Ross v. Bennett
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Citizens for a Better Arizona (CBA) filed a recall petition with Secretary of State Ken Bennett seeking to recall State Senator Russell Pearce. After determining that the petition contained more signatures than required, Secretary Bennett filed the petition with the Governor's office. Governor Janice Brewer then ordered a special election for the recall of State Senator Russell Pearce. Six days later, Franklin Ross, a District 18 elector, filed suit to enjoin the recall election, alleging that the recall petition failed to meet constitutional and statutory requirements. The superior court refused to enjoin the election. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that CBA's petition for the recall of Senator Pearce substantially complied with the constitutional and statutory requirements, including the requirements that the circulators of the petition subscribe to an oath that the signatures are genuine and that the petition contain a general statement of the grounds for recall.
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SUPREME COURT OF ARIZONA En Banc FRANKLIN BRUCE ROSS, Petitioner/Appellant, v. KEN BENNETT, in his official capacity as Secretary of State for the State of Arizona; THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF MARICOPA COUNTY; HELEN PURCELL, in her official capacity as Maricopa County Recorder; and KAREN OSBORNE, in her official capacity as Maricopa County Elections Director, Respondents/Appellees, and CITIZENS FOR A BETTER ARIZONA IN SUPPORT OF RC-04-2011, Real Party in Interest/ Appellee. _________________________________ ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Arizona Supreme Court No. CV-11-0264-T/AP Court of Appeals Division One No. 1 CA-CV 11-0503 EL Maricopa County Superior Court No. CV2011-011864 O P I N I O N Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County The Honorable Hugh E. Hegyi, Judge AFFIRMED ________________________________________________________________ Appeal to the Court of Appeals, Division One TRANSFERRED ________________________________________________________________ GAMMAGE & BURNHAM, P.L.C. By Lisa T. Hauser Attorneys for Franklin Bruce Ross Phoenix THOMAS C. HORNE, ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL Phoenix By James E. Barton, II, Assistant Attorney General Thomas M. Collins, Assistant Attorney General Attorneys for Ken Bennett WILLIAM G. MONTGOMERY, MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY By M. Colleen Connor, Deputy County Attorney J. Scott Dutcher, Deputy County Attorney Attorneys for Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, Helen Purcell, and Karen Osborne Phoenix LAW OFFICE OF THOMAS M. RYAN Chandler By Thomas M. Ryan Attorney for Citizens for a Better Arizona in Support of RC-04-2011 ________________________________________________________________ B E R C H, Chief Justice ¶1 On July 12, 2011, Governor Janice K. Brewer ordered a special election for the recall of State Senator Russell Pearce. On September 13, 2011, this Court affirmed the trial court s order refusing to enjoin the election. This opinion explains our earlier order. I. ¶2 FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND On January 31, 2011, Citizens for a Better Arizona ( CBA ) filed an application with Secretary of State Ken Bennett seeking to recall Senator Pearce, who represents Legislative District 18 in the Arizona Senate. ¶3 CBA eventually submitted a recall petition containing 18,315 signatures for certification. Secretary Bennett found 1,381 signatures ineligible and submitted the remaining 16,934 signatures to Maricopa County - 2 - Recorder Helen Purcell for certification. signatures She, and in turn, transmitted the struck petition required, contained Secretary Governor s office.1 more Bennett additional remaining signatures to Secretary Bennett. recall an 10,365 6,569 certified After determining that the signatures filed the than the petition 7,756 with the On July 12, 2011, Governor Brewer ordered a special recall election for November 8, 2011. ¶4 Six days after the Governor s order, Franklin Bruce Ross, a District 18 elector, filed suit to enjoin the recall election, alleging that the recall petition constitutional and statutory requirements. the defendants motions to dismiss the failed to meet After considering complaint and Ross s motion for partial summary judgment, the superior court entered judgment for the defendants. ¶5 Ross appealed. We granted the parties requests to transfer the case from the court of appeals because Ross seeks the overruling of an opinion of this Court. See ARCAP 19. We have jurisdiction pursuant to Article 6, Section 5, Clause 3, of the Arizona Constitution. II. ¶6 The resolution DISCUSSION of this case depends on the interpretation of constitutional and statutory provisions, which 1 On July 18, 2011, County Recorder Purcell issued a revised certification that reduced the number of valid signatures to 10,296, still far exceeding the 7,756 required for the recall. - 3 - are issues of law that we review de novo. Duncan v. Scottsdale Med. Imaging, Ltd., 205 Ariz. 306, 308 ¶ 2, 70 P.3d 435, 437 (2003). A. The Public s Right to Recall ¶7 The right to Arizona recall Constitution public officers guarantees who Ariz. Const. art. 8, pt. 1, § 1. hold the people elective the offices. Although the recall procedure has been used rarely, recall was an important issue during the Constitutional Convention of 1910. See The Records of the Arizona Constitutional Convention of 1910 [hereinafter Records] 241-46, 259-70, 802-12, 919-22, 925-29 (John Goff ed., 1991). Sentiment favoring recall was so strong that the framers included in the constitution a recall provision for all public officers, despite well-placed fears that President Taft would not approve statehood if the recall provision applied to the judiciary. See id. at 920, 926, 1418; Letter from President William H. Taft to the U.S. H.R. (Aug. 15, 1911) (reprinted in Toni McClory, Understanding the Arizona Constitution 193-99 (2d ed. 2010)). The President eventually approved Arizona s bid for statehood, but only on the condition that the framers exempt judges from the recall provision. Letter to U.S. H.R. Arizonans acquiesced to the President s request, but less than one year later, constitution to they once overwhelmingly again subject - 4 - voted all to public amend the officers to recall. See Ariz. Const. art. 8, pt. 1, § 1. provision remains in force today. Stat. ( A.R.S. ) § 19-201(A) This broad recall Id.; see also Ariz. Rev. (Supp. 2011) (implementing constitutional recall provision). ¶8 Given constitutional this and history, statutory this Court provisions has interpreted governing recall liberally to protect the public s right to recall its officials. See Pacuilla v. Cochise Cnty. Bd. of Supervisors, 186 Ariz. 367, 368, 923 P.2d 833, 834 (1996); Johnson v. Maehling, 123 Ariz. 15, 18, 597 P.2d 1, 4 (1979); Abbey v. Green, 28 Ariz. 53, 7274, 235 P. 150, 157 (1925). B. ¶9 the CBA s Recall Petition Ross argues that CBA s recall petition fails to satisfy constitutional recall process. 1. ¶10 and statutory requirements governing the We address each of Ross s arguments in turn. The substantial compliance standard To be eligible for certification, recall petitions must substantially framework. comply with the constitutional and statutory This Court first announced this standard in 1925 in Abbey v. Green, 28 Ariz. at 74, 235 P. at 157. Ross urges us to abandon Abbey and reject its 86-year-old substantial compliance standard in favor of the strict compliance recently applied to referendum petitions. standard more See W. Devcor, Inc. v. City of Scottsdale, 168 Ariz. 426, 428, 814 P.2d 767, 769 - 5 - (1991); Cottonwood Dev. v. Foothills Area Coal. of Tucson, Inc., 134 Ariz. 46, 49, 653 P.2d 694, 697 (1982). We decline the invitation. ¶11 In Abbey, a superior court judge sought to set aside a recall election removing him from office, on the grounds that the recall petition provisions. concluded 28 failed Ariz. that the at to 62, petition comply with 235 at P. suffered several 153. from statutory Although some we technical deficiencies, we nonetheless found it in substantial compliance with the law and upheld the election. Id. at 74, 235 P. at 157. ¶12 petition Among other signers things, did not the judge list complained full that addresses, some despite constitutional and statutory mandates that each signer list a residence. Id. at 63, 235 P. at 154. We found strict compliance unnecessary because several towns did not use house numbers at that time. Id. The residence requirement was imposed to help the county recorder identify petition signers. Because the recorder could otherwise identify signers, we found no reason to invalidate the signatures for not listing house numbers. Id. at 63-64, 235 P. at 154. ¶13 We also rejected the judge s claim that the petition was defective because each petition sheet did not include a statement of the grounds for recall. - 6 - Id. at 62, 235 P. at 153. Because the constitution contemplates multiple petition sheets, see Ariz. Const. art. 8, pt. 1, § 2, and the petition stated grounds on at least one sheet, we concluded that restating it on each sheet was unnecessary, Abbey, 28 Ariz. at 62, 235 P. at 153. ¶14 Finally, we rejected the judge s claim that the stated grounds for recall were scandalous and impertinent. 57, 235 P. at 152. political prerogative reason not to whatever displeased. We observed that the recall process was judicial remove for Id. at an and officer that it was with matter, the whom, they electorate s for may any have or no become Id. at 63, 235 P. at 154 (citations omitted). Because the constitution and recall statutes did not require any allegation of misfeasance or malfeasance, the stated grounds for removal may be very general in their nature and character. Id. ¶15 Abbey embraced the populist themes that gave rise to recall in Arizona and recognized that the benefit of the recall process accrues to the people, not the targeted office holder. We have since reaffirmed that view and committed ourselves to liberally construing both constitutional and statutory recall provisions. See, e.g., Johnson, 123 Ariz. at 18, 597 P.2d at 4 ( The [petition] procedure is not intended to protect incumbents from being ousted by dissatisfied voters. ); id. ( Since the - 7 - provision is officials, for we the benefit construe the of the public language rather liberally in than the favor of permitting recall elections. ); Miller v. Wilson, 59 Ariz. 403, 409-10, 129 P.2d 668, 671-72 (liberally construing Article 8 of the Arizona Constitution to permit the same body with whom recall petitions are filed to canvass and declare the result of the recall election). The substantial compliance standard embodies this commitment. ¶16 Ross urges us to overrule Abbey and its progeny and abandon the substantial compliance test in favor of the strict compliance standard first applied to a referendum in Cottonwood Development v. Foothills Area Coalition of Tucson, Inc., 134 Ariz. 46, 49, 653 P.2d 694, 697 (1982). Cottonwood involved a petition to refer a county zoning resolution to the voters. at 48, 653 P.2d at 696. Id. Despite constitutional and statutory provisions requiring that a copy of the referred legislation accompany the petition, the petition failed to include one. Id. at 49, 653 P.2d at 697. ¶17 In finding the petition insufficient, we noted that a successful referendum undermines the majority will by suspending application of the referred statute or ordinance until the affected electorate can vote on its continued validity at the next general election. Id. at 48, 49, 653 P.2d at 696, 697; see also Ariz. Const. art. 4, pt. 1, § 1(3) (requiring signatures - 8 - from only five percent of the voters). Thus, a referendum gives a small minority of the voters . . . the power to suspend legislation enacted by the duly elected representatives of the people, legislation that could be supported by a majority of the electors at the subsequent referendum election. Cottonwood, 134 Ariz. at 48, 653 P.2d at 697 (citation omitted). ¶18 We therefore cautioned that [w]here a power so great as the suspension of an ordinance or of a law is vested in a minority, the safeguards provided by law against its irregular or fraudulent exercise should be carefully maintained. Id. at 48-49, 653 P.2d at 696-97 (internal quotations omitted). ¶19 Ross argues that, like a referendum, a recall permits a minority to potentially thwart the will of the majority. further claims that because the framers were concerned He with fraud and abuse in both recalls and referenda, we should apply the same test to both types of cases. This reasoning, however, is faulty for at least two reasons. ¶20 process First, does not unlike allow the a referendum minority decision supported by the majority. of process, voters the to recall suspend a Rather, in a recall, the incumbent continues to serve in office until the issue goes before the affected electorate for a full vote. art. 8, pt. 1, § 3; A.R.S. § 19-216(B) (2002). Ariz. Const. If the official wins the recall election, his term in office is not interrupted. - 9 - Ariz. Const. art. 8, pt. 1, § 3; A.R.S. § 19-216(A). Moreover, although a referendum petition requires signatures by only five percent of electors, Ariz. Const. art. 4, pt. 1, § 1(3), a successful recall petition requires the signatures of twentyfive percent of electors, id. art. 8, pt. 1, § 1. Our constitution and statutes thus already protect against abuse of the recall process.2 ¶21 Second, abandoning Abbey would fail to respect Arizona s strong devotion to recall as a progressive process intended for officials. the benefit of the public rather than Johnson, 123 Ariz. at 18, 597 P.2d at 4. the The public has a constitutional right to recall elected officers for misfeasance or malfeasance . . . or Abbey, 28 Ariz. at 63, 235 P. at 154. no reason whatever. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1910 were willing to risk statehood over a robust recall system that subjected every official to removal. See Records, supra ¶ 7, at 920, 926. Adopting a standard that makes it more difficult for the public to remove its own officers would frustrate this historical intent. Seeing no reason to abandon 86 years of precedent and 100 years of 2 The legislature imposed additional protections against abuse of the recall system when it adopted A.R.S. § 19-208.02 (2002), which requires a second round of signature certification by the county recorder. See 1973 Ariz. Sess. Laws, ch. 159, § 17 (1st Reg. Sess.). - 10 - commitment to popular recall, we reaffirm our support of Abbey s substantial compliance standard. 2. ¶22 The genuineness requirement Ross next contends that the oath subscribed by the petition circulators was deficient. The constitution requires circulators of recall petitions to subscribe an oath . . . that the signatures thereon are genuine. 1, § 2. Ariz. Const. art. 8, pt. A statute also requires each circulator to sign an affidavit . . . verify[ing] that each of the names on the sheet was signed in his presence on the date indicated, and that in his belief each signer was a qualified elector of the election district on the date indicated in which such recall election will be conducted. ¶23 A.R.S. § 19-205(B) (2002). The petition in this case substantially complied with these requirements. The circulator of each petition signed an affidavit that he or she believe[d] that each signer s name and residence address or post office address [we]re correctly stated and that each signer [wa]s a qualified elector of the state of Arizona. As the trial substantial equivalent of judge observed, avowing the this oath genuineness is the of the the word signatures. ¶24 Although the affirmation does not genuine, that omission is not determinative. include The constitution does not require any particular form of oath. - 11 - Ariz. Const. art. 8, pt. 1, § 2. Instead, the implementing statute sets forth the contents of the oath, see A.R.S. § 19-205(B),3 which the affidavit in this case tracks nearly identically, including an affirmation written in stated. requirement.4 that the signers the circulator s This satisfies names presence the and and addresses were constitution s were correctly genuineness Requiring anything more than affirmation that the circulator believed that the signers were qualified electors and that they signed in his presence would frustrate rather than promote the public s right to recall. See Pacuilla, 186 Ariz. at 368, 923 P.2d at 834. 3 A.R.S. § 19-205(B) provides as follows: The person before whom the signatures were written on the signature sheet shall in an affidavit subscribed and sworn to by him before a notary public verify that each of the names on the sheet was signed in his presence on the date indicated, and that in his belief each signer was a qualified elector of the election district on the date indicated in which such recall election will be conducted. Moreover, each signature must be made in the circulator s presence. Id. § 19-205(A). 4 Other than checking birth certificates, social security cards, state-issued driver s licenses, and voter registration cards, it is difficult to conceive how a circulator might verify that a signature is genuine under Ross s definition. The framers apparently recognized this problem. The originally proposed language of Article 8, Part 1, Section 2, required the circulator to affirm that the statements therein made are true, and that the signatures are genuine. Records, supra ¶ 7, at 1089 (emphasis added). The framers amended this section to remove the italicized language after Donnell Cunningham of Cochise County commented that he cannot see how this can be an operative measure. Id. at 261. - 12 - 3. ¶25 Ross circulator s The circulator s oath makes oath. two related First, he arguments contends regarding the the was that oath deficient because it was the same oath used for initiatives and referenda, whereas the constitutional drafters intended that the oath for recall be different. See Records, supra ¶ 7, at 269; A.R.S. § additional oath). Ross may be correct that the founders initially intended 19-205(C) (requiring language for recall different oaths,5 but the constitution itself does not contain this issue requirement by and requiring the legislature additional has averments since the initiatives and circulators for resolved of referenda, making the oaths the same. ¶26 The constitution mandates that initiatives and referenda swear that each of the names on said sheet was signed in the presence of the affiant and that in the belief of the affiant each signer was a qualified elector of the State. Ariz. Const. art. 4, pt. 1, § 9. This is the form prescribed for initiative and referendum. See A.R.S. § 19- 205(C) (relating to recall); see also id. § 19-112(C) (Supp. 2011) (requiring substantially similar statements for initiatives and referenda). 5 During the constitutional debates, one of the framers suggested that the oath requirement for the recall petitions simply refer[] to the form of petition required in the initiative and referendum. Records, supra ¶ 7, at 269. The framers rejected this amendment. Id. - 13 - ¶27 The petition statements required initiatives and at by issue the referenda, but here contains constitution also an and not only the statute for additional statement. The circulator s affidavit read as follows: I . . . depose and say that each individual signed this sheet of the foregoing petition in my presence on the date indicated, and I believe that each signer s name and residence address or post office address are correctly stated and that each signer is a qualified elector of the state of Arizona . . . . Therefore, the circulator s oath contains language in addition to that constitutionally mandated for referenda and initiative circulators and so not only complies with the constitution, but also satisfies Ross s additional language test.6 ¶28 Second, Ross argues that the oath failed to satisfy § 19-205(B) because the circulators affidavits did not affirm that each district. ¶29 signer was a qualified elector of the election We disagree. Each circulator must swear or affirm to a belief that each signer was a qualified elector of the election district on 6 The difference between the initiative and referendum oath and the recall oath was intended to be that a recall petition circulator, in addition to the avowals set forth in the constitution and statutes, had to avow that the circulator believes that the circulator is qualified to register to vote and all signers [of the petition] are qualified to vote in the recall election. A.R.S. § 19-205(C). That language has since been incorporated in the affidavit that is now statutorily required by A.R.S. § 19-112(D) for circulators of initiatives and referenda. The legislature has the power to determine that the oath for initiatives and referenda should include more avowals than the constitutional minimum. - 14 - the date indicated in which such recall election will be conducted, A.R.S. § 19-205(B), and that all signers [of the petition] are qualified to vote in the recall election, id. § 19-205(B). ¶30 On each signature sheet here, the circulator swore his or her belief that each signer was qualified to vote in the recall election. This statement follows the language in § 19- 205(C) identically and is the functional equivalent of saying the signer is a qualified elector of the electoral district.7 Moreover, the top-front of each sheet included the language, We, the qualified electors of the electoral district from which State Senator recall. Pearce, District 18, was elected, demand his The grounds for recall are prefaced by the statement, We, Citizens for a Better Arizona and residents of District 18, submit this petition . . . . This language, combined with the language in the affidavit itself, dispels any confusion about who could sign the petition and clarifies that only qualified electors of District 18 could sign. 211 Ariz. 444, 449, 123 P.3d 7 See Feldmeier v. Watson, 180, 185 (2005) (finding Not only does the oath track § 19-205(C), it is also the same language the secretary of state uses on the sample recall petition forms available to the public. Although compliance with a government-supplied sample form does not guarantee validity, see W. Devcor, 168 Ariz. at 430-32, 814 P.2d at 77072, we do find such compliance persuasive in the recall context when the language of the sample form substantially complies with constitutional and statutory requirements. - 15 - substantial compliance with initiative petition in Prescott that referred to qualified electors of the state of Arizona ). The petition sheets substantially comply with § 19-205(B) and (C). 4. ¶31 Adequacy of grounds for recall Every recall petition must contain a general statement, in not more than two hundred words, of the grounds of such demand. Ariz. Const. art. 8, pt. 1, § 2; see also A.R.S. § 19-203(A) (Supp. 2011). Each sheet of CBA s petition included the following grounds for recall: We, Citizens for a Better Arizona and residents of District 18, submit this petition to recall State Senator Russell Pearce for his failure to focus on issues and concerns that affect all Arizonans. Mesa and Arizona need a leader who will pass laws to create jobs, protect public education and ensure access to health care for our children and those most in need. We deserve a representative that reflects our values, beliefs and vision for Mesa and all of Arizona. By signing this petition we publicly withdraw our support for Russell Pearce and what he represents. ¶32 Ross paragraph complains violates the that the constitution final and sentence A.R.S. § in this 19-203(A) because it does not state a specific ground for recall and thus is misleading. As we stated in Abbey, however, the evident purpose [of the recall is] to permit the electorate to get rid of an . . . officer with whom, for any or no reason whatever for that matter, they have become displeased. P. at 154. 28 Ariz. at 63, 235 Therefore, [t]he grounds or reasons assigned in the - 16 - petition for the recall may be very general in their nature and character. ¶33 Id. Voters may attempt to remove an officer for whatever reasons they choose and this general statement, taken as a whole, clearly communicates Senator Pearce. reasons for seeking removal of Moreover, the final sentence has no potential to mislead voters, as several other portions of the petition clarify that the purpose of signing is to recall the senator. The petition s statement of grounds substantially complies with A.R.S. § 19-203(A) and Article 8, Part 1, Section 2 of the Arizona Constitution. 5. ¶34 Striking entire petition sheets for individually deficient signatures Petition sheets bearing false or fraudulent circulator affidavits are void. See Brousseau v. Fitzgerald, 138 Ariz. 453, 456, 675 P.2d 713, 716 (1984). Ross argues that this rule requires us to strike several signature sheets from CBA s recall petition because individual the signatures affidavit false. county on recorder them, could rendering the not certify circulator s If, he argues, the county recorder could not match a voter registration signature to a petition signature, it must mean that the circulator did not truly witness the name of each petition affidavit. being signed as stated in Once again, we are not convinced. - 17 - the circulator s ¶35 In Brousseau, minors and unqualified electors circulated petitions, and individuals who had not circulated any petition signed the circulator s affidavit. 675 P.2d at 714. Although the county 138 Ariz. at 454, recorder ultimately verified most of the signatures, the Court struck the petitions, finding that their fraudulent circulation tainted the entire process. Id. at 456, 675 P.2d at 716. ¶36 Ross misreads Brousseau to stand for the proposition that the Court should disqualify all petitions with affidavits based on any false information, and he finds falsity here in the fact that the secretary of state and county recorder could not verify every signature. His reading ignores the distinction between or mere omissions irregularities such as the inability to read a signer s handwriting or a signer s innocent mistake about his or her voting district on the one hand, and true fraud by petition circulators on the other. Id. at 455-56, 675 P.2d at 715-16 (citing Lombardi v. State Bd. of Elections, 386 N.Y.S.2d 718 (N.Y. App. Div. 1976) (invalidating two sheets permeated with fraud ); Weisberger v. Cohen, 22 N.Y.S.2d 1011, 1012 (N.Y. Sup. Ct.), aff d, 22 N.Y.S.2d 835 (N.Y. App. Div. 1940) (invalidating petition sheets rife with fraud)). ¶37 The signature sheets may contain some signatures from electors who are not qualified to vote in the recall election. But Ross presented no evidence that - 18 - the circulator obtained those signatures by fraud or that the circulator s oath was itself fraudulent. Fraud requires an element of knowledge a guilty mental state. See Smith v. Pinner, 68 Ariz. 115, 122, 201 P.2d 741, 745 (1949). Ross provided no evidence that the circulators in this case knew that the signatures were invalid or that their affidavits were false. This case does not fall within the ambit of Brousseau and we will not strike entire petitions simply because they contain individually disqualified signatures. See Harris v. City of Bisbee, 219 Ariz. 36, 43 ¶ 23, 192 P.3d 162, 169 (App. 2008) (noting that excluding all signatures on a signature sheet is appropriate only when an affidavit is defective and the presumptive validity of the affected signatures has not been restored or when . . . the affidavit is false ). C. ¶38 Transient Voters In addition to his constitutional and statutory challenges, Ross argues that the petition improperly included 471 signatures from voters who lived in Legislative District 18 when they signed the petition, but were registered to vote in another district. 369, 923 qualified P.2d at He asks us to overrule Pacuilla, 186 Ariz. at 835, electors. and hold Given our that these resolution voters of are Ross s not other challenges, the disposition of these 471 signatures is moot. The parties agree that the final certification yielded 10,296 - 19 - valid signatures and that only 7,756 were required to compel an election. Thus even if Ross s challenge on this issue prevailed, the petition would still contain 9,825 signatures, 2,069 more than necessary to move forward with the recall election. D. ¶39 Attorneys Fees Ross seeks attorneys attorney general doctrine. fees pursuant to the See Arnold v. Ariz. Dep t of Health Servs., 160 Ariz. 593, 609, 775 P.2d 521, 537 (1989). Ross has not prevailed, attorneys fees. however, CBA s substantially requirements. he is not Because eligible for Id. III. ¶40 private petition complies DISPOSITION for with the the recall of constitutional Senator and Pearce statutory We therefore affirm the judgment of the trial court. _____________________________________ Rebecca White Berch, Chief Justice CONCURRING: _____________________________________ Andrew D. Hurwitz, Vice Chief Justice _____________________________________ W. Scott Bales, Justice - 20 - _____________________________________ A. John Pelander, Justice _____________________________________ Robert M. Brutinel, Justice - 21 -
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