unpaid time off this year.
The Supreme Court has proposed another 3.5 percent budget cut for the fiscal year starting on July 1.
That plan includes not filling the jobs of those who retire from or leave the courts.
“Additional loss of positions will have a direct, negative effect, on the public services we are able to provide," he said. "The Supreme Court has decided to close courts statewide during FY 17 each Friday afternoon beginning at noon July 1st. All non-judicial court staff will be furloughed every Friday afternoon. No court proceedings apart from emergency proceedings will be allowed.”
Stowers says if the legislature further cuts the courts’ budget, some court locations may have to close.
He says this would hit rural Alaska the hardest, where the courts serve as the face of state government.
“It would be a terrible travesty to have to reduce those efforts that you and we have made to reach out to rural Alaska and rural Alaskans, you know, including our Native brothers and sisters out there," said Stowers.
Governor Bill Walker proposed a total cut of $100 million to the state budget, and legislators have been seeking deeper cuts.