JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - The Senate sponsor of a proposed constitutional amendment to change the makeup of the Alaska Judicial Council has withdrawn the measure.
Sen. Pete Kelly, in a floor speech Saturday, said he probably did not have the 14 votes needed for SJR21 to pass. But he still laid out his arguments for why he felt the proposal was important, including the need for more regional representation on the panel.
Senate Minority Leader Hollis French said the court system works well. He said supporters of SJR21 had a hard time showing that change was needed.
SJR21 would have raised from three to six the number of non-attorney members on the council, leaving at three the number of attorney members. It also would have made attorney members subject to legislative confirmation.
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