By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services/Arizona Capitol Times
Two House Republicans are moving to make it easier to get rid of judges.
A proposal by Rep. Phil Lovas, R-Peoria, would require those judges who have to stand for retention to get approval of at least 60 percent of the people casting a vote. Current constitutional provisions allow them to be retained on a simple majority.
Had HCR 2002 already been in place, four judges who were just retained by less than that margin – three in Maricopa County and one in Pima County – would be out looking for work and the new governor would get a chance to pick replacements.
The more far-reaching proposal by Rep. Warren Petersen, R-Chandler, would allow lawmakers, with a two-third vote, to remove any judge from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals or any superior court judge from Maricopa, Pima or Pinal counties. And HCR 2006 would not require that legislators have any reason at all.
