Arizona Supreme Court Finds Legislation Changing Judicial Selection Process Unconstitutional

Almost 40 years ago, Arizona adopted a judicial merit-selection system in which a nonpartisan commission recommends a panel of at least three candidates for judicial vacancies, and the governor must make his or her judicial appointment out of those nominees. Then Arizona enacted a law this spring requiring that the commission submit at least five nominees to the governor unless two-thirds of the commission rejected an applicant. Today, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the law violates that state's consitution. Court reformers, including the Brennan Center for Justice and Justice at Stake, opposed the change. According to Justice at Stake, the law "was an attempt by legislators to throw open the courtroom doors to greater political influence on the judiciary." Here's the full statement from Justice at Stake: http://www.justiceatstake.org/newsroom/press-releases-16824/?jas_applaud...