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Redistricting law writers say ouster defies intent
Civic activists who wrote the constitutional amendment approved by Arizona voters a decade ago to create the state's redistricting commission say Gov. Jan Brewer's removal of the panel's chair violates the measure's intent to take political map-drawing out of the hands of governors and state legislators.
Arizona court won’t temporarily reinstate official
The Arizona Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to temporarily reinstate the state redistricting commission's chairwoman who was ousted a week earlier by Republican Gov. Jan Brewer in a move that has touched off a legal and political battle.
AZ Supreme Court won’t block Mathis’ removal
The Arizona Supreme Court has rejected Colleen Mathis’ request to block her removal as Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission chair while the appeal of her ouster works its way through the court system.
Mathis can continue to appeal her decision, but will do so as the former IRC chairwoman, the court ruled on Tuesday.
‘Baggage’ in hand, former IRC attorney takes on commission
Seven months ago, attorney Lisa Hauser was trying to land a job serving as the redistricting commission's Republican attorney, just as she did a decade ago.
But by the time Senate Republicans ratified Brewer’s decision to remove the commission's chair for what the governor described as “gross misconduct in office,” Hauser had taken on a new redistricting client — Brewer, who wil[...]
IRC attorneys: Mathis’ removal an unconstitutional exploitation of power
Attorneys representing the state’s redistricting commission filed suit today with the Arizona Supreme Court, asking the court to overturn the removal of Colleen Mathis as the commission’s chairwoman.
Mathis was removed before she could do any more damage to state
When the drafters of Proposition 106 took their idea to the ballot in 2000, they knew they had to address the possibility of the state needing to remove a member of the Independent Redistricting Commission. They wrote that a commission member could be removed by the governor, with the support of two-thirds of the state Senate, for acts considered “gross misconduct” or “substantial neglect of[...]
Derailed: Redistricting questions abound as state heads into uncharted waters
Arizona’s once-in-a-decade remapping process may grind to a halt for up to a month and a half while a judicial commission, and possibly the courts, decide who will be the next chair of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission.
Capitol quotes: November 4, 2011
This week's most outstanding quips, utterances and gibes.
Appellate commission schedules emergency meeting on IRC
The Commission on Appellate Court Appointments will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the replacement process for ousted Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission Chairwoman Colleen Mathis. The judicial nominating panel will meet at 1 p.m. at the Arizona State Courts Building.
Brewer not ruling out ouster of IRC Dems
Gov. Jan Brewer might still seek the removal of the two Democratic members of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. Matthew Benson, a spokesman for the governor, said Brewer still has concerns about the actions of Democratic commissioners Jose Herrera and Linda McNulty, whom he said committed misconduct in coordination with ousted Chairwoman Colleen Mathis.
Grinding to a halt
The IRC will continue holding the public hearings it has scheduled, but after Saturday’s hearing in Casa Grande, Mathis’ removal from the panel yesterday may put the redistricting process on hiatus until a new chair is selected.
Last-ditch attempt for special session today
Late yesterday afternoon, Brewer’s office said it would not be issuing a special session call to remove Mathis from the IRC.
