The Supreme Court of Alaska has imposed stringent restrictions on trial delays to shorten the waiting period for criminal defendants. Beginning on May 12, state judges must grant criminal cases filed before 2023 a maximum of 270 more days of delay.
This decision impacts about 800 active cases, many of which are more than 800 days old. ProPublica’s investigation highlighted decades-long delays in some cases, prompting the court to take action.
Alaska’s most serious felony cases, including murder and sexual assault, now take nearly three times longer to resolve than ten years ago. Advocates have criticized the excessive delays, noting their impact on victims, witnesses and the judicial process.
The court order requires judges to justify granting any delay requests and limits delays to 90 days each for defence prosecutors and other good cause reasons. Chief Justice Susan M. Carney and her fellow justices aim to address the president’s backlog in Alaska’s court system with this directive.
Judiciary Committee Chair Matt Claman welcomed the initiative, emphasizing its importance in expediting criminal trials. One sexual assault case from 2014 delayed over 70 times is finally scheduled for trial on April 1. Such prolonged delays prompted widespread criticism from victims’ rights advocates and high-ranking state officials.
The Supreme Court trial delays order also addresses issues with evidence sharing. When attorneys fail to provide materials on time, judges may impose sanctions such as dismissing charges or excluding evidence.
While the court’s new rule marks progress, officials emphasized that more work remains to ensure timely case resolutions. Alaska’s constitution guarantees crime victims the right to a timely disposition and grants defendants the right to trial within 120 days.
This news article was originally published by Anchorage Daily News.
