Arizona Bulks Up Bench

In a move he said would increase efficiency, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation last week to expand the state’s Supreme Court from five to seven justices. “Arizonans deserve swift justice from the judicial branch,” Ducey wrote in a letter. “Adding more voices will ensure that the court can increase efficiency, hear more cases and issue more opinions.” He said the move will put Arizona on par with other states that have similar or smaller populations, yet more Supreme Court justices, like Washington, Nevada, Colorado, and Wisconsin. The increase will cost the state $1 million annually. Detractors claim the governor is seizing an opportunity to appoint more Republican-leaning justices to the state’s highest court. “[T]he only reason to do it is so the governor can stack the Supreme Court with his picks,” said Sen. Katie Hobbs of Phoenix.