1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose SB1148 when it comes before the Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee on Wednesday. This bill would strip the State Bar of Arizona of its attorney licensing responsibilities and transfer them to the Arizona Supreme Court, while eliminating the requirement that attorneys belong to the State Bar to practice law in Arizona. The timing and sponsorship of this legislation reveal its true motivation. Senator Mark Finchem is the primary sponsor, and his lawyer was sanctioned by the State Bar for filing a frivolous, bad-faith lawsuit challenging Finchem's 2022 loss in the secretary of state race. That sanction resulted in nearly $50,000 in legal fees that Finchem was forced to repay. This bill appears to be retaliatory legislation targeting the very institution that held his attorney accountable for professional misconduct. Arizona's current attorney licensing system works. The State Bar maintains professional standards, investigates complaints, and ensures attorneys meet ethical requirements to protect the public. Dismantling this system because one legislator disagrees with how his own case was handled sets a dangerous precedent. Lawmakers should not use their positions to retaliate against professional oversight bodies that sanctioned them or their representatives for legitimate reasons. Transferring licensing authority to the Supreme Court would burden our judiciary with administrative functions better handled by a dedicated professional organization. The Court already manages a full docket of cases and constitutional responsibilities. Meanwhile, eliminating mandatory Bar membership would weaken professional accountability and continuing education requirements that protect Arizona clients from incompetent or unethical legal representation. Personal grievances should not drive public policy. I ask you to vote no on SB1148 and preserve the integrity of Arizona's legal profession oversight system. Our state deserves attorney regulation based on public protection, not political revenge.