SCR1044, the Judicial Accountability Act of 2024, is a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to alter the terms of office for certain judges in Arizona. If passed by voters, justices of the Arizona Supreme Court, intermediate appellate court judges, and superior court judges in populous counties would serve terms of "good behavior" rather than fixed terms. The resolution specifies conditions under which a judge would face a retention vote, such as a felony conviction or poor performance as determined by the Commission on Judicial Performance Review. It also calls for statewide elections for appellate court judges, the creation of a judicial performance evaluation commission, and outlines the process for investigating judicial misconduct and the timeline for retention declarations.
The amendment aims to streamline the retention vote system by focusing on judges whose conduct is objectively unsatisfactory, thus reducing election costs, simplifying ballots, and improving the efficiency of vote tabulation. The resolution suggests that the current frequency of judicial retention elections is both excessive and insufficient, and by reducing the number of these elections, the process would be more focused and efficient. The act would apply retroactively from November 1, 2024, and would not affect the general election held on November 5, 2024. The resolution has been passed by the legislature and awaits voter approval at the next general election.