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RELIGIOUS
DISCRIMINATION BY APPELLATE COURT COMMISSION BRINGS JUDICIAL
SELECTION AND REDISTRICTING PROCESS INTO
QUESTION
CENTER FOR
ARIZONA POLICY PRESIDENT CATHI HERROD CALLS FOR COMMISSIONER LOUIS
ARANETA TO STEP DOWN AFTER DISPARAGING REMARKS ABOUT APPLICANT'S
FAITH
A
member of the Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments is
being called to resign after citing an applicant's Christian faith
as a disqualification for the Independent Redistricting Commission
(IRC). The IRC is charged with nominating 25 people to sit on the
five-person body that will be drawing the new legislative and
congressional district lines.
According
to news reports and observers who attended the commission's public
hearing on December 8 in which the commission reviewed
applications, Commissioner Louis Araneta voiced concerns with
applicant Christopher Gleason. Araneta spoke out against Gleason's
application because it included "strong religious overtones" saying
"there should be a separation of church and state."
"Not only did
Mr. Araneta completely mischaracterize Mr. Gleason's application,
but it is unconscionable that a person's religious beliefs are seen
as a disqualifying bias. Not one commissioner challenged Mr.
Araneta's comments against Mr. Gleason," said Cathi Herrod,
president of Center for Arizona Policy.
The only mention of Gleason's Christian faith on his application is
his membership on the board of 4-Tucson, a Christian community
service organization.
"The IRC is designed to be a nonpartisan, independent body," said
Herrod. "Mr. Araneta's remarks and the Commission's silence reveal
a bias against people of certain religious beliefs. Mr. Araneta
should step down immediately, and the commission should issue an
apology to Mr. Gleason for their silence."
What is perhaps most troubling about the Commission's religious
bias is that the Commission is the same group that nominates judges
for Arizona's appellate courts. It's deeply disturbing that those
individuals charged with selecting judges would say that faith in
Jesus Christ is a disqualification for public service.
The Appellate Court Commission provides the governor with a list of
judicial candidates in much the same way as they provide a list of
candidates for the IRC.
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