Arizona Proposition 137 debate on term limits for court judges

Cathy Sigmon, Co-Founder of Civics Engagement Beyond Voting, and Representative Alexander Kolodin (R) of U.S. Congressional District 3, joined “Arizona Horizon” to debate Proposition 137, which will be included on the upcoming ballot.

Prop 137 proposes a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would eliminate judicial terms for Arizona Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Judges. It would also apply to judges of the Superior Court in counties with more than 250,000 people.

If approved, voters will no longer be able to decide whether to retain those judges at the end of their judicial term.

“What we propose to do is give voters a smaller and more curated list of judges that you’ll actually have time to do your background on and cast an informed vote,” Rep. Kolodin said.

Those judges would only be subject to a retention election if they were convicted of a felony or a crime involving fraud or dishonesty, were a debtor in bankruptcy proceeding, held a mortgage under foreclosure or did not meet performance standards according to the Commission on Judicial Performance Review.

“Prop 137 is actually a partisan political move to wrap our current judiciary in bubble wrap and freeze it against the transparency and accountability to the people,” Sigmon said. “Not only that, it would also throw out our votes in the November election.”

The House of Representatives and the Senate will each appoint one member to the Commission. The Commission must investigate any allegation regarding a judge if any legislator requests it.

If approved, these amendments will be applied retroactively. Votes cast in the November 2024 election about whether to retain a judge will not be given effect.