Arizona

Supreme Court decision is an impediment for defendants who ‘lost the lawyer lottery twice’

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that Arizona habeas defendants who claim that their trial and postconviction counsel were ineffective can’t introduce evidence outside the state-court record to prove that their first lawyer botched the case.

May 23, 2022 12:16 PM CDT

Justice Thomas’ wife urged Arizona lawmakers to choose ‘clean slate of electors’ after Trump’s loss

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife apparently pushed two Arizona lawmakers to choose electors for former President Donald Trump following his 2020 election loss in the state, according to emails obtained by the Washington Post.

May 20, 2022 3:14 PM CDT

New Arizona law will require state bar to pay attorney fees in lost legal discipline cases

A new law requires the State Bar of Arizona to pay legal fees of lawyers targeted for legal discipline who prevail in their ethics cases.

May 10, 2022 9:13 AM CDT

Prosecution careers are a tougher sell since the pandemic; positions go unfilled as few apply

Low pay, burnout and concerns about racial justice are among the reasons that prosecutor positions are going unfilled across the country, according to prosecutors and association officials.

Apr 14, 2022 8:52 AM CDT

County attorney takes responsibility for 180 botched cases after first blaming her staff

Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel in Arizona has said she takes full responsibility for 180 misdemeanor cases that were dropped because prosecutors failed to file charges before the statute of limitations expired.

Mar 17, 2022 10:41 AM CDT

Sidney Powell faces ethics charges over election litigation; group seeks discipline against other lawyers

Troubles continue to mount for lawyers involved in challenges to the 2020 presidential election results. Among them is lawyer Sidney Powell in Texas, who is facing ethics charges for allegedly filing frivolous lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions.

Mar 9, 2022 9:44 AM CST

How a social justice innovation lab is developing new types of legal services

The Innovation for Justice lab launched at the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law in 2018 with the goal of designing, building and testing new solutions to addressing the justice gap impacting millions of Americans.

Feb 16, 2022 8:36 AM CST

Arizona attorney general reaches ethics deal involving clashes with secretary of state in election suits

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has reached a diversion agreement with the State Bar of Arizona to resolve ethics allegations that he took actions contrary to the interests of state agencies represented by his office.

Feb 8, 2022 11:08 AM CST

Lawyer is suspended for coaching client using chat function during virtual trial

An Arizona lawyer has consented to a two-month suspension after he was accused of using the chat function on GoToMeeting to coach his client during a virtual trial.

Feb 1, 2022 3:16 PM CST

Nonlawyer-owned alternative legal services provider receives Arizona’s approval to integrate with a law firm

Elevate, a nonlawyer-owned alternative legal services provider, has been approved to operate in Arizona in tandem with an integrated law firm, the company announced Thursday.

Jan 14, 2022 11:25 AM CST

Some states seek to eliminate racial bias in jury selection with peremptory-challenge changes

Some states are changing the rules for peremptory challenges—and in one case, eliminating them altogether—in an effort to eliminate racial bias in jury selection.

Dec 22, 2021 3:32 PM CST

Law grad’s petition blames software crash for bar exam failure, seeks law license

Represented by his former law professor, a graduate of Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law is seeking admission to the bar, despite a bar exam score that was five points too low.

Nov 9, 2021 10:51 AM CST

Judge reprimands Littler Mendelson for ‘baseless legal and factual statements’ in disability bias case

A federal judge in Phoenix has formally reprimanded Littler Mendelson for “baseless legal and factual statements” made in a court document while defending DISH Network in a disability bias case.

Oct 7, 2021 11:58 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Britney Spears’ father suspended as conservator; would-be Reagan assassin will be freed of limits

Britney Spears’ father is suspended as conservator Judge Brenda Penny of Los Angeles on Wednesday suspended Britney Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, from his position as conservator for the pop singer. Penny appointed a California accountant temporarily to the position. A lawyer for Britney Spears wants the court to investigate claims…

Oct 1, 2021 12:09 PM CDT

Republican-led states sue Biden administration over protections for transgender students and workers

Twenty Republican-led states sued the Biden administration Monday claiming that protections for transgender people, including access to bathrooms and locker rooms, are invalid under federal law.

Sep 1, 2021 10:12 AM CDT