Drive to Defend Embattled Supreme Court Justice Amid Abortion Ruling Controversy

A conservative political activist has launched a campaign to persuade voters to keep Clint Bolick on the Arizona Supreme Court. Randy Kendrick, wife of Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick, is spearheading this initiative through a fundraising letter.

In her correspondence, Kendrick claimed that liberal groups have already secured key posts such as governor, secretary of state, and attorney general for Democrats. She noted that Republicans hold a slim majority in both the House and Senate.

“These same groups have now set their sights on the Arizona Supreme Court,” Kendrick warned, citing a report from the Yellow Sheet Report, affiliated with the Arizona Capitol Times.

Progress Arizona announced in April that they would campaign against Bolick and fellow Justice Kathryn King, who are up for re-election in November. National organizations like the National Democratic Redistricting Commission and Planned Parenthood Votes stated they would spend at least $5 million on supreme court races in several states, including Arizona. This followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade, placing state supreme courts in a crucial role.

Bolick and King were appointed by former Republican Governor Doug Ducey. They joined a majority ruling that upheld an 1864 abortion law over a 2022 statute allowing the procedure until the 15th week. Though state lawmakers have repealed the older law, Kendrick warns that ousting Bolick and King could allow Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs to appoint new justices, shifting the court’s balance.

Justice Robert Brutinel, another Republican appointee, faces mandatory retirement at age 70, which could happen by the end of 2026. This would further enable Hobbs to add another justice to the seven-member panel.

Kendrick fears that a liberal majority on the state Supreme Court would lead to unchecked governance by Democrats, who already control key statewide offices and risk gaining legislative dominance.

“Our last line of defense against liberal government overreach is the Arizona Supreme Court,” Kendrick wrote in her fundraising plea. She has committed significant funds to this effort, having already contributed $100,000 to the Judicial Independence Defense PAC.

Progress Arizona has yet to report any financial activity. Nevertheless, they aim to defeat both the justices and Proposition 137, which would limit voters’ ability to oust judges at the end of their terms.

Tim Berg of Arizonans for an Independent Judiciary echoes a different sentiment. With over $47,000 raised, their campaign isn’t specifically for Bolick or King. Instead, they seek to educate voters about the judicial retention process.

Berg insists that judicial retention “shouldn’t be based on one or two decisions,” advocating for a focus on their overall job performance rather than political alignment.

Abigail Jackson of Progress Arizona disagrees. She argues that voters have the right to hold judges accountable, especially when significant rulings like on abortion rights are at stake.

Jackson also pointed out the political maneuvering that expanded the court to seven justices in 2016, which allowed Ducey to appoint multiple judges during his term.

The rules governing judicial conduct complicate direct campaigning efforts by the judges themselves. Sitting judges are prohibited from soliciting funds or defending specific decisions, which necessitates outside advocates to step in.

Kendrick, a regular political donor, has successfully marshaled funds to influence the ongoing judicial battles. Her extensive contributions reflect her commitment to steering the political landscape in Arizona.