A new report detailing the ratings on all the judges who say they want another term in office concludes they all meet the standards and should be allowed to remain on the bench.
The scores come ahead of the Nov. 5 election where voters will get the last word on Supreme Court Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King; four judges from the Court of Appeals; 42 judges of Maricopa County Superior Court; 16 from Pima County Superior Court; four from Pinal County Superior Court; and one from Coconino County Superior Court.
This could also be the last time voters actually have a say on most judges. That's because of Proposition 137, which is also on the ballot.
It would eliminate the requirement for judges who are found to have met commission standards to have to get voter approval for another term. Proponents argue there's no reason to clutter up the ballot for those who meet standards and are likely to be returned to office anyway.
But Prop. 137, if approved, also makes this year's report the last time voters could get a chance to decide, regardless of the findings, whether someone should remain on the bench. Only those who would be found to not meet qualifications — a rare but not unheard-of occurrence based on the survey questions — would have to convince voters they deserve another term.
In fact, voters may not even have a full say this time.
Prop. 137 is crafted to make it retroactive, to even before the Nov. 5 election. So, if approved, it would not only change the rules in the future but would override any votes cast this year to oust any of the 69 judges on the ballot.
