The Arizona Supreme Court Tuesday agreed to review a finding that former Attorney General Tom Horne violated campaign finance laws during his 2010 campaign.
The decision gives Horne and his aide a final chance to have a lower-court judgement overturned.
That judgement ordered Horne to repay $400,000 to donors, and possibly up to $1.2 million in fines.
Horne contends there was not enough evidence for the Yavapai County Attorney to decide his election actions were illegal.
Horne's attorney, Dennis Wilenchik, said the county attorney acted improperly by conducting the investigation and participating in the case.
“It’s kind of like she’s judge, jury and executioner all in one," Wilenchik said. "Putting Horne aside, whether you like him or don’t like him, the reality is, it’s not right.”
This case is separate from other investigations on whether Horne illegally used office staff and equipment in his unsuccessful 2014 re-election campaign.