Arizona behaving badly and otherwise

[Foggy]

[raison de arizona]

Hey look, it is our old friend Bill Montgomery.

BREAKING: Anti-abortion Arizona judge recuses himself from abortion case

Arizona Supreme Court Justice Bill Montgomery has recused himself from an upcoming case before the court regarding the state’s 1864 abortion ban.

Montgomery, who last week rejected a request from Planned Parenthood Arizona that he remove himself from the case, announced Thursday that he would not participate in the ruling after all.

“Additional information related to the parties and respective council has come to my attention,” Montgomery wrote in a court filing. “Warranting that I recuse myself from any further deliberations in this matter.”

Montgomery under scrutiny
Montgomery’s involvement in the case came under scrutiny after past statements of his came to light, where he called abortion a “grisly operation” and accused Planned Parenthood of genocide.

https://coppercourier.com/2023/11/30/ar ... -case-ban/

[raison de arizona]

https://x.com/BarryMarkson1/status/1732 ... 84340?s=20

BREAKING: Cochise County Supervisors facing criminal charges will not have their legal fees paid by Cochise County, the county risk pool or the state. Each supervisor will have to pay his/her own legal fees or raise donations.

[raison de arizona]

Nothing to see here, just a resolution from the GOP to impeach the AZ AG. That and five bucks will get you a cup of coffee.

MCRC EGC Adopts Resolution Calling Upon #AZLeg House to Bring Forward Impeachment Charges Against 'AZ Attorney General' Kris Mayes for Grotesque Abuse of Office & Violation of Her Oath to U.S. & AZ Constitutions.

PDF: https://rb.gy/ib0rv8

#MCRC

https://x.com/MaricopaGOP/status/173238 ... 28736?s=20
(PDF link above is the resolution)

[sugar magnolia]

Are they trying to sound fancy by saying grotesque abuse rather than gross abuse?

[keith]

Are they trying to sound fancy by saying grotesque abuse rather than gross abuse?

Here's a guess, "gross abuse" is a legal term describing a crime of some sort. "Grotesque abuse" is a MAGA word salad that sounds, um... grotesque without getting them in trouble for false accusation.

[Ben-Prime]

Are they trying to sound fancy by saying grotesque abuse rather than gross abuse?

Maybe the abuser was a gargoyle. But more likely, as noted, it's to sound as close as it can to a legal term without actually being one as verbal sleight of hand ("sleight of tongue"?) Maybe they'll try to make it the 'collusion' of 2024 as things unfold.

[raison de arizona]

GOP lawmaker Alexander Kolodin sanctioned for 2020 ‘kraken’ lawsuit, other election cases

A GOP legislator was admonished by the State Bar of Arizona and placed on probation last week for his role in lawsuits challenging the 2020 election, including the infamous “kraken” lawsuit that made implausible and evidence-free claims of massive election fraud.

State Rep. Alexander Kolodin was also disciplined for representing two Republican legislators and a GOP congressman in a defamation lawsuit filed against a Democratic lawmaker that was tossed out of court after a judge ruled it was “primarily (filed) for purposes of harassment.”

Kolodin entered into a settlement with the Bar on Nov. 6. The Scottsdale Republican accepted the admonition and 18 months of probation, agreed to pay around $2,700 in court costs and must complete several continuing legal education courses focused on attorney ethics.

An Arizona Supreme Court disciplinary panel found that Kolodin “violated his duty to the legal profession, the legal system, and the public” by bringing cases that were backed by no evidence, misrepresented Arizona law and sought relief that would be illegal.

In a statement to the Arizona Mirror, Kolodin claimed the Bar disciplinary process was being abused by “radical left wing activists” who filed three separate complaints against him.

“It is unfortunate that the bar’s effort to keep lawyers honest is being gamed by political operatives,” he said. “I was happy to have the opportunity to protect my team and allow them to put this matter in the rear view mirror.”

https://www.azmirror.com/2023/12/14/gop ... ion-cases/

[raison de arizona]

So they are going after the Cochise County attorney now for not defending the crazies. Hope they get slapped down quick.

► Show Spoiler

[raison de arizona]

Apparently it is a ghost town currently in Rocky Point.

US citizens urged not to travel to Rocky Point until Lukeville border crossing reopens

The U.S. Consulate General strongly advised U.S. citizens against traveling to Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, known as Rocky Point, and warned about using alternate routes to reach the beach town as the Lukeville Port of Entry remains shuttered.

Officials issued the warning Wednesday, advising citizens not to travel to Rocky Point until the port of entry reopens. Citizens traveling to or from Rocky Point are advised to only travel during daylight hours, maintain a high level of vigilance and keep a low profile.

“Due to the continued closure of the Lukeville-Sonoyta U.S. Port of Entry, the U.S. Consulate General reminds U.S. citizens that U.S. government employees may not travel to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) using any other route until the Lukeville Port of Entry reopens,” the written advisory reads.

Travelers are advised to monitor local media for updates, follow directions from local officials and call 911 in case of emergency. The guidance reminds citizens that U.S. government employees cannot travel to Rocky Point using any alternate routes until the port reopens.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/po ... 012762007/

[raison de arizona]

And the hits keep coming.

Attorney in Mark Finchem’s election challenge lawsuit sanctioned, forced to retire

An attorney who represented former Republican lawmaker Mark Finchem in an election contest that baselessly claimed fraud has been sanctioned and ordered to retire for at least one year.

Cave Creek attorney Daniel McCauley, a lawyer with no experience in election law, represented the former Oro Valley legislator in contesting Finchem’s election loss. He and Finchem claimed that Adrian Fontes, who defeated Finchem in the 2022 secretary of state race, only won because of election malfeasance at the hands of Maricopa County and then-Secretary of State Katie Hobbs.

However, the two men provided no evidence that anything affected the outcome of the election.

Last year, after the case was heard and dismissed, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Melissa Julian deemed that the suit was brought in bad faith and allowed for sanctions to be pursued against both Finchem and McCauley. In her ruling, Julian cited comments made by Finchem and McCauley during proceedings.

“I took this (case) because they needed somebody to do this,” McCauley said during one hearing. “I guess it does not matter if I get sanctioned here. I’m 75, semi-retired, and it will be two years or so before they get to it.”

Julian noted that McCauley’s comment showed that he had “some awareness that this case lacked merit” as “he expressed being less at risk of being disbarred as a result of the filing given his impending retirement.”

https://www.azmirror.com/blog/attorney- ... to-retire/

[Rolodex]

IANAL, but it seems to me in the case of the Cochise County attorney, advice he, as a public official, gives to another public board (elections board) would not have the same "A/C privilege." Did they pay him? Is this an official duty of his office (to provide advice to public/municipal orgs)?

[Rolodex]

As an Alabamian, I'd like to thank Arizona for producing some really bad folks. We might, however, get the prize for ousting 3 top officials at the same time. One year we booted the governor, chief justice of the supreme court AND the House speaker!

Fun article - some folks you'll know, some maybe not unless you're from AZ.

So quaint that there used to be behaviors so egregious that you'd even get impeached. These seem like standard MAGA qualifications these days.

Paranoid political kook and Pontiac dealer Evan “Ev” Mecham was elected Arizona’s 17th governor in 1986 with a plurality in a three-way race that split the Democratic vote. Eighteen months later, the diminutive Archie Bunker-like bigot was out on his ass, impeached and convicted by the state Legislature on charges of obstruction of justice and misuse of public funds.

His time in office was one wild, disastrous ride that made the Grand Canyon State a national laughingstock. One of his first official acts was rescinding an executive order by his Democratic predecessor that made Martin Luther King Jr. Day an official state holiday. He followed that up with one racist gaffe after another, such as defending the use of the word “pickaninny” and saying a delegation of Japanese businesspeople “got round eyes” when shown Phoenix’s golf courses.

As a result of Mecham’s unending parade of horribles, dozens of groups canceled plans to hold their conventions in the state. A recall committee formed, which Mecham dismissed as consisting of “homosexuals and dissident Democrats.” A Mecham fan club formed to counter the recall but flopped when it was discovered that its 17-year-old leader had been convicted of molesting an 8-year-old girl.

The recall movement gathered more than enough signatures to force a recall election, but the effort was made moot by Mecham’s impeachment. His brief catastrophic tenure as Arizona’s chief executive presaged equally loathsome Sand Land politicos to come.

https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/jo ... y-17988095

[MN-Skeptic]

AZ GOP Chair Resigns After Allegedly Attempting to Bribe Kari Lake

Last March, Kari Lake made what seemed like a fantastical claim that "powerful people" were attempting to bribe her with a lucrative job if she would not run for office again. She provided little details at the time. However, an audio recording was just released of that conversation, resulting in the Chair of the Arizona Republican Party resigning today.

Nearly a year went by without any additional information to back up this claim. However, earlier this week an audio tape purporting to be made of the incident (likely recorded secretly by Lake or someone acting on her behalf) was made available to the public which seemed to corroborate her allegations.

Arizona State Republican Party Chair Jeff Dewit then acknowledged today that he was the person on the recording, and tendered his resignation. In the letter, Dewit claimed that the offer was "taken out of context." He notes that Kari Lake was actually his employee at the time and he was "looking out for her financial interests." He says that her act of recording the conversation "raises serious legal and moral concerns." Dewit's scathing letter goes on to rip Lake, accusing her of having a "disturbing tendency to exploit private interactions for personal gain and increases concerns about her habit of secretly recording personal and private conversations."

The letter from Dewit is at the link above.

[Volkonski]

11-year-old arrested after gun found in Mountainside Middle School classroom

https://www.abc15.com/news/region-north ... -classroom

A juvenile has been arrested after a gun was found in a classroom at Mountainside Middle School in Scottsdale Thursday afternoon.

Police say a student told staff that there was a gun on the floor in a classroom. A school resource officer confirmed that it was a loaded handgun.

According to the Scottsdale Police Department, the lockdown was prompted as a precaution and nobody was injured.

The school was on lockdown for three hours and police say students were released about 10 minutes after the normal release time.

School officials said Friday morning that an arrest was made overnight. Scottsdale police said the person who was arrested was an 11-year-old boy, whose name will not be released because he is a juvenile.

Police say the charges that are being filed are as follows: minor prohibited from possessing firearms, possessing deadly weapons on school grounds, and recklessly handling deadly weapons.

[raison de arizona]

Where did he get the loaded gun? An 11yo? Where are the parents/guardians?

[RTH10260]

Where did he get the loaded gun? An 11yo? Where are the parents/guardians?

My guess it was the parents hardware. Police needed some time to track the owner by the gun registration, then had to find a judge for arrest and search warrant. Followed by a night raid.

[pipistrelle]

Where did he get the loaded gun? An 11yo? Where are the parents/guardians?

Scottsdale is a tough neighborhood.

[Dave from down under]

Just another responsible gun owner…

How dare they punish a good guy with a gun.. :/

[bill_g]

Proposed bill would give Arizona Legislature authority to override popular vote

An Arizona lawmaker wants to give the state Legislature the power to appoint presidential electors regardless of who wins the popular vote.

Super swell idea. Then you always know the outcome. No more pesky ballots to secure and count.

[Rolodex]

No wonder I was seeing all the memes about Kari wearing a wire. LOL

[Frater I*I]

Proposed bill would give Arizona Legislature authority to override popular vote

An Arizona lawmaker wants to give the state Legislature the power to appoint presidential electors regardless of who wins the popular vote.

Super swell idea. Then you always know the outcome. No more pesky ballots to secure and count.

That's a feature of Fascism...

[Slim Cognito]

Holy fuckamole.

[bob]

An Arizona lawmaker wants to give the state Legislature the power to appoint presidential electors regardless of who wins the popular vote.

This would be constitutional, as the U.S. Constitution says each state decides how to select its electors. (Just like senators originally weren't chosen by popular vote.)

After the 2020 elections, some said legislatures could retroactively pick electors, but would be unconstitutional.

[Slim Cognito]

Sounds like an admission the state is going blue.