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Push to remake criminal justice laws hits snag in House
Several bills to revamp criminal justice in Arizona appear to be on life support after the Republican House Judiciary chair decided to hold a trio of bills in retaliation to his own bill being held.
Senate leaders not interested in investigating sexual harassment allegation against Ugenti-Rita
Republican leadership in the Arizona state Senate has no interest in investigating allegations of sexual harassment made against Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, and Senate Democrats are not pushing the issue.
Ducey’s crown jewel of gun legislation still unpopular with lawmakers
A group of party faithfuls shouted down Gov. Doug Ducey at Saturday’s Arizona Republican Party state convention at Church for the Nations in Phoenix, interrupting his speech to shame him for proposing “red flag laws.”
Proposed ballot measure seeks stricter conflict-of-interest laws for legislators
A new initiative proposal seeks to block state lawmakers from proposing and voting on measures that could benefit themselves and family members.
The Breakdown: Going courting
On this edition of The Breakdown, our reporters discuss Mark Brnovich, Criminal Justice Reform, and Gov. Doug Ducey's latest court appointment.
Montgomery to high court opens way for criminal justice changes
Lawmakers and advocates who’ve sought for years to overhaul Arizona’s criminal justice system are cautiously optimistic that longtime Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery’s ascension to the state Supreme Court will clear the way for substantive change next legislative session.
Sen. Eddie Farnsworth to retire
Arizona Senate President Pro Tempore Eddie Farnsworth, the influential Republican leader who’s held an iron grip over criminal justice legislation for the better part of two decades, will not seek re-election.
Ducey plans renewal of gun-control measure
Calling it the best way to prevent mass shootings, Gov. Doug Ducey is renewing his bid to allow judges to take away guns of people believed to be a danger to themselves or others and have them held for mental examination.
Committee chairs seek balance between gatekeeper and ‘God’
The first major hurdle every piece of legislation faces in the House or Senate is a committee leader with the ability to unilaterally kill bills, and some chairs are more willing to do it than others.
The Breakdown: Have you no honor?
How exactly do you work with someone you believe has betrayed you? That’s a question some lawmakers are asking themselves about the state’s county prosecutors after what some saw as an 11th hour reversal on criminal justice reform measures.
Prosecutors’ honor questioned as criminal justice measures die
Arizona lawmakers stymied this year in their quests to revamp the criminal justice system are re-evaluating how to work with prosecutors next year after what some described as an 11th-hour betrayal.
Lawmakers to explore how to get per diem increase after veto
Stunned by the governor's veto, some lawmakers already are exploring how – and when – they can finally get an increase in their living allowances.
