GOP Pulls Off Brazen Court-Packing Scheme In Arizona

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/arizona-state-supreme-court?utm_content=buffer84a05&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer



Want to pack your state’s Supreme Court? Well, Arizona has provided a model.

Arizona Republicans are about to get two more justices on the state Supreme Court thanks to a bill approved by the legislature and heading to Gov. Doug Ducey’s desk that will expand the court from five to seven members and allow the Republican Ducey to appoint the new justices.

The move is being called a naked power grab and an obvious example of court packing -- an accusation seemingly backed by the fact that the five current justices have said there’s no need for additional justices. However, in a twist, the state Supreme Court ultimately backed the proposal when the legislature leveraged much-needed funding for the judicial branch to get the court's support. Ironically, some of that promised funding has already been scaled back, while the new judges will cost the state about $1 million annually. or
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“This is just another example of people in power exploiting their power,” said Mark Harrison, the chair of Justice at Stake, a nonpartisan judicial watchdog group. “They can do it, so they’re doing it.”

The bill was introduced by Republican state Rep. J.D. Mesnard, who denies that it is politically motivated court packing.

“More heads are better than fewer heads, especially when it comes to interpreting laws and the constitution,” he told the Associated Press.

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