JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Dana Fabe told lawmakers Wednesday that state agencies that handle appeals are becoming overwhelmed, with attorneys taking up to two years to file briefs in criminal appeals.
Fabe delivered her State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the Legislature. She said that during the first half of this fiscal year, criminal appeals were up 33 percent compared with last year
While the Public Defender Agency, Office of Public Advocacy, and state attorney general’s office “are making diligent efforts to discharge their duties, it appears that they don’t have the capacity to keep up with this striking increase in appeals, and they will no doubt continue to be stretched by the rising trial rates and resulting heavy appellate caseloads,” she said. “And there is no end in sight.”
She said at a minimum, some form of relief will be necessary to break the log jam, though she did not specify what that relief should be.
The delays are occurring during the briefing stages of appeals. That is the stage before the cases are submitted to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals for decision.
She said the court is responsible for enforcing rules that protect the rights of those involved - defendants and victims - to see a timely resolution.
Fabe also told legislators that to ease case loads and costs for Alaska’s rural courts coordination with tribal judges has been taking place along with shifting minor cases to tribal court.
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