Then...
In 1974, Arizona citizens amended our constitution to change how we select judges. Until that time, all judges were elected. The constitutional amendment approved that year has applicants for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and trial courts in Pima and Maricopa counties screened by special commissions. The governor must select from that list. Whomever the governor selects then “runs” for re-election every four years.
Now...
Arizona's method of "Merit Selection" of judges has been widely praised and used as a model across America. A report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, from October 2009, entitled, “Promoting Merit in Merit Selection, a Best Practices Guide to Commission-Based Judicial Selection,” said, "Arizona leads the nation with the procedures it has put in place to fulfill the promise of true nonpartisan 'merit' selection."
If You Don't Act
Proposition 115 is a power grab by those who want to take control of our independent courts to benefit their own agenda and special interests. The proposed change would mean more government intrusion into the judicial selection process. Among the “Best Practices” advocated by this U.S. Chamber institute are several that would be eliminated by Proposition 115. It would be disastrous.