Post by Logan on May 3, 2016 10:10:07 GMT -6
PHOENIX — State senators voted Monday to expand Arizona’s Supreme Court in what one Democrat lawmaker called a “power grab” by Gov. Doug Ducey.
HB 2537, approved on a 18-12 party-line vote, would add two more justices to the current five-member panel. A final roll-call vote will send the measure to the governor.
Ducey, who made one high court appointment earlier this year, has not discouraged the move to give him the opportunity to select two more justices — even if that means increasing the cost to taxpayers of running the judiciary.
“We have made our government more efficient,” the governor said Monday when asked about the move to increase the size of the court.
Read more: tucson.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/senate-oks-expanding-az-supreme-court-by-two/article_2d229e71-009f-54ed-ae73-3f401fe46ed8.html
The court currently has 3 Republicans, 1 Democrat and 1 independent (appointed by Ducey). If Ducey adds two more justices it makes the court very lopsided in his favor and he could afford for one or two justices to disagree with him in the future. There doesn't seem to be any substantial reason to add two more justices beyond keeping Republicans in control if Ducey stays in office for a second term.
HB 2537, approved on a 18-12 party-line vote, would add two more justices to the current five-member panel. A final roll-call vote will send the measure to the governor.
Ducey, who made one high court appointment earlier this year, has not discouraged the move to give him the opportunity to select two more justices — even if that means increasing the cost to taxpayers of running the judiciary.
“We have made our government more efficient,” the governor said Monday when asked about the move to increase the size of the court.
Read more: tucson.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/senate-oks-expanding-az-supreme-court-by-two/article_2d229e71-009f-54ed-ae73-3f401fe46ed8.html
The court currently has 3 Republicans, 1 Democrat and 1 independent (appointed by Ducey). If Ducey adds two more justices it makes the court very lopsided in his favor and he could afford for one or two justices to disagree with him in the future. There doesn't seem to be any substantial reason to add two more justices beyond keeping Republicans in control if Ducey stays in office for a second term.