Arizona commission charges that judge reached a "predetermined result"

The Associated Press

AP reports: The battle over what legislative districts will be used [in Arizona] the rest of the decade has resumed with a state commission launching a broad assault on a trial court's ruling, contending in an appeal that the judge apparently arranged a "predetermined result."

The Independent Redistricting Commission's appeal said Judge Kenneth Fields of Maricopa County Superior Court trampled over the commission's authority, failed to provide a fair trial and practically gave the ruling to a coalition of Hispanic Democrats who challenged the commission's map.

Fields erred on numerous issues involving both the law and evidence, the commission said. "One possible explanation of the number and quality of the trial court's errors is a predetermination to reach a preferred result."

In considering some issues, Fields' ruling "appears to work backward to reach the coalition's preferred result," the appeal said. -- Appeal says redistricting order 'predetermined' (AP via AZcentral.com)

I was counsel for another set of plaintiffs suing over the congressional districts. We lost, while the legislative plaintiffs won. I certainly never saw anything in that five-week trial to make me think that the results were predetermined. Judge Fields handled that long trial with fairness and good humor. I'm sorry to see the counsel for the Commission attacking Judge Fields.