Arizona has 13 federal judges, well at least thirteen judgeships, but only seven are currently filled. That has left the working jurists with nearly unmanageable caseloads and a federal judicial system that has become severely backed up in the past few years. But, relief may be on the way.
After not acting to let six judges nominated by the Obama Administration move forward to up or down votes, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake has submitted his largely-symbolic blue slip. Now the nominees can be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Paul Charlton, former U.S. Attorney for Arizona, describes the impact of the judicial shortage.
