The Arizona Supreme Court will consider Tuesday how to proceed with a case against former regulator Susan Bitter Smith. Bitter Smith recently resigned from the corporation commission over conflict of interest allegations.
Bitter Smith has now officially stepped down from her position as chair of the commission, and Gov. Ducey has appointed a replacement — former House Speaker and Republican Andy Tobin. But the state’s high court must still decide whether to go forward with the case brought by Attorney General Mark Brnovich, who had called for Bitter Smith’s removal because of her ties to the telecom industry.
Bitter Smith and her attorney have said they want the court to proceed with the case in order to clear her name and dispel the claim that she broke the law.
But Brnovich has said he believes the case is moot, now that Bitter Smith has left the commission.