Fairbanks man pleads not guilty

In fairbanks Alaska one of their current trials is with a man by the name of Roger Lee. Roger Lee is a 59 year old business man who resides in the town of Fairbanks.

He is being accused of evading federal income taxes for eight years. Roger Less is pleading inncoent on this case. The court date is on the 28th of December at a U.S district court. Lee will be representing himself day of trial. The court has evidence with the telephone and telegraph company. According to court documents, he did not pay 133,000 from 1996 to 2003.

This charge has a sentence of five years in prison and up to 250,000 dollars in fine.

The courts evidence as of right now is pretty concrete, the evidence that he brings will have to be good and concrete as well to be able to support his side of the case and story especially since he has choosen to represent himself.

links:http://searchalaska.adn.com/sp?skin=&aff=1132&keywords=court%20trials

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/ap_alaska/story/1000885.html

VP & JW *

Jury Selection in Alaska

Defendant Joseph Bruno, who is also an New York State senate Republican leader has been accused of using his position to collect more than $3 million in commissions. Also, he is being accused of giving gifts in return for using his influence to benefit the labor unions and private businessmen. With this jury selection, none of the jurors were challenged for cause or preemptory challenges. The prosecution would want a jury that is against bribing. Since he is being accused of giving others gifts. The defense would probably want a jury that has very high political views and would definitely be on Joseph Bruno's defense on his actions. Meaning, the would possibly see nothing wrong with what he did.

-- T.D. & S.F.

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=11427324

Grand Jury

According to the Alaska court system they use both preliminary hearing and grand jury method in criminal court cases.A grand jury consists of a group of people who are responsible for examining evidence presented by the prosecutor and issuing indictments. A preliminary hearing is the initial proceeding after a criminal charge has been filed by the prosecutor. At that time information is gathered to determine whether there is enough evidence for a trial. The difference between the two is that the preliminary hearing is conducted first without a grand jury. The grand jury’s decision is the result of the trial. ("Grand jury," 2009) CC&LB



(2009, October 30). Grand jury. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_jury
(2009, October 14). Alasks court system. Retrieved from http://www.courts.alaska.gov/ev.htm#104

Courts In Alaska

There are four levels of courts in Alaska. The highest is the Supreme Court and then the Court of Appeals. Those are the two highest courts. After them follow the Superior Courts and lastly the District Courts. Alaska has 58 trial courts in four different districts. There is only one appellate court which has three judges.

This is a link for the Alaska court systems

http://courts.alaska.gov/

*JW *VP

Kodak Moment

Picture of a DEA badge.

http://www.militaryplaques.com/Dept%20of%20Justice/DEA-Badge.jpg

Judicial Selection Methods

Alaska selects high courts/supreme courts by having uncontested retention elections after initial appointments. Alaska also selects their intermediate appellate court judges by having uncontested retention elections after initial appointments. To select their trial court judges Alaska has uncontested retention elections for all general jurisdiction trial courts. The benefits and drawbacks fpr selecting judges through popular elections are that if the people get to vote for the judges then it will seem as if their voice was heard. But then again, everyone included in the elections i.e. the government probably feel as if they know better who should be appointed as judges and if the people vote, their opinions don't matter.

- T.D.

Arrest and Appeals in Alaska

According to Anchorage daily news,a school teacher by the name of Anisa Nelson was arrested for forging prescription and illegal got the drug adderall. Apparently she repeatedly forged and filled prescriptions at several pharmacies. There was no indication that she was giving the medication to anyone else. She was charged with 31 counts each of second degree forgery and fourth degree misconduct involving a controlled substance. The court of general jurisdiction would hear this case.("Anchorage daily news," 2009) CC
2009, October15). . Teacher faces felony forgery, drug charges.Retrieved from http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/story/975452.html


Appeals

After months of backtracking in its prosecutions of the Alaska corruption cases, the Justice Department said Friday that former House Speaker Pete Kott received a proper trial in 2007 and his conviction on bribery, extortion and conspiracy charges should stand.

Kott's attorney asked for dismissal of charges because prosecutors failed to turn over favorable evidence before Kott's trial. The district court was responsible for this case.(Mauer,2009)
L.B, L.W

Mauer, R. (2009, October 23). Justice dept.: kott verdict should stand. Retrieved from http://www.adn.com/front/story/985069.html