Court service reduced following budget passage

WASILLA — About 40 local employees of the Palmer court will face a pay cut after the passage of the 2016 state budget.

Starting July 1, public records will not be accessible beginning at noon on Fridays. The Palmer court’s Saturday hours will also be eliminated, according to Clerk of Court Deborah Miller.

Some courts will remain open for emergency and time-critical proceedings, like domestic violence protective orders, involuntary commitments and petitions for emergency guardianship, according to a press release issued by the Alaska Court System.

In Palmer — frequently touted as the busiest small courthouse in Alaska — that means the front counter will close at noon, and reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, Miller said.

Criminal proceedings, including arraignments, probable cause hearings and other short-time proceedings will also continue, Miller said.

The move, which includes all of the courts in Alaska, will save the state about $2 million per year and will results in a 4 percent reduction in pay for all court employees, according to the press release.

The biggest impacts for local residents will be to attorneys and average people who use the clerk’s front counter to create filings, Miller said.

“Court staff is going to be on an unpaid furlough for that afternoon,” she said.

The change is going to be effective until at least July 1, 2017, the end of the state’s fiscal year.