by Corinne Murdock | Jan 4, 2023 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
As one of his last acts as governor, Doug Ducey appointed six judges to the Arizona Court of Appeals.
Ducey appointed Michael Catlett, Anni Hill Foster, and Daniel Kiley to Division I, and Lacey Stover Gard, Michael Kelly, and Christopher O’Neil to Division II.
In a press release, Ducey cited the increasing popularity of Arizona as a new home state as the reason for this large slate of appointments.
“These new judges will provide the much needed resources for the Court of Appeals to handle its growing caseload as more and more people choose Arizona as a place to live, work, and start a business,” said Ducey. “Each of these individuals are exceptionally talented and principled. They will faithfully uphold the law, defend the Constitution, and respect the separation of powers. I am proud to have these judges serve the State of Arizona on the Court of Appeals.”
Catlett was the former deputy solicitor general under former Attorney General Mark Brnovich. Prior to that, Catlett was a partner at a law firm, Quarles & Brady. Catlett offers pro bono legal services to Paralyzed Veterans of America, the U.S. District Court’s self-represented litigant clinic, and the Ninth Circuit’s pro bono program.
Foster served as Ducey’s general counsel, and formerly served as deputy general counsel. Prior to that, Foster served as general counsel for the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the assistant attorney general at the attorney general’s office. Foster is involved with the Arizona State Bar and the Maricopa County Bar Association. She also serves as a commissioner for the Arizona Commission on Access to Justice, and volunteered in the past with the Arizona State University (ASU) Law Pipeline Program.
Kiley has been the Maricopa County Superior Court judge for over a decade, currently serving as the presiding judge of the Lower Court and Administrative Appeals Department. Prior to the superior court, Kiley practiced at the law firm Sherman & Howard, and prosecuted for the attorney general’s office. Kiley volunteers currently with Maggie’s Place, a nonprofit for homeless pregnant women, and formerly volunteered with My Sister’s Place, a domestic violence shelter.
Gard has served as a Pinal County Superior Court judge since 2021. Prior to that, Gard worked in the attorney general’s office as deputy solicitor general and chief counsel of the Capital Litigation Section as well as assistant attorney general in the Criminal Appeals Section. Gard also taught at the University of Arizona College of Law.
Kelly comes from the Hollingsworth Kelly law firm. He formerly worked with the Pima County Attorney’s Office as a prosecuting attorney. Kelly volunteers pro bono legal services for Step Up to Justice. He formerly served as a board member for the Southern Arizona Legal Aid organization, which provides free legal services, as well as the Tucson Village Farm, an urban farm support organization.
O’Neil has served as a Pinal County Superior Court judge. Prior to that, O’Neil was a Casa Grande Municipal Court judge, a staff attorney for the Pinal County Superior Court, and then an attorney for the Haralson, Miller, Pitt, Feldman, & McAnally law firm. O’Neil volunteers as City of Casa Grande Youth Soccer League coach, Cactus School Mock Trial Team advisor, and Casa Grande pastor.
Ducey’s work as governor is available on a new archiving site, “The Ducey Years.”
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Corinne Murdock | Jan 4, 2023 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
It appears that Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09) wasn’t a white supremacist posing a real threat of violence after all.
On Tuesday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14) was captured engaging in a friendly conversation with Gosar. This interaction occurred a little over a year after she accused Gosar of white supremacy and threats of violence for posting a meme video portraying her and other Democrats as slain anime villains. Her claims of fear resulted in Gosar’s censuring and removal from two committees.
Ocasio-Cortez later clarified to reporters that the floor conversation with Gosar concerned Democrats’ support for Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20) or Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08) as House Speaker. She told MSNBC that Gosar spoke to her to keep GOP leadership “honest,” dispelling McCarthy’s claim that he had Democrats’ support.
McCarthy reportedly told Republicans that he had promises of votes from Democrats to secure the speakership.
The fallout from Gosar’s meme occurred in November 2021. Ocasio-Cortez derided Gosar, insisting that the meme portrayed Gosar’s “fantasy” of killing her. She also claimed that institutions don’t protect women of color.
“White supremacy is for extremely fragile people and sad men like him, whose self concept relies on the myth that he was born superior because deep down he knows he couldn’t open a pickle jar or read a whole book by himself,” tweeted Ocasio-Cortez.
Rather than an apology, Gosar posted another meme mocking Democrats’ sensitivity.
Outcry from Democrats resulted in Gosar’s censure, which took four hours of debate to reach.
The congressman was removed from two committees: the National Resources Committee and the Oversight and Reform Committee. Gosar’s censure broke an 11-year dry spell for censures. Only two Republicans voted with Democrats to censure Gosar: Reps. Adam Kizinger (R-IL-16) and Liz Cheney (R-WY).
During the censure vote, Ocasio-Cortez claimed the meme was an incitement to violence. Since the meme’s posting, Ocasio-Cortez hasn’t been subject to any publicized attacks.
Although Gosar ultimately removed the offending video, he didn’t apologize for the meme.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Corinne Murdock | Jan 3, 2023 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
A prominent liberal think tank that helped suppress media coverage of Hunter Biden’s corrupt foreign business dealings recruited Arizonan government workers and activist leaders for its leadership program.
The Aspen Institute, a prominent liberal think tank, runs 65 programs nationwide to shape communities to its standards: such as the leadership program in Arizona. An independent reporter uncovered this week how one of the institute’s arms, Aspen Digital, coordinated a “tabletop exercise” with social media companies, media outlets, and academia to ensure effective cover-up of the Hunter Biden laptop story released by the New York Post a month later. Twitter’s newest CEO, Elon Musk, uncovered this collusion with the release of internal Twitter communications and documents dubbed the “Twitter Files.”
This revelation adds to another discovery from last November, when The Washington Free Beacon reported that Twitter’s former head of site security, Yoel Roth, served as an advisor for the Aspen Institute’s Commission on Information Disorder. Key advisors on the commission have gone to great lengths to modify public narrative by censoring, filtering, or warping news coverage.
The Aspen Institute was one of numerous key organizations coordinating with social media and legacy media to control public speech and narratives at the government’s behest. Musk emphasized again on Tuesday that the government has been dictating free speech via social media companies.
“Every social media company is engaged in heavy censorship, with significant involvement of and, at times, explicit direction of the government,” said Musk.
The Aspen Institute isn’t the only entity to collude with government, social media companies, and other powerful entities to counter public speech. Governor-elect Katie Hobbs, during her term as secretary of state, worked with a middle man organization to censor online speech.
Last year, the Aspen Institute launched its first Arizona-based leadership program: the Greater Phoenix Workforce Leadership Academy, a 10-month stint developed between the institute and the Center for the Future of Arizona. Walmart was the key funder for this program. The academy is part of the “Economic Opportunities Program,” an equity-based program for low- and moderate-income individuals.
“We recognize that race, gender, and place intersect with and intensify the challenge of economic inequality and we address these dynamics by advancing an inclusive vision of economic justice,” reads the program page.
The leadership program’s inaugural 2021 class includes employees of Maricopa Community Colleges, University of Arizona, the City of Phoenix, Arizona Department of Transportation, Mesa Public Schools, Mesa Community College, Arizona Department of Economic Security/EEA, and the Arizona Commerce Authority.
Arizona government workers haven’t just been recruited by the Aspen Institute. In the wake of elections-related controversy over the summer, former Yavapai County Elections Director Lynn Constabile was hired by U.S. Digital Response (USDR), which was co-founded by a former Aspen Institute tech policy fellow along with former Big Tech leaders, and advised by three Obama administration chief technology officers.
USDR is a pro-bono nonprofit that assists governments and organizations with crisis response. Part of their work involves shaping public narratives and perception, such as tackling “misinformation” and “disinformation” by working closely with Big Tech-funded entities like the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL).
The full list of these 24 inaugural Greater Phoenix Workforce Leadership Academy fellows, now part of the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunity Fellows Network, is replicated below:
- Audrey Bell-Jenkins — Workforce Development Manager, UMOM New Day Centers;
- Katie Belous — Research Analyst, Pipeline AZ
- Colleen Bivona — Associate Director, Grants Development and Management, Maricopa Community Colleges
- Miguel Fernandez — Professor, Chandler Gilbert Community College
- Eileana Gudiño — Community Development Director, Valley of the Sun United Way
- Allie Halbert — Programs Director, Arizona Sustainability Alliance
- Kimberly Hanes — Regional Manager, Maricopa County, University of Arizona
- Jerry McPherson — Director of Economic Empowerment, Greater Phoenix Urban League
- Jennifer McChristian — Site Director, YearUp – Arizona
- James Montoya — Workforce Project Manager, City of Phoenix
- Steve Navis — On-The-Job Training Supportive Services / Workforce Development Program Manager, Arizona Department of Transportation
- Christine Niven — Director of Adult Education and Family Literacy Programs, Mesa Public Schools
- Leah Palmer — Executive Director, Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Institute (AzAMI), Mesa Community College
- Jose Patino — Director Education & External Affairs, Aliento Education Fund
- Terence “Dee” Pinkston — Deputy Director of Workforce Solutions, Chicanos Por La Causa
- Alison J. Rapping — CEO, Arouet Foundation
- Nathan Smith — Chief Program Officer, Phoenix Rescue Mission
- Mariana Torres — Assistant Program Officer, LISC
- Cathy Turley — Department Manager – Adult Education, Friendly House, Inc.
- Terell Welch — Employment Coordinator, Arizona Department of Economic Security/EEA
- Andre Whittington, CEO & Principal Consultant, Opemia Consulting
- Ashley Wilhelm — Workforce Arizona Council Manager, Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, Arizona Commerce Authority
- Richard Wilkie — Economic Development Director – Pinal County Local Workforce Board member, City of Casa Grande
- Steven Zylstra — President & CEO, Arizona Technology Council
The program’s advisory council consists of 14 individuals:
- Daniel Barajas — Associate Vice Chancellor, Workforce Development, Maricopa Community Colleges
- Heather Carter — Executive Vice President, Greater Phoenix Leadership
- Elizabeth Cole — Director of Outreach and Community Partnerships, Rio Salado College and Arizona@Work Maricopa County Workforce Board Member
- Victor Contreras — Director, Workforce Solutions, Chicanos Por La Causa
- Kristin Ferguson — Professor & Director, Center for Human Capital & Youth Development, Arizona State University
- Jesus Love — Executive Director, Literacy Volunteers of America and Arizona@Work City of Phoenix Workforce Board Member
- Jennifer Mellor — Chief Innovation Officer, Greater Phoenix Chamber
- Liza Noland — Director of Rural Programs, Local First Arizona
- Rob Stenson — Manager, Arizona@Work City of Phoenix
- Katrina Thurman — Vice President, Mission Development, Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona
- Chevera Trillo — Administrator, Workforce Development, Arizona Department of Economic Security
- Tina Wadham — Arizona@Work, Manager, Arizona@Work Maricopa County
- Kweilin Waller — Deputy Director, Human Services, City of Phoenix
- Kolu Wilson — Arizona Workforce Administrator, Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Terri Jo Neff | Jan 3, 2023 | News
By Terri Jo Neff |
When four college students were killed in Idaho in November, investigators began the arduous task of collecting physical evidence, witness statements, and digital data related to dozens of people. But organizing and analyzing all that information by traditional methods can be overwhelming, and often ineffective, especially when multiple investigators are involved.
It is a problem that Tucson-based Zinatt Technologies Inc. has a solution for.
Zinatt’s patented Quick Tracking Information System (Qtis) makes life much easier for detectives and investigators by providing agencies big and small with robust data tracking software they can use on a regular basis. Or an agency may choose to utilize Qtis when faced with a complex crime scene involving several victims.
“Most agencies are currently using spreadsheets and tables on Word to keep track of intelligence pertaining to their investigations,” Zinatt co-founder Gabriel Reina says. “But detectives need solutions that enable them to keep on top of investigations. Qtis provides law enforcement agencies with the capability they need to organize and access key data that improves case solvability rates.”
Equally important, Qtis is compliant with Criminal Justice Information Systems standards. And unlike many static desktop systems typically used by law enforcement, Qtis can be utilized by investigators on mobile devices.
This allows access to case information “anywhere, anytime,” according to Reina, along with file-sharing capability.
“Qtis was built around the needs of law enforcement. We understand how difficult it can be to keep things organized,” Reina says. “Upload all your evidence to Qtis. Having all your evidence in one place allows you to find what you are looking for in seconds by performing a case wide search.”
And while Qtis has become best known for its law enforcement investigative management capabilities, Zinatt has adapted its software for use by private investigators, public health researchers, and even political campaigns.
“Qtis for political campaigns can be used to identify potential issues with the integrity and accuracy of the voter roll,” says Reina. “It can also store additional contact information related to each unique voter and even the issues most important to each voter.”
To learn more about Zinatt and Qtis please call 520-838-0346 to arrange an interview with Reina. Or you may make contact via Zinatt’s website here.
Terri Jo Neff is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or send her news tips here.
by Corinne Murdock | Jan 2, 2023 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
On New Year’s Day, Kari Lake asked the Arizona Supreme Court to take up her case challenging the 2022 midterm election. The request for special-action appellate review marks a final effort to prevent transition of power proceedings ahead of Governor-Elect Katie Hobbs’ inauguration on Thursday.
Lake’s team filed their appeal with the Arizona Court of Appeals last Wednesday, alleging that suppressed and illegal votes outnumbered Hobbs’ 17,100 lead. Lake is pushing for a new election.
“A new governor is scheduled to be seated under a cloud of electoral uncertainty and impropriety,” stated Lake.
The embattled GOP candidate’s team cited “extraordinary circumstances” as the reason for their request, characterizing the Election Day tabulator-printer fiasco as a “targeted attack” on voters as well as citing the upcoming swearing-in ceremony.
Lake’s appeal insisted that the court should distinguish the election content standards: namely, clear-and-convincing versus preponderance-of-evidence, the use of latches for the right to violate laws in future elections, and that unconstitutional elections would qualify as misconduct.
Lake asserted that Maricopa County officials offered “changing and conflicting testimony” that they alleged was proof of intentional malfeasance on Election Day, including chain of custody violations and improper signature review for mail-in ballots. The appeal included a remark made by the county’s counsel, Thomas Liddy, in his closing argument.
“You reap what you sow,” said Liddy, in reference to Election Day voters.
Lake claimed that controversy over this most recent election jeopardizes the republic: a seeming counter to Democrats’ claim that scrutinizing elections jeopardizes democracy.
“A significant majority of voters no longer trust the outcomes of elections in Arizona. A functioning republic cannot exist for long in these circumstances,” read the appeal.
Polls support Lake’s claim concerning election distrust. Rasmussen Reports found that 72 percent of likely voters agreed with Lake’s claims that Election Day problems resulted in disenfranchisement, with 45 percent strongly agreeing.
Tufts University polling conducted the week after the midterm election discovered that distrust in elections correlated with age. Younger voters tended to trust the legitimacy of elections more greatly than older voters, especially concerning the 2020 election. Their polling also discovered that younger generations were far less likely to identify with one specific political party, but didn’t view Democrats as “too extreme” compared with older generations.
Although Hobbs’ team points to Monday as the inauguration day, the official ceremony remains on Thursday.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Corinne Murdock | Jan 2, 2023 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
An appeal may be underway in the case challenging the attorney general race results after Pinal County reported undercounting hundreds of ballots.
Pinal County added to their count over 500 more ballots, effectively halving Democrat Kris Mayes’ lead from 511 to 280. Republican Abraham Hamadeh gained 392 votes, while Mayes gained 115 votes.
In a statement, Pinal County dismissed the missed ballots as “human error” that mainly impacted Election Day votes. The county pointed out that it had a 99 percent accuracy rate, based on the fact that the 500-odd vote discrepancy amounted to a .35 percent variance within 146,000 votes.
“[T]he recount process did what it was supposed to do — it identified a roughly five hundred vote undercount in the Pinal County election attributable to human error,” stated the county. “[I]n light of threatened litigation and rumored appeals, Pinal County can make no further comment at this time.”
READ PINAL COUNTY’S RECOUNT SUMMARY
The county also speculated that election workers mistakenly believed certain tabulators were counting votes when they malfunctioned.
Prior to the recount and throughout the lawsuit against them, the county admittedly knew the major vote discrepancy existed. The Board of Supervisors’ new chairman, Jeff Serdy, told Arizona Daily Independent that their officials hadn’t said anything because they weren’t sure what they were allowed to say. Yet, their board of supervisors certified the election in late November anyways.
Pinal County wouldn’t have had the first board to reject election results over concerns of improper election management or malfeasance. Former Pima County Supervisor Ally Miller said in a statement to AZ Free News that she and fellow supervisor Steve Christy refused to certify the 2020 election due to concerns about her county’s administration of the election. Miller noted that she and Christy had “just cause” per statute to do so.
“I felt certain that a vote approving the canvass would have not only been malfeasant but fraudulent,” said Miller.
Miller opined that signing off on faulty election results may constitute a felony, citing the recent debacle over the Mojave County Board of Supervisors’ initial refusal to certify their election results.
“We heard from the Mojave County supervisors this year that they voted in favor of the canvass under duress. They claimed they were warned by the County Attorney’s Office that if they failed to certify this year’s election before the statutory deadline they would have invalidated all Mohave County elections and failure to approve the canvass may have represented an act of malfeasance,” stated Miller. “They said they would be at risk of committing a Class 2 misdemeanor under Arizona statute. Not only is the legal advice they received disputed, for some of us, it would be a felony to sign-off on an election that was not completely fair and free from shenanigans, or substantial human error.”
The massive discrepancies across the board spurred Secretary of State-Elect Adrian Fontes to remark that the variance was problematic. He said that a recount should yield only single digit differences — not hundreds. Fontes said that the county didn’t “step up” by training or preparing properly, and indicated that increasing funds and resources would remedy the issue.
“It is absolutely, really problematic to see the number of ballots in Pinal County that weren’t tabulated,” said Fontes. “If we’re not funding, training, and staffing these departments, we’re going to have these kinds of problems.”
However, Fontes didn’t hesitate to congratulate Mayes on the victory.
Outgoing State Sen. Kelly Townsend (R-LD) expressed her disappointment with the recount results.
The county’s Democratic and GOP parties issued a joint statement on Friday calling the recount a success and issuing their support for the recorder.
Pinal County has been beset with problems throughout this election year. In August, former Elections Director David Frisk resigned after back-to-back issues ahead of the primary. The county faced several lawsuits after mailing about 63,000 voters incorrect early ballots. Then on the day of the primary, the county failed to have enough ballots on hand for voters. Workers were forced to disenfranchise those voters.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
