Arizona Supreme Court Justice Robert M. Brutinel is retiring at the end of October.
The announcement from the justice will pave the way for Gov. Katie Hobbs’ first Supreme Court appointment, the Arizona Republic reported. Currently, all of the justices on the court were appointed by Republican governors.
“The decision to leave the court has not been easy and I will greatly miss the Court’s interesting and challenging work and particularly all the wonderful people with whom I had the pleasure of working,” he wrote in the letter to Hobbs.
There are seven members on the court, and two other seats currently held by Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King are in contention this November. Bolick and King are subject of campaigns both for and against their retention. The duo was on the majority of the 4-3 decision that allowed a stay to be lifted on a near-total abortion law instead of the 2022 15-week ban law, even though the near-total ban law was later repealed by the legislature.
If Bolick and King lose their seats, Hobbs will have the opportunity to appoint two more justices, leading to three of the seven picks on the court coming from Hobbs. Five of the seven on the court were selected by former Gov. Doug Ducey, and two were appointed by former Gov. Jan Brewer. Brutinel was a Brewer appointee in 2010.
Judicial retention elections occur every six years in Arizona, and there is a proposition on the ballot to get rid of them entirely and void the results November retention contests.
In a statement, Hobbs’ office praised Brutinel’s contributions.
“Chief Justice Brutinel has served our state with honor and integrity for the last 28 years. His commitment to the rule of law and our independent judiciary throughout his career has been admirable,” she said. “I had the pleasure of getting to know Justice Brutinel towards the end of his tenure, and appreciated his love for Arizona and commitment to public service. I wish him and his family nothing but the best in their next chapter.”
