NCJ Number
59956
Date Published
1979
Length
50 pages
Annotation
DISCUSSION PREPARED FOR THE 1977 PRELIMINARY REPORT ON POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE INCREASED WORKLOAD OF THE ALASKA SUPREME COURT IS PRESENTED; STATISTICAL COMPARISON BETWEEN COMPARABLE SUPREME COURTS IS INCLUDED.
Abstract
DURING 1976 THE ALASKA SUPREME COURT EXPERIENCED A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN APPELLATE FILINGS. BY MID-1977 THE CASELOAD HAD GROWN EVEN FURTHER, AND THE SUPREME COURT BECAME SERIOUSLY CONCERNED WITH ITS ABILITY TO COPE WITH THE INCREASES. CONSEQUENTLY, THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE EXPLORED POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE WORKLOAD PROBLEM, AND PREPARED THIS REPORT. THE PROPOSED SOLUTIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED BY OTHER STATES INCLUDE INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE SUPREME COURT, ESTABLISHING PANELS OF THE SUPREME COURT, LIMITING APPEALS OF RIGHT TO THE COURT, ESTABLISHING CENTRAL RESEARCH AND SCREENING STAFFS, AND ESTABLISHING AN INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT NEITHER INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE SUPREME COURT NOR USE OF PANELS WERE ACCEPTABLE SOLUTIONS. SIMILARLY, LIMITING THE RIGHT OF APPEAL PRESENTED SERIOUS POLICY QUESTIONS. FINALLY, IT WAS FELT THAT USE OF SCREENING STAFFS WOULD ENTAIL AN OVERLY HEAVY RELIANCE ON LAW CLERKS TO SOLVE CASELOAD PROBLEMS. THEREFORE, THE MOST DESIRABLE METHOD OF DEALING WITH INCREASING APPELLATE CASELOADS WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS. TWENTY-NINE STATES NOW HAVE THEM, AND SEVERAL OTHERS ARE STUDYING THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING THEM. TABULAR DATA, GRAPHS, AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED IN THIS SPECIAL REPORT. (LWM)