Republican angst over redistricting decision not enough to force direct elections of judges

Republican anger against the Arizona Supreme Court over its ruling in last year’s redistricting case is fierce, but wasn’t enough to push through a trio of bills that sought to retaliate against the judiciary, including the perennial conservative goal of forcing the direct election of judges.

April 25 hearing set on Arizona immigration law

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on Arizona's immigration enforcement law on April 25, in the last such hearing of the high court's current term.

Retired Justice Ryan dies

Retired Arizona Supreme Court Justice Michael Ryan, who as a trial judge presided over some of the state’s most famous political cases, died of a heart attack Monday. He was 66.

Report: Most states rejected SB 1070-style laws in 2011 because of backlash

The majority of states that considered immigration bills similar to Arizona’s SB 1070 rejected them in 2011, a testament to the negative effects such laws have on a state’s economy and reputation, a new report claims.

Brewer sees no need for Alabama-style changes to SB1070

Gov. Jan Brewer said she sees no need for Arizona to make the kinds of revisions that Alabama is considering to its SB1070-style law.

Courting immigration

With U.S. Supreme Court taking on SB1070, illegal border crossers are back in campaign spotlight

U.S. Supreme Court may decide on SB1070 appeal within weeks

The U.S. Supreme Court could decide whether to hear Gov. Jan Brewer’s appeal in the U.S. Department of Justice’s lawsuit against SB1070 within the next few weeks.

Sandra Day O’Connor encourages embattled redistricting commission

As accusations of partisan politics and foul play continue to assail Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission, a message of confidence and encouragement was delivered to the group by former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

Brewer faces deadline for immigration appeal

Gov. Jan Brewer has a Wednesday deadline to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that put the most controversial parts of Arizona's immigration enforcement law on hold.

Supreme Court labels matching funds ‘substantial burden’ to free speech

Arizona’s system of public campaign financing has been dealt a major, although expected, blow by the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled June 27 that the matching funds provision of the Clean Elections Act is unconstitutional.

Will elimination of matching funds leave a mark on state politics?

Local political consultants and operatives disagree on what effect the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against the matching funds component of Arizona’s public campaign finance option will have on politics.

Judge expected to reject $20M fund sweep

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge is prepared to rule in favor of a special fund that was swept in 2009 to balance the state budget, but he is not likely to order the Legislature to return the nearly $20 million it took.