Arizona Case Commentaries

Arizona Supreme Court Clarifies Grants Interpretation and Severability Standards in Proposition 208 Decision

Date: Aug 20, 2021

Arizona Supreme Court Clarifies Grants Interpretation and Severability Standards in Proposition 208 Decision 1. Introduction In the landmark case Karen Fann, et al. v. State of Arizona, et al. (493...

Standards for Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims in Arizona: Analysis of State v. Bigger

Date: Aug 17, 2021

Standards for Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims in Arizona: Analysis of State of Arizona v. Ronald Bruce Bigger Introduction State of Arizona v. Ronald Bruce Bigger, 492 P.3d 1020 (Ariz....

Arizona Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of School-Student Duty of Care in Negligence Cases

Date: Aug 7, 2021

Arizona Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of School-Student Duty of Care in Negligence Cases Introduction In the landmark case of Diannah Dinsmoor v. City of Phoenix et al. (492 P.3d 313), the Supreme...

Legislative Immunity in Defamation Claims: Insights from Mesnard v. Campagnolo

Date: Jul 1, 2021

Legislative Immunity in Defamation Claims: Insights from Mesnard v. Campagnolo Introduction Mesnard v. Campagnolo, 489 P.3d 1189 (Ariz. 2021), marks a significant development in the doctrine of...

Arizona Supreme Court Establishes Fundamental Error Standard for Prosecutorial Misstatements of Reasonable Doubt

Date: Mar 19, 2021

Arizona Supreme Court Establishes Fundamental Error Standard for Prosecutorial Misstatements of Reasonable Doubt Introduction In the landmark case State of Arizona v. Easton Courtney Murray, the...

Negligent Disclosure of Medical Information: Shepherd v. Costco Wholesale Corp. Establishes Key Precedents in Immunity and HIPAA Standards

Date: Mar 9, 2021

Negligent Disclosure of Medical Information: Shepherd v. Costco Wholesale Corp. Establishes Key Precedents in Immunity and HIPAA Standards Introduction The case of Greg Shepherd v. Costco Wholesale...

Arizona Supreme Court Establishes Limits on Attorney General’s Litigative Authority: Brnovich v. Arizona Board of Regents

Date: Nov 26, 2020

Arizona Supreme Court Establishes Limits on Attorney General’s Litigative Authority: Brnovich v. Arizona Board of Regents Introduction The case of State of Arizona, ex rel. Mark Brnovich, Attorney...

Good-Faith Exception Applied to CSLI Orders in Arizona: STATE v. SMITH

Date: Nov 5, 2020

Good-Faith Exception Applied to CSLI Orders in Arizona: STATE v. SMITH Introduction In State of Arizona v. Allyn Akeem Smith, 475 P.3d 558 (2020), the Arizona Supreme Court affirmed the convictions...

Establishing the Materiality Standard for Willits Instructions in Arizona: State v. Hernandez

Date: Oct 28, 2020

Establishing the Materiality Standard for Willits Instructions in Arizona: State of Arizona v. Pablo Isaac Hernandez (474 P.3d 1191) Introduction In the landmark case of State of Arizona v. Pablo...

Arizona Supreme Court Upholds Proper Initiative Description and Valid Circulator Compensation Structures

Date: Oct 27, 2020

Arizona Supreme Court Upholds Proper Initiative Description and Valid Circulator Compensation Structures Introduction The case of Jaime A. Molera, et al. v. Katie Hobbs, et al. addressed two pivotal...

Arizona Supreme Court Upholds De Facto Juvenile Life Sentences

Date: Oct 10, 2020

Arizona Supreme Court Upholds De Facto Juvenile Life Sentences Introduction The Arizona Supreme Court, in the consolidated cases of State of Arizona v. Martin Raul Soto-Fong, State v. Wade Nolan...

Arizona Supreme Court Affirms In-Person Initiative Signature Requirements Amid COVID-19

Date: Sep 5, 2020

Arizona Supreme Court Affirms In-Person Initiative Signature Requirements Amid COVID-19 Introduction In the landmark case of Arizonans for Second Chances, Rehabilitation, and Public Safety (ASCRPS),...

Arizona Supreme Court Declares Gang-Based Sentencing Enhancements Unconstitutional

Date: Sep 2, 2020

Arizona Supreme Court Declares Gang-Based Sentencing Enhancements Unconstitutional Introduction In the landmark case State of Arizona v. Christopher Arevalo, decided on September 1, 2020, the Supreme...

Arizona Supreme Court Establishes New Standard for Cumulative Prosecutorial Misconduct Claims

Date: Aug 1, 2020

Arizona Supreme Court Establishes New Standard for Cumulative Prosecutorial Misconduct Claims Introduction The Supreme Court of Arizona, in the landmark case State of Arizona v. Luis Armando Vargas...

Clarifying Ethical Boundaries: Martinez Reprimand Establishes Distinction Between Prosecutorial Misconduct and Ethical Violations

Date: May 1, 2020

Clarifying Ethical Boundaries: Martinez Reprimand Establishes Distinction Between Prosecutorial Misconduct and Ethical Violations Introduction In the landmark case In the Matter of a Member of the...

Risk-Based Termination of Parental Rights: Sandra R. v. Department of Child Safety

Date: Mar 12, 2020

Risk-Based Termination of Parental Rights: Sandra R. v. Department of Child Safety Introduction Sandra R., Sergio C., Appellants, v. Department of Child Safety, M.R., F.M., J.M., Appellees (459 P.3d...

Riley v. Arizona: Affirming the Application of Aggravating Factors and Upholding Capital Sentencing Procedures

Date: Mar 11, 2020

Riley v. Arizona: Affirming the Application of Aggravating Factors and Upholding Capital Sentencing Procedures Introduction Riley v. Arizona (459 P.3d 66) is a pivotal decision by the Supreme Court...

Life Without Possibility of Parole for 25 Years: Parole Eligibility Affirmed Despite Statutory Prohibition

Date: Mar 6, 2020

Life Without Possibility of Parole for 25 Years: Parole Eligibility Affirmed Despite Statutory Prohibition Introduction The case of Abelardo Chaparro v. David C. Shinn, decided by the Supreme Court...

Appellate Rights Protected: Arizona Supreme Court Strikes Down Mandatory Dismissal of Appeals Upon Defendant's Death

Date: Jan 25, 2020

Appellate Rights Protected: Arizona Supreme Court Strikes Down Mandatory Dismissal of Appeals Upon Defendant's Death Introduction In the landmark case of State of Arizona v. Richard Allen Reed (456...

Enforcing Embryo Disposition Agreements in Divorce Proceedings: Arizona Supreme Court Sets Precedent

Date: Jan 24, 2020

Enforcing Embryo Disposition Agreements in Divorce Proceedings: Arizona Supreme Court Sets Precedent Introduction The case of In Re the Matter of: John Joseph Terrell v. Ruby Torres, decided by the...