Media to get day in court over Senate election audit
Cyber Ninjas owner Doug Logan, left, a Florida-based consultancy, talks about overseeing a 2020 election ballot audit ordered by the Republican lead Arizona Senate at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, as a Cyber Ninjas IT technician demonstrates a ballot scan during a news conference Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Phoenix. The equipment used in the November election won by President Joe Biden and the 2.1 million ballots were moved to the site Thursday so Republicans in the state Senate who have expressed uncertainty that Biden’s victory was legitimate can recount them and audit the results. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Capitol Media Services
PHOENIX A judge on Tuesday said he has yet to be convinced that the rights of Maricopa County voters are being protected in the audit being conducted at the demand of the state Senate.
In a wide-ranging ruling, Judge Daniel Martin affirmed that the Senate has the authority to review the 2.1 million ballots and the machinery used to tabulate them as part of its legislative function. But he rejected claims by attorneys for the Senate that its members are constitutionally immune from being sued over how the audit is being handled by an outside contractor. The manner in which that audit is being conducted must be balanced against the constitutional rights of the voters in Maricopa County, including the rights to secrecy and and confidentiality of information, he said.
A judge said he’s not convinced private firms are protecting the rights of Maricopa County voters while conducting a review of the 2020 election ordered by the Republican-led Arizona state Senate.
But Judge Daniel Martin is letting the audit and recount at Veterans Memorial Coliseum continue, at least for now.
Martin took over the case after Judge Christopher Coury recused himself Sunday afternoon. An attorney working for the firm Cyber Ninjas, a defendant in the case, used to work in Coury’s office.
During a Tuesday morning hearing, Martin reiterated a legal position previously stated by Coury that Republican senators have the authority to conduct a review of the election. However, Martin stated that authority must be weighed against constitutional provisions and Arizona laws that protect ballot privacy and confidential voter information.
Judge rules audit group must turn over documents showing policies and procedures
After efforts to keep how and what methods they re using to conduct work on behalf of Arizona Senate Republicans a secret, and out of public records, Cyber Ninjas must turn over documentation to show how they re operating.
and last updated 2021-05-18 11:49:46-04
PHOENIX â After efforts to keep how and what methods they re using to conduct work on behalf of Arizona Senate Republicans a secret, and out of public records, Cyber Ninjas must turn over documentation to show how they re operating.
Maricopa County delivered its election equipment and 2.1 million ballots cast in November s election to Veterans Memorial Stadium so Republicans in the state Senate can recount the ballots and audit the tabulation machines. The recount is now in its sixth day.
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