Michael Bryan

Michael founded BlogForArizona.net as the Howard Dean presidential campaign blog for Arizona in 2003, and has been blogging ever since. The Blog is now coming up on 20 years of continuous publication, a major achievement for any political blog, which usually have the life-spans of mayflies. Michael is an attorney living in Tucson with his wife Lauren. In 2008, Michael remade BlogForArizona into a collaborative project. Michael is now but one of the contributors to the blog and provides editorial and publishing direction in consultation with the Board of Directors and the other authors. If you want to keep up with the latest Arizona and National political news in an entertaining quick hit of news and opinion, check out the BlogForArizona twitter feed, which Mike largely curates and writes. Michael is also an AAPC member who occassionally consults on political campaigns, strategy and communications.

Standing Up For Democracy at the School Board

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We have seen over the past several years that many on the right believe that too much democracy is a bad thing. We see it in the voter suppression laws passed all over the country in the wake of the Supreme Court’s gutting of the Voting Rights Act in 2013, including attempts here in Arizona … Read more

“The Perfect Storm” – Expanded Arizona Supreme Court Sets Two Records In 2019

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The Arizona Supreme Court set two new records in 2019, and Chief Justice Robert Brutinel notes that it was the “perfect storm”. He says 2020 will show a noticeable increase in the number of opinions from the expanded court.

The Supreme Court’s 26 opinions in 2019 are the fewest issued by Arizona’s highest court in modern times* Also, the 7 justices have not issued an opinion since the Brush & Nib opinion attracted national attention on September 16; never* has the Supreme Court gone this long without releasing an opinion.**

Brutinel tells AZ Law that it is “a funny set of circumstances” that led to fewer opinions being issued. Among the confluence of events was the departures of Chief Justice Scott Bales and Justice John Pelander, the resulting appointment of two new justices “who really want the first ones to be good” and naming of a new Chief Justice and Vice Chief Justice. In addition, a “minor factor” may have also been the difficulty and 110- page length of the Brush & Nib opinion. (James Beene and Bill Montgomery are the two new Justices.)

“We’ll get back into a regular rhythm as people get a little more experienced,” the new Chief Justice explained. “The reality is we’re trying to take more cases, (we are) a group of people that wants to work hard – they’re here to write opinions.”

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Do We Live in a Christian Nation This Christmas?

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By Michael Bryan Merry Christmas to you and yours. I find myself musing this Christmas day on whether the old bromide that America is a “Christian nation” is actually true in any meaningful way. It is true that the various denominations and sects of Christianity, lumped together a as monolithic religion (a questionable proposition in … Read more

NEW: Some House Dems Are Pushing Censure, Not Impeachment; AZ Rep. O’Halleran Is NOT Part Of That Group

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A group of about 10 vulnerable Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives is floating the idea of censuring President Donald Trump instead of impeaching him. Arizona Rep. Tom O’Halleran is NOT part of that group, Arizona’s Politics has learned. Politico reported on the Democrats – running for re-election in districts that voted for Trump in 2016 – … Read more

WATCH: GOP Senators Push Tucson Judges In Today’s Confirmation Hearing; READ Their Questionnaires

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Both Pima County judges recently nominated by President Donald Trump to the U.S. District Court bench in Tucson received their confirmation hearings today, and both were questioned more closely by Republican Senators than their Democratic colleagues.

Judges Scott Rash and John Hinderaker were introduced to the committee by Arizona Senators Martha McSally and Kyrsten Sinema, respectively. Each judge later took three minutes to introduce family and friends, and to thank colleagues. (Judge Rash getting choked up with emotion.)

But, the fun did not begin until Senators had their opportunities to question the nominees. Freshman Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) opened by grilling Judge Hinderaker about his views on the Second Amendment; the back and forth went on for a couple of minutes before the nominee noted that his experience as a litigator was in the civil arena and that he has not litigated (or, judicially handled) any Second Amendment cases. (The exchange begins at 2:05:07 in the video.)

Both judges received softball questions from Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) – Judge Rash devoted much time and effort as an attorney to helping the homeless population in Tucson

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