Tuesday, January 16, 2024

ON OUR SISTER SITE: George Santos Treasurer(?) Hiding Out After Embezzling $50,000 From Arizona Congressional Candidate

Since campaign finance laws - and criminal laws - are implicated, we are cross-posting this Arizona's Politics article here. Arizona's Politics is an older sister site to Arizona's Law. Please head over there to read the rest of the article and to review the FEC filing.

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A one-time Treasurer(?) for fraudster/expelled Congressman George Santos is apparently hiding from law enforcement after being accused of embezzling at least $50,000 from an Arizona Congressional candidate.

Walt Blackman (R-Snowflake), who is currently running to regain a seat in the Arizona Legislature, leveled the charges in a letter filed with the Federal Election Commission ("FEC") on Sunday afternoon.

(To read the rest of the article, click here)

"AZ Law" includes articles, commentaries and updates about opinions from the Arizona Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court, as well as trial and appellate courts, etc. AZ Law is founded by Phoenix attorney Paul Weich, and joins Arizona's Politics on the internet. 


AZ Law airs 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. If you know someone who could benefit from this 24/7 service, please let them know about member-supported Sun Sounds. And, YOU can donate or listen here. 

Previous episodes of AZ Law can be streamed or downloaded here, or wherever you get your podcasts.


Friday, January 12, 2024

BREAKING: Ann Timmer will become the next Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court on July 1

Ann Timmer will become the next Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court on July 1, upon the expiration of Justice Robert Brutinel's 5-year term.

Timmer, appointed in 2012 by then Governor Jan Brewer (R), has been the Vice Chief Justice since 2019. Taking her place will be Justice John Lopez.

Interestingly, Justice Clint Bolick declined the Vice Chief Justice role, on the grounds that he would then be unable to succeed Timmer as Chief Justice because of Arizona's mandatory retirement age for judges (70).

Timmer has her undergraduate degree from the U of A and her law degree from ASU.

(Arizona's Law interviewed Justice Brutinel soon after he assumed the responsibility, and will look to do both an exit interview with him and an incoming interview with Justice Timmer. Stay tuned.)

"AZ Law" includes articles, commentaries and updates about opinions from the Arizona Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court, as well as trial and appellate courts, etc. AZ Law is founded by Phoenix attorney Paul Weich, and joins Arizona's Politics on the internet. 


AZ Law airs 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. If you know someone who could benefit from this 24/7 service, please let them know about member-supported Sun Sounds. And, YOU can donate or listen here. 

Previous episodes of AZ Law can be streamed or downloaded here, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Friday, January 5, 2024

UPDATE: Republican Leg Leaders Refuse To Sit For Depositions While Defending Law Banning Transgender Girls From Playing On Girls' Teams; Judge Asked To Compel Them

UPDATE, 3/1, 4:30pm: "UPDATE: Republican Leg Leaders Refuse To Sit For Depositions While Defending Law Banning Transgender Girls From Playing On Girls' Teams; Judge Asked To Compel Them"

Arizona's Republican legislative leaders intervened to defend their law banning transgendergirls from competing on schools girls' sports teams, but they are refusing to sit for depositions. So, plaintiffs in the case today asked a federal judge to compel them to answer questions.

Discovery is continuing while the 9th Circuit is about to hear oral arguments on Public Schools Superintendent Tom Horne appeals the preliminary injunction keeping Arizona's ban from going into efect.

Plaintiffs also note that House Speaker Ben Toma and Senate Majority Leader Warren Petersen first declined to turn over documents, claiming privilege. However, many of the documents were already publicly available on the Legislature's website.

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Original article, 1/5/24: "UPDATE: Tom Horne STRIKES OUT On Demanding Jury Trial To Defend Arizona's Law Banning Transgender Girls From Playing On Girls' Teams"

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has lost another ruling in his effort to defend Arizona's law banning transgender girls from competing on girls' teams in schools. 

Horne demanded a jury trial. The girls challenging the law objected. Horne countered by asking for an "advisory jury", saying that citizens "would not make the same factual errors that the Court has made in its ruling on the preliminary injunction" (as the judge summarized).

U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer Zipps took issue with Horne's characterization of her ruling - which is currently on appeal and scheduled for oral arguments in front of a 9th Circuit panel in March - and ruled today against any jury in the case.

And, although jurors provide a valuable service in finding facts and applying the law in many cases, Defendant Horne’s reference to the advisory jury as “the effected community” suggests that he seeks advisory jurors whose personal beliefs about the propriety of A.R.S. § 15-120.02 might color their determination of the factual issues. Whether A.R.S. § 15-120.02 is constitutional, or whether A.R.S. § 15-120.02 violates laws enacted by Congress, are not issues to be determined by popular vote.

Tom Horne, GOP legislative leaders Ben Toma and Warren Petersen, and "USA Women of Action"/"America First Legal" are all trying to defend the constitutionality of the 2022 law

"AZ Law" includes articles, commentaries and updates about opinions from the Arizona Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court, as well as trial and appellate courts, etc. AZ Law is founded by Phoenix attorney Paul Weich, and joins Arizona's Politics on the internet. 


AZ Law airs 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. If you know someone who could benefit from this 24/7 service, please let them know about member-supported Sun Sounds. And, YOU can donate or listen here. 

Previous episodes of AZ Law can be streamed or downloaded here, or wherever you get your podcasts.