What is worth knowing about abortion, evaluate proposals to stop voting

PHOENIX (AZ family) — In this election, abortion is an important issue in several respects.

There is Proposition 139, which would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.

Additionally, two Arizona Supreme Court justices who ruled to reinstate an 1864 law banning almost all abortions in Arizona will be retained.

Finally, Proposition 137 wants to change the way judicial retention elections work in the first place.

There are signs and advertisements encouraging or opposing Judge Clint Bolick AND Katarzyna Króltwo of the four key votes in favour let the state enforce its pre-Civil War abortion ban.

“The only reason their positions are essentially in jeopardy is because of the vote on the 1864 statute.” – says constitutional law expert Robert McWhirter.

In Arizona, judges are appointed by the governor, and each judge can be retained two years after appointment and every six years thereafter.

“If you believe in judicial independence, you shouldn’t lose judges or vote against judges just because of their rulings,” McWhirter said.

McWhirter argues that while it’s fair for voters to have feelings about judges’ decisions, it’s important to remember that their job is to interpret the law, not to side with their own opinions.

“It’s a very dangerous and bumpy road when you start voting to remove judges from office just because you don’t like their rulings,” he said.

But McWhirter says many judges are appointed by governors who want to fill the court with people who interpret the law based on a particular philosophy or ideology.

“Because (former) Gov. (Doug) Ducey packed this court, it’s also seen as a way for Democrats to pick two justices who wouldn’t have been appointed under the Hobbs administration,” McWhirter said.

Justice Robert Brutinel recently announced he is retiring, so if King and Bolick are voted off the bench, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs could put three justices on the court.

“Democrats haven’t had a choice on the Supreme Court for over 20 years. “It’s a pretty big political calculus,” McWhirter said.

If adopted, Prop. 137, which would eliminate term limits and retention for state supreme court and superior court judges, will apply retroactively.

Therefore, if Justices King and Bolick were disqualified and Prop. 137 was adopted, they would retain their positions on the court.

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