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Judge Scott Blaney Rules Gov. Hobbs Acted Illegally in Appointing Deputy Directors

Jun 5, 2024, 11:20 PM

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge, Scott Blaney, has ruled that Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs acted illegally by appointing 'executive deputy directors' to run state agencies without Senate confirmation. The court sided with the Arizona State Senate, stating that Hobbs 'willfully circumvented the statutory process and eliminated the Legislative branch from its oversight role.' The ruling came after Hobbs attempted to bypass the Republican-led Senate committee, which had been blocking her nominations. The judge dismissed Hobbs' argument that she was entitled to make these appointments due to alleged disrespect from the Senate committee. This decision underscores the ongoing tension between Governor Hobbs and the Arizona State Senate.