{"id":2236804,"date":"2024-05-03T18:23:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T22:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/az-supreme-court-unanimously-overturns-sanctions-against-gop-for-bringing-2020-election-suit\/"},"modified":"2024-05-03T18:25:25","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T22:25:25","slug":"az-supreme-court-unanimously-overturns-sanctions-against-gop-for-bringing-2020-election-suit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/az-supreme-court-unanimously-overturns-sanctions-against-gop-for-bringing-2020-election-suit\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Supreme Court overturns sanctions against GOP for 2020 election suit unanimously"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Faz-supreme-court-unanimously-overturns-sanctions-against-gop-for-bringing-2020-election-suit%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2236804&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Arizona Supreme Court unanimously overturned sanctions against the Arizona Republican Party \u200bfor their\u2064 2020 election lawsuit challenging \u200bMaricopa County&#8217;s election procedures. The lower court&#8217;s ruling \u200bwas reversed, emphasizing\u200b the importance of \u2064questioning election laws&#8217; interpretation and application within the legal system. The state Supreme \u200cCourt&#8217;s \u2063decision\u2062 reaffirmed the legitimacy of raising concerns regarding \u2063election integrity.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/news\/\">  News <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/randydesoto\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/randydesoto\/%20\"><span>Randy DeSoto<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   May 3, 2024 at 2:49pm <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>The Arizona Supreme Court reversed a lower court\u2019s ruling Thursday that had sanctioned the Arizona Republican Party for a lawsuit it brought following the 2020 general election.<\/p>\n<p>The party had challenged the procedures followed by Maricopa County (which includes the Phoenix metro area) in conducting the mandatory hand count required by law of roughly two percent of the precinct ballots, the justices explained in their unanimous, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azcourts.gov\/Portals\/0\/OpinionFiles\/Supreme\/2024\/CV230208PR.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">7-0 decision<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wis-rep-ramthun-calls-for-full-forensic-audit-after-2020-ballot-irregularities\/\" title=\"Wis. Rep. Ramthun calls for full forensic audit after 2020 ballot irregularities\">hand count audit<\/a> is meant to ensure the accuracy of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/arizona-election-audit-draws-pennsylvania-republicans\/\" title=\"Arizona Election Audit Draws Pennsylvania Republicans\">vote-counting machines<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The county conducted the sample hand count at designated vote centers, instead of precincts.<\/p>\n<p>The Republican Party sued <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/kari-lake-lawsuit-accuses-maricopa-county-unlawful-certification-voting-machines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Maricopa County<\/a> election officials, arguing the hand count sample must be pulled by precinct, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/rudy-giuliani-mark-meadows-16-others-indicted-arizona-behest-democratic-attorney-general\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arizona<\/a> law.<\/p>\n<p>The trial court dismissed the case, saying it was groundless and made in \u201cbad faith.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Supreme Court noted that the trial judge had not looked into the Republican Party\u2019s substantive claim regarding whether the law was properly followed, concluding, \u201cthe plaintiff did not make the showing necessary to justify that inquiry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Then-Secretary of State <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/not-yet-kari-lake-files-74-page-lawsuit-katie-hobbs-election-officials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Katie Hobbs<\/a>, a Democrat, moved to sanction the Arizona GOP, requiring it to pay attorneys fees. The court agreed awarding approximately $18,300 in fees.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Did the Arizona Supreme Court get it right?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The Arizona Court of Appeals <a href=\"https:\/\/law.justia.com\/cases\/arizona\/court-of-appeals-division-one-published\/2023\/1-ca-cv-21-0201-0.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">upheld<\/a> the ruling in April 2023.<\/p>\n<p>The state Supreme Court, in an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azcourts.gov\/Portals\/0\/OpinionFiles\/Supreme\/2024\/CV230208PR.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">opinion<\/a> written by Justice John Lopez, reversed the lower courts\u2019 decisions finding, the GOP\u2019s \u201cclaim was not groundless and arguably was made in good faith.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Breaking: The Arizona Supreme Court reverses sanctions against the Arizona Republican Party for a 2020 election challenge.<\/p>\n<p>The court opines that issuing inappropriate sanctions presents \u201ca real and present danger to the rule of law.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Full opinion: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/exVnfpbpWe\">https:\/\/t.co\/exVnfpbpWe<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/y7HiAGZUdO\">pic.twitter.com\/y7HiAGZUdO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jen Fifield (@JenAFifield) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JenAFifield\/status\/1786085088801018053?\">May 2, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Lopez rejected the trial court\u2019s conclusion that the Arizona GOP\u2019s lawsuit undercut \u201cthe election\u2019s legitimacy by raising \u2018questions,\u201d which the trial judge had characterized as \u201ca threat to the rule of law posing as an expression of concern.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The justice wrote in response, \u201cBut \u2018raising questions\u2019 by petitioning our courts to clarify the meaning and application of our laws and noting the potential consequences of the failure to do so\u2014particularly in the context of our elections\u2014is never a threat to the rule of law, even if the claims are charitably characterized as \u2018long shots.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">BREAKING: The Arizona Supreme Court just issued a major defeat to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/government-unions-have-been-stealing-money-for-years-now-scotus-has-the-chance-to-intervene\/\" title=\"Government Unions Have Been Stealing Money For Years \u2014 Now, SCOTUS Has The Chance To Intervene\">lower court judges<\/a> that threatened the state Republican Party with sanctions for bringing election challenges against Maricopa County<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut \u2018raising questions\u2019 by petitioning our courts to clarify the meaning and\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wpnQm4FapC\">pic.twitter.com\/wpnQm4FapC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 George (@BehizyTweets) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BehizyTweets\/status\/1786109837216039241?\">May 2, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cEven if done inadvertently and with the best of intentions, such sanctions present a real and present danger to the rule of law,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Lopez further noted that the courthouse is the exact venue where the issues should be resolved.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur courts should be cautious that, in their zeal to ensure that election challenges are properly grounded in fact and law under the guise of defending an \u2018election\u2019s legitimacy,\u2019 they do not inadvertently inflict real damage to our republic by slamming the courthouse door on citizens and their counsel legitimately seeking to vindicate rights, which is also important to maintaining public confidence in elections,\u201d the Supreme Court concluded.<\/p>\n<p>Democrat Joe Biden carried Arizona by just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2020\/11\/03\/us\/elections\/results-arizona.html#:~:text=Joseph%20R.-,Biden%20Jr.,Race%20called%20by%20Edison%20Research.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10,457 votes<\/a>, his narrowest win in the nation in 2020. Republican Donald Trump had won the Grand Canyon State in 2016 over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by approximately<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/elections\/2016\/results\/arizona\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> 91,200 votes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer emphasized to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azcentral.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/2024\/05\/02\/state-supreme-court-reverses-sanctions-against-arizona-gop-in-2020-election-challenge\/73543403007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Arizona Republic<\/a> that the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling only had to do with attorneys fees.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe county won that case; the hand count audit done by the political parties after the 2020 election was lawful and appropriate and validated the tabulated results,\u201d he said through a spokesperson. \u201cThat has not changed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Arizona Republican Party responded to the Supreme Court decision in a statement writing, \u201cThis ruling reaffirms the fundamental legal principle that raising questions about the interpretation and application of election laws is a legitimate use of the judicial system, not a groundless, bad faith action.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\ud83d\udea8 VICTORY IN COURT! \ud83d\udea8<\/p>\n<p>The Arizona Supreme Court defends our right to question and ensure the integrity of election laws. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\udfdb\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/5aRSMFcKXj\">pic.twitter.com\/5aRSMFcKXj<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Republican Party of Arizona (@AZGOP) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AZGOP\/status\/1786145892984111308?\">May 2, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cWe remain committed to ensuring election laws are followed precisely, upholding the integrity of our electoral process.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>An Important Message from Our Staff:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We who work here at The Western Journal have fought for years against Big Tech and the elites who want to shut us down and then shut America down. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Make no mistake \u2014 nothing will be the same after November 2024. Will you help us fight? Will you <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>help us expose the America-hating elites<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  who will do everything they can to steal this election? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We\u2019re a small group of people fighting to save the country for our readers and for our own family and friends. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Can we count on your help?<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><i><span>At this point, Big Tech has cut off our access to 90% of advertisers. Imagine if someone took 90% of your paycheck and there was nothing you could do. They\u2019re trying to starve us out.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Donations from readers like you have literally helped keep our lights on, and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>we need you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  now more than ever. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We operate on a shoestring budget, but with that budget, we terrify the globalists. Please help us continue the fight. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Stand with us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>, and we will never surrender.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Thank you for reading The Western Journal and for believing in America. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>It is a pleasure to serve you.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>P.S. Please don\u2019t let the America-hating left win. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=BM6XAWRJ8NS7A&#038;utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Stand with us today<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>!<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-44657\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/randydesoto\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-44657\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-44657\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-44657\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-44657\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Randy DeSoto has written more than 3,000 articles for The Western Journal since he joined the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book &#8220;We Hold These Truths&#8221; and screenwriter of the political documentary &#8220;I Want Your Money.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  Birthplace <\/p>\n<p>  Harrisburg, Pennsylvania <\/p>\n<p>  Nationality <\/p>\n<p>  American <\/p>\n<p>  Honors\/Awards <\/p>\n<p>  Graduated dean&#8217;s list from West Point <\/p>\n<p>  Education <\/p>\n<p>  United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law <\/p>\n<p>  Books Written <\/p>\n<p>  We Hold These Truths <\/p>\n<p>  Professional Memberships <\/p>\n<p>  Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars <\/p>\n<p>  Location <\/p>\n<p>  Phoenix, Arizona <\/p>\n<p>  Languages Spoken <\/p>\n<p>  English <\/p>\n<p>  Topics of Expertise <\/p>\n<p>  Politics, Entertainment, Faith <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arizona Supreme Court unanimously reverses sanctions on Arizona GOP for 2020 election lawsuit. The lawsuit contested Maricopa County&#8217;s election procedures<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":662,"featured_media":2236805,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Arizona-2020-vote.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2236804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Arizona-2020-vote.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2236804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/662"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2236804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2236804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2236805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2236804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2236804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2236804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}