New Arizona law expands state supreme court; governor denies court packing
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey will be able to add two additional justices to the state supreme court as a result of a bill he signed into law last Wednesday.
The law expands the number of justices on the court from five to seven, report the Arizona Republic and Capitol Media Services.
Chief Justice Scott Bales had asked Ducey to veto the bill. “Additional justices are not required by the court’s caseload,” Bales wrote to Ducey. There is no need to expand the court, he said, “when other court-related needs are underfunded.”
Ducey counters in a letter (PDF) that adding justices will “ensure the court can increase efficiency, hear more cases and issue more opinions.” Ducey said justices are chosen in a merit-selection process and accusations of court packing are “just wrong.”
According to Capitol Media Services, a list of potential justices is created by a special commission. Two-thirds of its members are gubernatorial appointees, though some are holdovers from past administrations. One-third are appointed by the state bar. Ducey selects justices from the list.
Glenn Hamer, president of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, supported the expansion, according to Capitol Media Services. He said the expanded court will be able to review more lower court rulings in civil cases and issue more opinions, providing more “rules of the road” for business cases.
Hat tip to How Appealing.
Related article:
ABAJournal.com: “Arizona lawmakers approve addition of 2 state supreme court justices, while some question motives”
