NUMBER OF SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES

Plain English Breakdown

The official status indicates the bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, but the provided text does not confirm if executive action (governor's signature) has occurred yet.

Increasing Superior Court Judges in Alaska's Third Judicial District

This bill increases the total number of superior court judges to 46 by adding one judge specifically for the third judicial district.

What This Bill Does

• Changes state law to increase the total number of superior court judges from 45 to 46.
• Increases the number of judges in the third judicial district from 28 to 29.
• Sets the judge counts for the first, second, and fourth districts at six, three, and eight respectively.
• Requires the judicial council to designate which district a new appointee will serve when submitting names to the governor.

Who It Names or Affects

• The superior court system in Alaska
• Judges serving in the third judicial district
• The state judicial council responsible for nominations

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not explain why an extra judge is being added.
• The text does not mention funding or costs associated with the new position.

Official Summary Text

NUMBER OF SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES
An Act increasing the number of superior court judges in the third judicial district; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

SB0212A -1- SB 212
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS1313\A

SENATE BILL NO. 212

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST

Introduced: 1/21/26
Referred: Judiciary, Finance

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act increasing the number of superior court judges in the third judicial district; 1
and providing for an effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 22.10.120 is amended to read: 4
Sec. 22.10.120. Number of judges. The superior court consists of 46 [45] 5
judges, six of whom shall be judges in the first judicial district, three of whom shall be 6
judges in the second judicial district, 29 [28] of whom shall be judges in the third 7
judicial district, and eight of whom shall be judges in the fourth judicial district. At the 8
time of submitting the names of nominees to the governor to fill a vacancy on the 9
superior court bench, the judicial council shall also designate the district in which the 10
appointee is to reside and serve. 11
* Sec. 2. This Act takes effect July 1, 2026. 12