By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services | East Valley Tribune
If Gov. Jan Brewer gets to name another Supreme Court judge before she leaves office, she’s going to have more choices — if the law is not overturned.
Brewer on Friday signed legislation spelling out that the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments must nominate at least five individuals for each vacancy on the high court and the state Court of Appeals.
Right now a governor gets just three. And odds are that only two are from the governor’s own political party.
The law, which takes effect later this year, imposes a similar requirement on the commissions that also screen applicants for the superior courts in Pima, Maricopa and Pinal counties.
Approval of the measure — and Brewer’s signature itself — comes despite warnings from several lawyers that the legislation is in direct contradiction with the Arizona Constitution.
