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Arizona Senate's election review records again ruled public

A judge ruled the Senate's audit “goes to the heart of our democracy” and the public has a right to see documents on how it was conducted.

Credit: AP

FILE - In this May 6, 2021, file photo, Maricopa County ballots cast in the 2020 general election are examined and recounted by contractors working for Florida-based company, Cyber Ninjas at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. A judge has rejected the Republican-controlled Arizona Senate's contention that communications between Senate leaders and the private contractors they hired to conduct a review of the 2020 election results in Maricopa County can be withheld on legislative privilege grounds. The ruling was released Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt York, Pool, File)

PHOENIX — A judge has ruled in favor of the release of communications between leaders in the Republican-controlled Arizona Senate and private contractors they hired to conduct an unprecedented review of the 2020 election results.

The ruling released Thursday evening is the latest in a series of losses for the Senate stemming from its efforts to keep secret records showing how the review was conducted.

Watchdog group American Oversight had sued for the records and repeatedly won. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Michael Kemp ruled the Senate's audit “goes to the heart of our democracy” and the public has a right to see documents on how it was conducted.

Fann said she will meet with Senate lawyers to decide next steps.

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