UPDATE: Senate Confirms Michael Liburdi For Arizona U.S. District Court Judgeship

UPDATE, 7/30, 9:15am: The Senate just voted, 53-37, to confirm Liburdi as the newest U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Arizona. Both Arizona Senators - Republican Martha McSally and Democrat Kyrsten Sinema - voted to confirm. 
(Thanks to the Judicial Nominations Blog.)

UPDATE, 4:05pm: The Senate voted 51-37 to invoke cloture on Liburdi's nomination. Both of Arizona's Senators - Republican Martha McSally and Democrat Kyrsten Sinema - voted "aye". (Sinema can be seen on the floor as the vote was announced, in the picture below. The confirmation vote is expected by Wednesday.

The Senate will vote this hour on whether to proceed to a confirmation vote on President Donald Trump's nomination of Michael Liburdi to become a District Court Judge in Phoenix. Today's cloture motion is expected to pass.

AZ Law* has been following the confirmation process since Governor Ducey's former General Counsel was nominated for the lifetime judicial position in January. And, while the six months may seem like a long confirmation period - the Judiciary Committee approved him in March - close watchers of the process indicate that this is not a stretched-out nomination.

Both Arizona Senators have spoken in favor of confirming Liburdi, which makes his confirmation even more likely in the Republican-controlled Senate. However, his previous work on behalf of the Republican party and the Arizona Right to Life PAC (Chairman) may prevent him from getting many Democratic votes.

The final confirmation vote will likely take place tomorrow or Wednesday.


*Through our older sister website, Arizona's Politics.

"AZ Law" Installment #4, On-Demand July 8, 2019

In this on-demand installment, hear original reporting, articles about Arizona court cases and a commentary about legal intimidation of aid workers in southern Arizona.

On the audio menu for this post-holiday week are updates on the heavyweight battle between Arizona's Attorney General and the state's universities, Bad Braille, and court action on the special election to replace the late-Sen. McCain. Listen until the end to hear an article on why Arizona can't execute a Mexican immigrant, and a commentary alleging Arizona's new U.S. Attorney with trying to intimidate aid workers on the southern border.

"AZ Law" includes articles and updates about opinions from the Arizona Supreme Court, U.S. District Court, etc. Our next broadcast installment will be on Sun Sounds of Arizona at 11:00a.m., on Saturday, July 20.

More on the cases and legal news can be found at ArizonasLaw.org.

Aired on non-profit Sun Sounds of Arizona, a statewide reading service that provides audio access to printed material for people who cannot hold or read print material due to a disability. You can donate or listen here.


Have an idea for a report on AZ Law, or suggestions on how to make the program/website better? Please email us at Paul.Weich.AZLaw@gmail.com.