On Tuesday, a state judge ruled in favor of former Representative David Eastman in the high-profile lawsuit against Dunleavy. Eastman, a Republican from Wasilla, filed the lawsuit after lawmakers passed Senate Bill 189 using multiple unrelated provisions during the final legislative hours.
Though Governor Mike Dunleavy had no part in crafting the bill, he allowed it to become law without a signature, prompting Eastman’s challenge. He argued the legislation violated Article II, Section 13 of the Alaska Constitution, which limits bills to a single subject only.
Superior Court Judge Larry Woolford agreed and declared Senate Bill 189 unconstitutional, voiding the legislation in a formal order issued in Juneau. Woolford also awarded Eastman $20,250 in attorney fees and legal costs, recognizing his successful constitutional challenge in court.
Attorney Joe Geldhof represented Eastman in the case, marking a legal win that could impact future legislative practices across Alaska’s government. Though the overturned bill had limited short-term effects, lawmakers had already repassed its components separately earlier this year.
Judge Woolford clarified his ruling would not affect the newer legislation enacted by the Legislature following the lawsuit’s filing. Attorney General Treg Taylor said the Department of Law worked quickly to allow lawmakers to fix the issue before judgment arrived.
Taylor emphasized the state aimed to avoid legal confusion by advising lawmakers to reintroduce SB 189’s provision through lawful channels. This lawsuit could reshape legislative strategy by discouraging logrolling where lawmakers combine unrelated bills at session’s end.
