Carolyn McCorkle, First Vice Chair, SLRC
The Sun Lakes Republican Club will feature special guest speaker Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick presenting “Our Constitutions and the Courts,” at its regular meeting Tuesday, January 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the Arizona Room of the Sun Lakes Country Club, 25601 S. Sun Lakes Blvd., Sun Lakes, AZ 85248. The public is invited. This is a dynamic presentation that you will want to share with your friends and neighbors!
How familiar are you with our federal and state courts? On December 9, 1910, the Arizona Constitutional Convention completed Arizona’s Constitution and sent it to the people for ratification. Article VI of the Constitution created the judicial system. In 1960, Arizona voters approved the Modern Courts Amendment, which amended Article VI and gave the Supreme Court administrative supervision over all the courts of the state and authorized the creation of the Court of Appeals, among other changes.
The Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court are Arizona’s appellate courts. The state appellate courts have jurisdiction to review trials and decisions appealed to them. The two divisions of the Court of Appeals hear most of the appeals that come from the superior court, except for death penalty appeals and some cases involving elected officials and disputes between counties, which go directly to the Supreme Court. To appeal a decision from the Court of Appeals, the appellant must file a petition for review by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court justices evaluate the petitions for review and decide whether they will hear the case. Unlike the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court is not required to hear every appeal.
Justice Clint Bolick of the Arizona Supreme Court is a dynamic and sought-after speaker who will explain the relationship of “Our Constitutions and Our Courts” and review some recent decisions that affect our liberties at both the federal and state level.
Justice Bolick was appointed to the Supreme Court by Governor Doug Ducey in January, 2016. He was formerly the Vice President for Litigation at the Goldwater Institute from 2007-2016. He has also served as an attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, and was Special Assistant at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
He has received many honors and awards for his public service, including “90 Greatest DC Lawyers in Past 30 Years,” 2008, and the “Thomas J. Szasz Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Cause of Civil Liberties,” 1999. Justice Bolick is the author of many books and law review articles, including Immigration Wars: Forging an American Solution, 2013. He served on the Boards of BASIS Schools, Inc, 2006-2016, Great Hearts Academies, 2005-2016, and Arizona Charter Schools Association, 2006-2014.
You will also have an opportunity to meet some local candidates for office and enjoy time with neighbors and friends. For more information, visit our website at www.slgop.org or contact Mike Tennant at 480-802-0178.