Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn Hackett King of the Arizona Supreme Court.
Arizona voters have never taken a Supreme Court seat. But Arizona’s judicial retention vote has drawn national attention after the state Supreme Court upheld a Civil War-era law banning nearly all abortions.
“The Arizona Supreme Court’s recent decision implementing and enforcing a more than 100-year-old anti-abortion law is a real wake-up call regarding the impact these courts have on people’s lives.” Director Marina Jenkins said. Political organization, National Democratic Redistricting Commission.
The National Democratic Precinct Committee, working with Planned Parenthood groups, plans to spend at least $5 million urging voters to remove state supreme court justices in several states, including Arizona, this November.
“It’s very important for these public servants to serve the public just like any other elected official,” Jenkins said.
In Arizona, judicial retention votes are held every six years. Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn Hackett King voted 4-2 for the near-total abortion ban, which is expected to be voted on this year.
In April, a group called Progress Arizona launched a new campaign to unseat Bolick and King.
A political action committee called Arizonans for an Independent Judiciary has launched a campaign in support of the judge. The group argues that retention rates should be based on qualifications and performance, rather than unpopular decisions.
