Progressive Groups Urge Arizona Congress to Champion Supreme Court Reforms

A coalition of progressive organizations in Arizona is urging Congress to support significant structural reforms aimed at increasing accountability within the U.S. Supreme Court. This call to action responds to what the groups describe as a court “captured by dangerous right-wing interests.”

In an open letter addressed to Arizona’s congressional delegation, 15 progressive groups expressed their backing for the reforms President Joe Biden proposed in July. Biden advocates for instituting 18-year term limits for justices, allowing for new appointments every two years. He also seeks the establishment of enforceable ethical standards that mandate the disclosure of gifts, prohibit public political activities, and require recusal from cases where a justice or their spouse has a financial or political interest.

The push for reform comes amidst growing public distrust in the Supreme Court, exacerbated by recent ethics scandals and the controversial overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, which conflicted with popular sentiment on abortion rights. However, Republican leaders have dismissed Biden’s proposals, describing them as “dead on arrival.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the president’s plan, labeling it a “radical overhaul.” He characterized it as a logical extension of Democratic efforts to undermine the legitimacy of the Supreme Court, emphasizing that the desire for change stems from disagreement with recent rulings.

The Arizona progressive groups cited a recent Supreme Court ruling that allowed a restrictive voter registration law to take effect in the state just before an election. They condemned this action as an attempt to suppress voter turnout, arguing it has resulted in “chaos and confusion.”

“This case reflects a long-term strategy to fill the courts with partisan judges who prioritize political alignment over the law,” the letter stated.

Additionally, the groups criticized a broader ruling from earlier in the summer that granted extensive immunity protections to former President Donald Trump, who is facing multiple criminal charges related to his actions surrounding the 2020 election and the January 6 Capitol riot.

“The justices have revealed their partisanship, confirming what we have long suspected: The U.S. Supreme Court is now a tool for dangerous right-wing interests, wielding the law to promote a political agenda over the public’s will,” they asserted.

Stasha Rhodes, campaign director of United for Democracy, emphasized that Arizonans cannot tolerate further erosion of their rights or liberties against unchecked judicial overreach. She noted the necessity of protecting citizens from such actions by the highest court in the nation.

The organizations that co-signed the letter include a diverse array of groups, such as Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Advocates, Arizona Faith Network, Arizona NAACP State Conference, and Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), among others.