Knight v. Fontes
Will consider whether the retention election process for intermediate appellate judges violates the state constitution’s “free and equal” election and equal protection provisions. Voters represented by Goldwater Institute allege that the retention elections—in which voters currently vote only for the appellate judges who reside in their designated geographic area—should be statewide, as appellate decisions may have statewide impact, and cases are assigned not based on a judge’s residency and regularly transferred.
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State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in April
Issues on the dockets include parental rights under now-defunct same-sex marriage bans, New York City’s emissions caps for big buildings, and more.