Tag Archives: State: Arizona

AZ Central (includes video): An Arizona Supreme Court justice has taken the highly unusual step of forming a campaign committee to fight a Republican and “tea party” effort to vote him off the bench. Fliers and Web postings advocate a “no” vote on retention of Justice John Pelander because he joined in a Supreme Court decision allowing an initiative that would scrap the two-party primary system to appear on next month’s ballot.

The Hill: So far, six states have passed laws that seek to defund Planned Parenthood on their own — and the courts have blocked all six.

Verde News: A loosely organized effort to oust a state Supreme Court justice is forcing him to consider an unprecedented campaign to keep his post. Justice John Pelander said he is upset by “hit pieces’ being put out by groups urging that he not be retained on the bench this year.

AP: An audit of the U.S. Department of Education’s division overseeing hundreds of millions of dollars in charter school funding has criticized the office for failing to properly monitor how states spend the money.

AZ Republic: he share has since continued to inch higher. In 2011, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Arizona’s Medicaid program, paid for 53 percent of the state’s 84,979 births, while private insurance paid for 42 percent, according to state statistics. The remainder were paid for by individuals.
In 2000, the numbers were reversed: AHCCCS paid for 42 percent of the 84,985 births.

Baptist Press: A pro-life lawyer criticized the decision. “The will of Indiana taxpayers to close loopholes so that their money isn’t used to fund the operations of abortion sellers should be respected,” said Steven Aden, senior counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom, in a written statement. “During these tough economic times, it makes no sense to contradict the will of the people of Indiana, who don’t believe abortionists deserve to receive government funding.”

Lexington Herald-Leader: The Obama administration has “seized the power to define what faith is, who the faithful are, and when, how and where we get to practice our faith,” said Bryan Beauman, a lawyer for Alliance Defending Freedom, a socially conservative legal consortium.

Christian Post (includes video): A doctors group that supports an Arizona law restricting non-emergency abortions after 20 weeks has filed a legal brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals showing that babies feel pain during an abortion as early as 20 weeks. A district court found that unborn children have developed pain sensors all over their bodies by 20 weeks . Senior Council with Alliance Defending Freedom –Steven H. Aden– said infants feel “horrific pain and accused the ACLU and the Center for Reproductive Rights don’t care about this.

East Valley Tribune: The governor chose Court of Appeals Judge Ann Scott Timmer over Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Douglas Rayes, also a Republican, and Democrat Diane Johnsen.

Citizen Link: Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) attorneys filed a brief Wednesday with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of a doctors group that supports Arizona’s new law banning non-emergency abortions after the point at which preborn children can begin feeling pain. “This brief is intended to educate the court and the public about the reality that babies feel pain during an abortion as early as 20 weeks into a pregnancy,” said ADF Senior Counsel Steven H. Aden.

One News Now: Senior counsel Steven H. Aden tells OneNewsNow, “Every innocent life deserves to be protected.” “Not only does this law protect babies in the womb who feel horrific pain upon being torn apart in an abortion, the law is constitutional because it protects mothers from risky abortions, and it protects society from the barbaric effects of abortions that cause horrific pain to babies,” he continues.

SCOTUS Blog: The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to rule on the constitutionality of a state requirement that voters must prove they are U.S. citizens before they register to vote and cast their ballots . . .  (The case is Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc., docket 11-71.)

Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a friend-of-the-court brief Wednesday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on behalf of a doctors group that supports an Arizona law restricting non-emergency abortions after 20 weeks.

Liberty Counsel: Today, Liberty Counsel filed an amicus brief at the federal court of appeals in support of defunding Planned Parenthood. At issue is an Arizona law barring public funding for abortion clinics and doctors.

Brian Walsh at National Review: Today, a bipartisan group of over 100 legislators in nine states is announcing the nation’s first state legislative caucuses focused solely on religious freedom. These working groups of legislative leaders are being established in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. This is the first installment in a national plan to form state religious-freedom caucuses in all 50 states by the end of 2013.

LJWorld: Claiming religious freedom is under assault, 120 legislators in nine states, including Kansas, announced on Tuesday the formation of caucuses that they said would be dedicated to protecting religion from government intrusion.

The hearing concerns a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood against H.B. 2800, the “Whole Woman’s Healthcare Funding Prioritization Act,” which closes loopholes that allowed taxpayer dollars to fund abortions and prioritizes family planning funds to health care entities that best provide comprehensive health care to women. The hearing will consider Planned Parenthood’s motion for a preliminary injunction against the law, as well as the state’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

Susan B. Anthony List: Today, the national pro-life Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) slammed a brief filed by the Department of Justice aimed at overturning Arizona’s Whole Woman’s Health Funding Priority Act (HB 2800). The law, co-authored by the SBA List and Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), defunds abortion providers of state family planning funds. Family planning funds are prioritized away from abortion-centered businesses like Planned Parenthood to entities that provide comprehensive health care. Governor Jan Brewer signed HB 2800 into law in May. The law was challenged by Planned Parenthood and is before the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.

LifeNews: The Obama administration is using the state of Arizona and claiming that its new law revoking taxpayer funding for the Planned Parenthood abortion business runs afoul of federal laws.

AZ Central: Since she took office in January 2009, 35 of her 38 appointments to the Arizona Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and the Superior Courts of Maricopa and Pima counties have been Republicans, according to records from the Arizona Supreme Court, which oversees all courts.

AZ Star Net: A federal appeals court Tuesday spurned a request by civil rights groups for a new injunction to once again block Arizona’s 2010 immigration law.

Tucson Citizen: The Alliance Defending Freedom, a Scottsdale non-profit group, is representing councils in other states in challenges to legislative prayer. Their focus is to “defend the exercise of religious liberty and the right of government to recognize religious heritage and continue with traditional American practices,” said senior counsel Brett Harvey. “We think it’s a constitutional right to do this,” said Harvey, citing the Marsh vs. Chambers case. “We do feel there’s a benefit to seeking divine guidance and asking for wisdom and blessings for the decisions that are made. The Supreme Court has made it clear that it’s constitutional. We see no reason why our local officials should not be able to exercise those same rights exercised by our founders.”

Center for AZ Policy: On Friday, the Arizona Department of Health Services released their annual statistical report on abortions in Arizona. Initial media reports claimed a 25% increase in abortions in 2011 compared to 2010. As the DHS report indicates, however, abortion providers were not required to report abortion numbers until August of 2010. Consequently, any reports prior to August 2010 are unreliable. “You’re comparing apples to oranges if you look at 2010 to 2011,” said Cathi Herrod, president of Center for Arizona Policy.

AZ Central: A judge has ruled that police in Arizona can immediately start enforcing the most contentious section of the state’s immigration law, marking the first time officers can carry out a requirement that officers, while enforcing other laws, question the immigration status of those suspected of being in the country illegally.

AZ Daily Sun: A new report shows a sharp increase in the number of Arizona women having abortions last year. Figures from the Department of Health Services put total abortions for Arizona women at 13,606. That is a 25 percent jump from 2010.

World Net Daily: Dr. James Dobson, whose advice about parenting, child-rearing, marriage and faith has guided millions of Americans and whose counsel on family matters has been sought by presidents, today blasted the Republican Party for abandoning a strong U.S. Senate candidate, U.S. Rep. Todd Akin.

AZ Central: Gilbert Public Schools governing board candidate Daryl Colvin is among a group of town residents who are upset that the school board decided not to discuss bringing back a non-denominational prayer at the beginning of its meetings. The school board used to have an invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance but replaced the prayer with a moment of silence in August 2001.

SCOTUS Blog has listed Brewer v. Diaz as its Petition of the Day. Links to Center for Arizona Policy Amicus prepared by Alliance Defending Freedom Attorneys.

Wall Street Journal: The Arizona Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling on Friday that put tattoos under the umbrella of the First Amendment but stopped short of forcing Mesa, Ariz., City Council to allow tattoo artists to open a parlor, the Arizona Republic reported.

VerdeNews.com: But attorneys from non-reciprocity states have to take the full-blown, two-day Bar examination. That requires not only extensive preparation — particularly for those who have been out of school for some time — but also waiting to find out if there was a passing score. The lawyers who are suing are from California and Montana, both non-reciprocity states. Also suing is the National Association for the Advancement of Multijurisdictional Practice, based in California.

AP: The ruling by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton clears the way for police to carry out the requirement that officers, while enforcing other laws, question the immigration status of those they suspect are in the country illegally

Advocate.com: The Arizona Republic called the race for Sinema around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. She defeated former Arizona Democratic Party chairman Andrei Cherny and state Senate minority leader David Schapira, taking 42.5% of the vote with 64.5% of precincts reporting.

Available here.

ABC15: The City of Phoenix could face a lawsuit if the city doesn’t apologize to a Valley woman for telling her she could not hand out free bottled water to people in the summer heat.

David Cortman appeared on the Zeb Bell Show to discuss the litigation. | MP3 audio 13:35 mins

Eugene Volokh at the Volokh Conspiracy: I’ve blogged quite a bit about why broad bans on the use of foreign law in American courts are improper. But what about narrower limitations, such as the American Laws for American Courts proposal that has been enacted in some form in Arizona, Louisiana, and Tennessee?

Wisconsin Gazette: The American Civil Liberties Union is denouncing Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s executive order on Aug. 15 that bars undocumented immigrants who qualify for temporary legal status in the United States from receiving state or local public benefits.

AZ Central: As young undocumented immigrants on Wednesday celebrated the start of a new federal program allowing them to apply to stay and work temporarily in the United States, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer issued an executive order telling state agencies not to grant driver’s licenses to program participants.

Center for American Progress: Legislators in 24 states proposed legislation during the past legislative session (2011–2012) that would enable governors to replace competent state judges, a power that would, in practice, result in more conservative replacements in states across the country. Legislators in Missouri, Florida, and Arizona managed to place referendums on this November’s ballot that if approved by voters would severely restrict judicial independence and belie the promise of fairness before the law

One News Now (AP): A Maricopa County Superior Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s proclamations declaring a state “day of prayer.”

91.5 KJZZ (includes audio): James Campbell of the Alliance Defending Freedom notes the appellate court ruling hinged on the inability of gays to marry in the state, which he says sets a precedent. “If it’s irrational to give that benefit to only legal spouses and not to an unmarried partner or friend, then it is also irrational to also give other benefits to a legal spouse or not to an unmarried friend or partner,” Campbell said.

Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel David Cortman and Legal Counsel Jeremy Tedesco will be available for media interviews immediately following oral arguments Friday before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in Reed v. Town of Gilbert.

Steve Aden at Townhall: To protect mothers as well as their preborn children, Arizona lawmakers passed H.B. 1036—a bill banning elective abortions after 20 weeks. Although the legislation was aptly titled “The Mother’s Health and Safety Act,” the ACLU and the Center for Reproductive Rights sued to block its implementation.

“Every innocent life deserves to be protected. Not only does this law protect children in the womb who experience horrific pain during a late-term abortion, it also protects mothers from the dangers and tremendous psychological consequences of late-term abortions. Though the 9th Circuit’s stay is regrettable, all it has done is give itself time to fully consider the case. Once it does, it should see the merits of the district court’s decision and uphold Arizona’s law.”

AZ Central: A federal appeals court is temporarily prohibiting Arizona from enforcing its new ban on abortions starting at 20 weeks of pregnancy. A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel issued its order Wednesday, two days after a trial judge ruled that the ban could take effect as scheduled Thursday.

Religion Clause Blog: In Smith v. Arizona, (D AZ, July 31, 2012), an Arizona federal district court dismissed many, but not all, of the claims in a lawsuit in which a student at Maricopa Community College alleged that the philosophy course she took– titled Introduction to Ethics– was taught by the instructor “solely to indoctrinate her students with her Christian worldview” in violation of the Establishment Clause.

Steve Aden appeared on the Schilling Show to discuss the ruling. | MP3 audio 8:48 mins

LifeNews: Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Steven Aden talked with LifeNews about the ruling: “Every innocent life deserves to be protected. That certainly includes the most vulnerable of all: children in the womb who experience horrific pain when being torn apart in the womb during a late-term abortion like those this law prohibits. This law also protects mothers from dangerous late-term abortions and their tremendous psychological consequences. The ACLU and the Center for Reproductive Rights, who filed this lawsuit, apparently don’t care about any of that, preferring to pursue their own agenda. The court was right to thwart their attempts to stop this law.

Every innocent life deserves to be protected. That certainly includes the most vulnerable of all: children in the womb who experience horrific pain when being torn apart in the womb during a late-term abortion like those this law prohibits. This law also protects mothers from dangerous late-term abortions and their tremendous psychological consequences.

PhoenixFamilyLawNews: While Baland’s wife has already told Gilbert Police her side of the story, if she tries to testify at her husband’s trial, Baland could probably stop her. Under Arizona’s marital privilege law, a person cannot testify in a criminal proceeding against his or her spouse without the spouse’s consent.

LifeNews: Senior Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom Steven Aden added: “The precious tax dollars of the people of Arizona should not be funneled to abortionists, especially during tough economic times. The members of the Arizona Legislature have worded a bill that allows them to be good stewards of the people’s money in this regard. It’s no surprise that Planned Parenthood would oppose that in light of their ongoing thirst for taxpayer dollars.”

ProLifeBlogs: “Arizona taxpayers have spoken through their elected representatives – they do not want their tax dollars going to abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood, which performs more than 330,000 abortions a year,” said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “The Whole Woman’s Health Funding Priority Act is pro-woman legislation that recognizes that women deserve access to comprehensive health care, not abortion. We are confident that the will of the people not to fund the abortion industry will prevail in court.” “The precious tax dollars of the people of Arizona should not be funneled to abortionists, especially during tough economic times,” said Senior Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom Steven H. Aden. “The members of the Arizona Legislature have worded a bill that allows them to be good stewards of the people’s money in this regard. It’s no surprise that Planned Parenthood would oppose that in light of their ongoing thirst for taxpayer dollars.”

LifeNews: Senior Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom Steven Aden added: “The precious tax dollars of the people of Arizona should not be funneled to abortionists, especially during tough economic times. The members of the Arizona Legislature have worded a bill that allows them to be good stewards of the people’s money in this regard. It’s no surprise that Planned Parenthood would oppose that in light of their ongoing thirst for taxpayer dollars.”

Right Side News: “Arizona taxpayers have spoken through their elected representatives – they do not want their tax dollars going to abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood, which performs more than 330,000 abortions a year,” said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “The Whole Woman’s Health Funding Priority Act is pro-woman legislation that recognizes that women deserve access to comprehensive health care, not abortion. We are confident that the will of the people not to fund the abortion industry will prevail in court.” “The precious tax dollars of the people of Arizona should not be funneled to abortionists, especially during tough economic times,” said Senior Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom Steven H. Aden. “The members of the Arizona Legislature have worded a bill that allows them to be good stewards of the people’s money in this regard. It’s no surprise that Planned Parenthood would oppose that in light of their ongoing thirst for taxpayer dollars.”

AP: Opponents of Arizona’s hardline immigration enforcement law launched a new effort Tuesday aimed at thwarting a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that will allow police to enforce the so-called “show me your papers” provision.

WorldNetDaily Reports: Cold Case Posse lead investigator Mike Zullo said the new information confirms the document presented to the American public in April 2011 is undoubtedly fraudulent.

Susan B. Anthony List: Today, the national pro-life Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) slammed a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood, America’s largest abortion provider, seeking to block the state of Arizona from enacting the Whole Woman’s Health Funding Priority Act (HB 2800). The law, co-authored by the SBA List and Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), defunds abortion providers of state family planning funds. Family planning funds are prioritized away from abortion-centered businesses like Planned Parenthood to entities that provide comprehensive health care. Governor Jan Brewer signed HB 2800 into law in May.

Center for Arizona Policy: Against the best interests of the health and safety of Arizona’s women, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights have filed a lawsuit to block CAP-supported legislation that prohibits abortion after 20 weeks. | ACLU press release: American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Arizona Join Center for Reproductive Rights Against Most Extreme Ban in the Natio

Lyle Denniston at SCOTUS Blog: The case illustrates a trend that is beginning to develop in lower courts dealing with issues of gay marriage: they are establishing new rights to legal equality for such couples, without taking the constitutional step of creating an explicit new right for gays and lesbians to marry.

Findlaw: On Friday morning, a baby was delivered after his mother was killed by a suspected drunk driver in Phoenix, CBS News reports.

Chris Geidner: In a July 2 filing noted on the Supreme Court docket, lawyers for the governor have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a September 2011 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that had the effect of keeping same-sex partners’ health-care benefits in place in the state.

American Federation for Children: The poll found that 62 percent of respondents support the newly-improved ESA program, while nearly four in five likely voters—77 percent—favor increased accountability measures for the program in the form of required standardized tests to measure student performance.

Washington Times: The Obama administration said Monday it is suspending existing agreements with Arizona police over enforcement of federal immigration laws, and said it has issued a directive telling federal authorities to decline many of the calls reporting illegal immigrants that the Homeland Security Department may get from Arizona police.

Held: Sections 3, 5(C), and 6 of S. B. 1070 are preempted by federal law . . . It was improper to enjoin §2(B) before the state courts had an opportunity to construe it and without some showing that §2(B)’s enforcement in fact conflicts with federal immigration law and its objectives. Pp. 19–24.

Catholic Sun: Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted has issued new advance medical directives to help Catholics better understand the Church’s teaching on end-of-life issues and to provide guidance to caregivers.

AP: Authorities in a pair of polygamous Utah-Arizona border towns have supported a campaign of intimidation against the unfaithful, denying them housing and municipal services and allowing members of the dominant religious sect to destroy their crops and property, the U.S. Justice Department said in a lawsuit.

Christian Post: “You’re taking a man out of society and sticking him in jail for worshiping at his home,” he told a local news station.

AP: At least 21 states, including Arizona, Michigan and Ohio, are putting parts of their surpluses into reserves . . .

Religion Clause Blog: In Salman v. City of Phoenix, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 83305 (D AZ, June 15, 2012), an Arizona federal district court denied a homeowner’s request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to bar enforcement of Phoenix’s building, zoning, fire and safety codes against religious meetings in private homes.

SCOTUS Blog reports on the litigation.

VerdeNews: Arizona voters are being asked to give Gov. Jan Brewer and her successors more power to choose who they want to serve as judges. Proposition 115 would sharply alter the process voters approved in 1974, which has special screening panels review would-be judges for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and the superior courts of Pima and Maricopa County.

The HIll: NARAL Pro-Choice America praised Ron Barber, the Democrat elected Tuesday to replace former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), for the “pro-choice values” he will bring to Congress.

AP: The average cost of attending a four-year public university increased by 15 percent over a two-year period.

CNN: A new poll released Friday gives insight on American attitudes toward two major cases the Supreme Court could rule on as early as Monday, one involving health care reform and the other on Arizona’s controversial immigration law.

LifeNews: A third video in a series devoted to exposing how the abortion industry is willing to arrange sex-selection abortions for women who seek them shows two National Abortion Federation-affiliated clinics in Arizona agreeing to break state law and perform an illegal sex-selective abortion.