Right here. When Joe Biden is the civil libertarian/limited government candidate in the room….
Continue Reading Harris' view of your Second Amendment rights and "Executive Orders."
BREAKING: AZ Supreme Court THROWS OUT AZ Republican Party Action Challenging Hobbs' Executive Orders Encouraging Polling Places & Drop Boxes
The Arizona Supreme Court DISMISSED in quick order a Special Action Petition filed by the Arizona Republican Party challenging two election-related Executive Orders issued last year by Governor Katie Hobbs. The Executive Orders encouraged Arizona counties to make use of state facilities for polling places and drop boxes.Chief Justice Ann Timmer’s Order scolded the party for not justifying filing the action directly with the Supreme Court, and for why it waited so long after the Executive Orders were issued. The attorney for the AZGOP was Andrew Gould, one of Timmer’s former colleagues on the Supreme Court bench.The Court concludes that
Continue Reading BREAKING: AZ Supreme Court THROWS OUT AZ Republican Party Action Challenging Hobbs' Executive Orders Encouraging Polling Places & Drop Boxes
BREAKING: Mohave County Supervisor Ron Gould Strikes Out On Hand Count Case Against AG Mayes (READ Minute Entry)
Mohave County Supervisor Ron Gould cannot get legal immunity in advance for voting to hand count all upcoming election ballots. His lawsuit against Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes was dismissed today by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Brad Astrowsky.Gould filed the declaratory judgment action early this year, after Mayes had advised the Mohave County Board that conducting a full hand count would be against Arizona laws (that Gould had helped shape as a former lawmaker).The case was dismissed before trial because Gould’s rights as one Supervisor were not yet impacted (because his fellow Supervisors voted against a full hand
Continue Reading BREAKING: Mohave County Supervisor Ron Gould Strikes Out On Hand Count Case Against AG Mayes (READ Minute Entry)
Wolford: complex 9th Circuit ruling on "sensitive places"
Opinion here. It is an 84-page ruling, upholding some restrictions (no carrying in parks, bars, playgrounds, etc.),rejecting others (carrying in banks, bank parking lots, and parking lots shared by government and non-government buildings).
Here is another discussion of the ruling.
Continue Reading Wolford: complex 9th Circuit ruling on "sensitive places"
How often does "a good guy with a gun stop a bad guy with a gun"
John Lott’s research suggests it’s a lot more often than either government or the media want you to think.
“The FBI dataset is missing so many defensive gun uses that it’s hard to believe it isn’t intentional and the fact that they never correct mistakes that are brought to their attention is even more damning. All the while, the news media unquestioningly reports the FBI’s numbers, actively distorting the truth regarding the pivotal rule responsible gun owners have played in preventing crime and limiting casualties during mass public shootings.”
Continue Reading How often does "a good guy with a gun stop a bad guy with a gun"
Navy relieves ship commander who was photographed firing M-4 with scope mounted backwards
Story here. How his people even mounted the scope backwards, let alone giving it to their commander, let alone him shooting it and not noticing, is beyond me.
The Navy has come a long ways since the days of Admiral Willis Lee, who won five gold medals for shooting events in the 1920 Olympics, and in 1942 blew a Japanese battleship to bits using radar-aided gunnery. I can’t find the source just now, but he went ashore at Vera Cruz in 1914 and swapped fire with some opponents. In later years he was up for promotion but some
Continue Reading Navy relieves ship commander who was photographed firing M-4 with scope mounted backwards
Report on Trump sniper incident
I haven’t made an entry in weeks due to health issues (my own and my older son), but just now feeling enough energy for a few.
Here is a preliminary report by the House Bipartisan Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of former President Donald Trump. It seems very thorough. I like:
“The 9th shot fired on J13 was from a Butler SWAT operator from the ground about 100 yards away from the AGR building. Shot 9 hit Crooks’ rifle stock and fragged his face/neck/right shoulder area from the stock breaking up. The SWAT operator who took this shot was
Continue Reading Report on Trump sniper incident
SITTING ON TWO BENCHES: Arizona's 2nd Supreme Court Is Based In… Honduras? Arizona Semi-Retired Justice, Judges Are Only Senior Arbiters In "Precarious" Semi-Autonomous City
A semi-retired Arizona Supreme Court Justice and two other retired Arizona judges comprise the highest level of arbitrators in a privately-owned, semi-autonomous, Ayn Rand-inspired city on a Honduran island. The New York Times Magazine reports this week that “Próspera” also is in a battle for survival with the current Honduran government.Retired Justice John Pelander is one of the three “Senior Arbiters” for the Próspera Arbitration Center and heads the “Appellate Division”. PAC is essentially the judicial branch for the ZEDE (“Zone for Employment and Economic Development”) “backed by the Silicon Valley billionaires Peter Thiel, Sam Altman and Marc Andreessen”. Earlier
Continue Reading SITTING ON TWO BENCHES: Arizona's 2nd Supreme Court Is Based In… Honduras? Arizona Semi-Retired Justice, Judges Are Only Senior Arbiters In "Precarious" Semi-Autonomous City
BREAKING: AZ Supreme Court Blesses Leg Council's Analysis Of Open Primaries' Initiative Focusing On RCV Provision, REVERSES Trial Court (READ Decision)
The Arizona Supreme Court has now blessed the Republican Legislative Council’s “impartial analysis” of both citizens’ initiatives appearing on November’s ballot. After previously allowing “unborn human being” instead of “fetus”, the Justices today reversed the Superior Court judge’s decision that the analysis “misleadingly” elevates and characterizes the ranked choice voting provisions of the Open Primaries (aka Make Elections Fair Arizona) initiative.(This is a developing story. Please check back later for more details.)
This article was reported by AZ Law founder Paul Weich. “AZ Law” includes articles, commentaries and updates about opinions from the Arizona Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court,
Continue Reading BREAKING: AZ Supreme Court Blesses Leg Council's Analysis Of Open Primaries' Initiative Focusing On RCV Provision, REVERSES Trial Court (READ Decision)
BREAKING: Robert F. Kennedy FILES Arizona Paperwork, Lists Same New York Residence Found To Be "Sham" Address; Says He Turned In 110,000 Signatures
The plot thickened this afternoon, as Independent Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. turned in a purported 110,000 signatures to get on the Arizona General Election ballot, but listed a home address in New York that a judge in that state found to be a “sham” address.While Arizona does not require a Presidential candidate to live in New York, Kennedy did sign the nomination paper attesting that the Katonah address is his “actual residence address”.The nomination paper will likely be one of the bases for filing a legal challenge to keep him off the Arizona ballot. Arizona – unlike
Continue Reading BREAKING: Robert F. Kennedy FILES Arizona Paperwork, Lists Same New York Residence Found To Be "Sham" Address; Says He Turned In 110,000 Signatures
NEW UPDATE: Arizona Battle Over Documentary Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote JOINED At the U.S. Supreme Court
Several Responses were filed with the U.S. Supreme Court this afternoon opposing Republican legislative leaders’ attempt to force Arizona counties to REJECT any state voter registration applications filed between now and October if they do not provide documentary proof of citizenship (instead of just swearing to be a citizen).(Assigned) Justice Elena Kagan is expected to decide next week whether or not to order compliance with the 2022 bills that added the requirement. She could also ask the entire bench to decide the on-again, off-again stay of an injunction against the provisions.The request to permit the prohibition was filed last
Continue Reading NEW UPDATE: Arizona Battle Over Documentary Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote JOINED At the U.S. Supreme Court
OFF THE BENCH, ON THE BENCH: AZ Supreme Court Recusal Merry-Go-Round Picks Up Speed and Chief Justice Timmer Explains How It Works, and How One Retired Justice Got Both Abortion Cases
If you’re an Arizona’s Law reader and/or paying attention elsewhere, you are aware of the wave of Arizona Supreme Court Justice recusals that has been building. Today, it crashed to the shore with a decision in one of the abortion rights measure cases and with recusals in two more cases (below).In two of the four election-related cases with recusals, retired Justices were called in to come off the bench… and get on the bench.The Court wants Arizonans to have confidence in the judicial system, including this recusal/replacement system. Arizona’s Law had questions for new Chief Justice Ann Timmer, and
Continue Reading OFF THE BENCH, ON THE BENCH: AZ Supreme Court Recusal Merry-Go-Round Picks Up Speed and Chief Justice Timmer Explains How It Works, and How One Retired Justice Got Both Abortion Cases
BREAKING: Judge DENIES Public Records Request For Elections Employees' Identities Due To "Legitimate Security Concerns", Awards Maricopa County Its Attorneys' Fees
In a long-awaited decision, a Superior Court judge today DENIED a lawsuit filed to use public records laws to obtain the identities of all Maricopa County elections employees who worked with verifying ballot envelope signatures. Judge Scott Blaney found that there are “legitimate security concerns” if the identities of lower level and non-managerial employees were released.The “We the People Arizona Alliance” will also be responsible for Maricopa County’s attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in defending the suit. The judge declined to consider whether We the People attorney Bryan Blehm handled the evidentiary hearing while under suspension by the State Bar of
Continue Reading BREAKING: Judge DENIES Public Records Request For Elections Employees' Identities Due To "Legitimate Security Concerns", Awards Maricopa County Its Attorneys' Fees
BREAKING: Jenna Ellis Flips, Agrees To Testify Against Other Defendants In "Fake Electors" Case; Judge Scolds Toma/Petersen For Gratuitous Attacks On AG Mayes
Former Trump/Giuliani attorney Jenna Ellis has “flipped” and agreed to testify against fellow defendants in Arizona’s “Fake Electors” case; in return, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has agreed to dismiss all charges against her*.Also, in the case today, Judge Bruce Cohen slapped Republican legislative leaders Ben Toma and Warren Petersen for filing unnecessarily inflammatory arguments against Mayes. He agreed to consider their friend of the court (“amicus”) brief about the new anti-SLAPP provisions that form the basis for the defendants’ Motions to Dismiss.Mayes hinted about the Ellis Cooperation Agreement on Friday in an interview, but released it today (below).
Continue Reading BREAKING: Jenna Ellis Flips, Agrees To Testify Against Other Defendants In "Fake Electors" Case; Judge Scolds Toma/Petersen For Gratuitous Attacks On AG Mayes
BREAKING, GAIN TWO OR LOSE ONE? Arizona Would Gain 2 New Federal Judges In Bill Passed Unanimously By Senate Today; AZ Sen. Mark Kelly a Co-Sponsor
Arizona would gain two new federal judgeships under a bill passed unanimously by the Senate today. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) is one of the 17 co-sponsors. However, if a companion bill passed earlier this year is not signed into law, Arizona could LOSE a judge in 2025.If the bill passes the House and is signed by President Biden, Arizona would gain a judge – to be appointed by the President elected in November – in 2027, and a second judgeship in 2031. The bill would create 66 judges nationally, in five stages, beginning next year.Additionally, another Senate-passed bill that
Continue Reading BREAKING, GAIN TWO OR LOSE ONE? Arizona Would Gain 2 New Federal Judges In Bill Passed Unanimously By Senate Today; AZ Sen. Mark Kelly a Co-Sponsor
FIRST TO STEP ASIDE: Supreme Court Justice Bolick RECUSES From Abortion Rights Prop. 139 Language Appeal; Montgomery Next?
(UPDATE, 1:20pm: The article has been updated to reflect that state Sen. Shawnna Bolick is one of the Appellants because she is a member of the Legislative Council.)Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick recused himself yesterday from hearing the expedited appeal on whether the official ballot language for Prop. 139 – the abortion rights measure – should use the phrase “unborn human being” to describe what the proposed constitutional language calls a “fetus”.The Court also set the expedited briefing schedule for the ballot language case, with all briefing to take place next week and for a subsequent
Continue Reading FIRST TO STEP ASIDE: Supreme Court Justice Bolick RECUSES From Abortion Rights Prop. 139 Language Appeal; Montgomery Next?
