“Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Takes Action to Reduce Criminal Case Delays: What You Need to Know”

Chief Justice Susan M. Carney of the Alaska Supreme Court addressed state lawmakers this week regarding the ongoing issue of delays in criminal cases reaching trial. In her annual State of the Judiciary speech, Carney acknowledged the problem highlighted by a recent investigation by ProPublica and the Anchorage Daily News. She emphasized the court system’s commitment to deciding cases expeditiously and with integrity.

Carney outlined steps being taken to address the delays, including increased training for judges, new policies on postponements, and authorization for overtime pay. She admitted that the court system has not met expectations in terms of expeditious case resolution but assured lawmakers that resolving this issue is their top priority.

The investigation by ProPublica and the Daily News revealed that serious felony cases in Alaska, such as murders and violent sexual assaults, took a median of three years to complete in 2023, a significant increase from 2013. One particularly egregious case involving a sexual assault has been delayed at least 74 times over a span of 10 years.

The report also highlighted the impact of these delays on victims, defendants, and the community. In Anchorage, hundreds of criminal cases were dismissed in 2024 due to a lack of prosecutors to meet speedy trial deadlines, including charges of domestic violence assault and child abuse. State prosecutors have since offered additional staff to help address this issue.

Carney acknowledged the long delays in major felony cases but pointed out that less serious criminal cases are resolved more quickly. She provided statistics on the median time to close misdemeanor and felony cases of varying severity, noting that only about 3% of criminal cases go to trial.

In response to the investigation’s findings, judges have implemented new limits on case delays and duration, with a focus on reducing the number of pending cases. The number of open criminal cases has decreased significantly, indicating progress in addressing the backlog.

Despite the challenges faced by the Alaska judicial system, Carney expressed optimism about the progress being made and the commitment to improving the handling of criminal cases. The ongoing efforts to streamline the process and reduce delays are crucial in ensuring timely justice for all involved.