The ACLU of Alaska has filed suit against Gov. Mike Dunleavy to block his administration’s attempt to veto $334,700 from the Alaska Court System’s 2020 budget, allegedly because the Alaska Supreme Court ruled in a manner opposed to the governor’s political views.
“Gov. Dunleavy admitted outright that his veto was direct retaliation against the Alaska Court System for a court decision at odds with his political views,” said Joshua Decker, executive director of ACLU of Alaska. “That isn’t just petty and vindictive; it is a clear assault on the constitutional power of the judiciary and a grossly inappropriate attempt to use money to coerce judges to a political end. Alaskans don’t want judges making decisions with an eye on how much money politicians will give them if they rule one way or another. That isn’t how we get justice.”
The suit was filed in the Alaska Superior Court in Anchorage by the ACLU on behalf of lifelong Alaskan Bonnie Jack and John Kauffman, an attorney and resident of Anchorage, to preserve the constitutional rights of all Alaskans.
The suit seeks an injunction ordering the governor to return to the appellate court’s fiscal year 2020 the amount of $334,700.
