IRC case will not go straight to Arizona Supreme Court

May 30, 2012

The Arizona Supreme Court will not hear a case dealing with whether the state’s Open Meeting Law apply to the Independent Redistricting Commission - at least not yet. From Phoenix, KJZZ’s Mark Brodie reports.

MARK BRODIE: In December, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled the IRC does not have to abide by the Open Meeting Law, but rather a clause in the state Constitution that requires open, public meetings when at least three of the five commissioners are present. The case stemmed from the panel’s decision-making process when hiring its mapping consultant. Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery appealed the ruling, but wanted to skip the state Appeals Court, and go straight to the Arizona Supreme Court. On Wednesday, the high court denied that motion, meaning the Court of Appeals will have to hear the case before the Supreme Court would consider hearing it.