The issue focused largely on legislative expediency — legislators argued they couldn't legally withhold legislation until legislators approved it and lawyers feared litigation over rulings against lawmakers would derail legislative agendas. But attorneys argue courts already prohibit statutes from taking effect unless legislators approve them.

Judges ruled Thursday that Alaska Supreme Court Judge Katherine Forrest Nelson violated constitutional separation of powers rules when she upheld Attorney General Cynthia McFadden's veto of Gov. Sean Parnell's legalization initiative last November. Nelson overturned an appeal filed by prosecutors arguing prosecutors lacked sufficient