Nativist Arizona Senate President Loses Court Bid To Avoid Recall Election

Arizona Sen. Russell Pearce (R), the sponsor of Arizona’s draconian anti-immigrant law SB 1070, lost his attempt to get the state supreme court to save him from a recall election on Nov. 8. The justices denied Pearce’s appeal without oral argument and without issuing an opinion, although they promised a future opinion explaining their reasoning. Typically, judges do not forgo oral argument and written opinions except in very easy cases where the correct answer is clear.