♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ >> COMING UP ON NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON", DETAILS ON A LEARNED HUMAN SMUGGLING CONDUCTED BY FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYERS AT ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY.

ALSO TONIGHT, A CONVERSATION WITH MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISOR BILL GATES AND PERFORMANCE REVIEWS TO HELP VOTERS DESIGN ON RETAPING OR REMOVING JUDGES IN ARIZONA.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

"ARIZONA HORIZON" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY IT'S CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS.

MEMBERS OF YOUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I AM TED SIMONS, BIG ECONOMIC NEWS.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE CUT INTEREST RATES BY A HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT.

AN UNUSUALLY LARGE REDUCTION, THE FEDS' FIRST CUT TO BORROWING COSTS SINCE 2020 AND LOWERS RATES TO JUST UNDER 5%, WILLIAM POWELL WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT THIS MORE, THE FED CHAIR.

>> TODAY THE FEDERAL OPEN MARKET COMMITTEE DECIDED TO REDUCE THE DEGREE OF POLICY RESTRAINT BY LOWERING OUR POLICY INTEREST RATE BY A HALF PERCENTAGE POINT.

THIS DECISION REFLECTS OUR GROWING CONFIDENCE THAT WITH AN A ON PERHAPS ROT RECALCULATION OF OUR POLICY STANCE, STRENGTH IN THE LABOR MARKET CAN BE MAINTAINED IN A CONTEXT OF MODERATE GROWTH AND INFLATION MOVING SUSTAINABLY DOWN TO 2%.

>> THE MOVE COMES AFTER MONTH OF INFLATION EASING OFF AND POWELL SAYS IT'S MEANT TO KEEP THE ECONOMY FROM SLOWING DOWN TOO MUCH BY KEEPING EMPLOYMENT AND INFLATION GOALS IN BALANCE.

>> THE U.S. ECONOMY IS?

GOOD SHAPE, GROWING AT A SOLID PACE.

INFLATION IS COMING DOWN.

THE LABOR MARKET IS IN A STRONG PACE, WE WANT TO KEEP IT THERE.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING.

>> MORE REDUCTIONS EXPECT NEXT YEAR WITH 1.5 FORECASTED TO BE IT OUT BEFORE THE END OF 25.

INTEREST RATES MOVING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION COMING TO RETAIL CREDIT CARDS.

RATES ARE AT A RECORD HIGH.

THE STUDY LOOK AHEAD AT 100 RETAILERS AND AVERAGE RATE 30%, UP FROM 24% IN 2021.

ALSO ABOVE THE CURRENT AVERAGE FOR A CREDIT CARDS OVERALL WHICH IS ABOUT 21%.

STUDY FOUND THAT THE LOWEST RATE ON A RETAIL CARD WAS 10% ON THE AMAZON SECURED CARD.

AND ONE MOREHEAD LINE, TALKS BETWEEN THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS AND MARICOPA COUNTY ARE GETTING INCREASINGLY TESTY.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC WHICH REPORTS THAT THE TEAM ASK THE COUNTY ARE NOWHERE NEAR AGREEMENT ON A LEASE EXTENSION FOR COUNTY-OWNED CHASE FIELD.

THE TEAM REPORTEDLY WANT AIDS WAY TO RECOVER TAX REVENUE AMONG OTHER THINGS TO FUND MAINTENANCE AT THE STADIUM COUNTY WITNESS THE DIAMONDBACKS TO INVEST IN UPGRADES ESPECIALLY IF THEY GO AHEAD WITH AN ON SITE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.

THE LEASE EXPIRES IN 2027.

>> AND INVESTIGATION BY THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC FOUND ALLEGATIONS OF HUMAN SMUGGLING CONDUCTED BY FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYERS AT ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY.

A REPORT FOUND THAT THE ATHLETES ARRESTED BY BORDER PATROL WERE LATER RELEASED WITHOUT CRIMINAL CHARGES.

JOINING US NOW IT THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC'S JASON WHO FEEL WHO BROKE THE STORY HOW LONG DID YOU WORK ON THIS THING IN.

>> 18 MONTHS.

>> GREAT WORK HERE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT, HOW EXACTLY DID THIS WORK WITH THESE FOOTBALL PLAYERS I THINK YOU CALLED IT BASICALLY A BLACK MARKET RIDESHARE SERVICE HERE.

HOW DID THEY GET INVOLVED?

WHAT DID THEY DO?

>> FIRST, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW.

THE STORY BEGINS WITH TWO ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PLAYERS BORROWING A CAR FROM A TEAMMATE, DRIVING TO BISBY, ARIZONA, THIS IS IN JANUARY OF 2022.

THEY WERE STOP BID A STATE TROOPER BECAUSE A LIGHT WAS OUT ON THE LICENSE PLATE.

THEY WERE FOUND WITH AN INJURED WOMAN A IN THE BACKSEAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO WALK, SHE DID NOT HAVE PROPER DOCUMENTATION TO ENTER OR REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY.

DPS CALLED BORDER PATROL AND AN AMBULANCE.

THE STUDENTS WERE ARRESTED.

THE MIGRANT WOMAN WAS TREATED AND DEPORTED UNDER TITLE 42.

>> REPORTER: WITHIN A MATTER OF HOURS THE PLAYER WERE RELEASED WITHOUT CRIMINAL CHARGES.

>> RELEASED WITHOUT CRIMINAL CHARGES, WHAT THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> ACCORDING TO BORDER PATROL RECORD OBTAINED BY THE REPUBLIC, THE TWO U.S. CITIZENS ARRESTED IN THIS INCIDENT, WERE RELEASED BASED ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND THEIR LACK OF PRIOR CRIMINAL HISTORY.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH TUCSON SECTOR GUIDELINES.

>> AND TUCSON SECOND SOAR GUIDELINES ACCORDING TO YOUR STORY MEANS THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME SITUATION.

ARREST, NO CHARGES, GO ON YOUR MERRY WAY.

>> CORRECT.

HE RETAPED ALL INCIDENT REPORTS FOR ARRESTS -- EXCUSE ME FORK TRAFFIC STOPS RESULTING IN ARRESTS FOR HUGH SPAN SMUGGLING IN TUCSON SECTOR.

OVER A 48 HOUR WINDOW IN JANUARY OF 2022 INCLUDING 2ACU FOOTBALL PLAYERS, 18 INCIDENTS DETAILS.

26 ARRESTS FOR HUMAN SMUGGLING AMONG THEM, THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF 13 PER DAY.

THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA PROSECUTES BETWEEN TWO TO FOUR HUMAN SMUGGLING CASE A DAY.

>> GOODNESS.

>> QUITE A FEW DISCREPANCY.

OF THE 26 WHO WERE ARRESTED, AT LEAST SEVEN OF THEM, ACCORDING TO THE PUBLIC RECORDS, WERE RELEASED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

THEIR LACK AND THEIR LACK OF CRIMINAL HISTORY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STUDENT ATHLETES HERE, HOW DID THEY GET INVOLVED IN THIS?

>> APPARENTLY, ACU CONDUCTED AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION AND ENDED UP SUSPENDING A THIRD PLAYER WHO CASA LEDGEDLY DRIVING ASSIGNMENTS FOR HIS TEAM MATES.

>> HOW DID HE GET THE ASSIGNMENTS.

>> WHERE 'CAUSE THAT CHAIN GO TO?

>> THAT'S A WONDERFUL QUESTION, YOU SEE HOW I SPENT 18 MONTHS TRYING TO FOLLOW THE TRAIL AND SUBMIT PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS.

THERE WAS A RESUME AIR WRONG PLAYERS ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM THAT AN ASSISTANT COACH MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE SCHEME.

THAT WOULD ASSISTANT COACH WAS FIRED LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE ARRESTS.

THE UNIVERSITY CONFIRMS, BUT SAID THAT IT WAS FOR COMPLETELY HIS DISMISSAL WAS FOR COMPLETELY UNRELATED REASONS.

A SHORT TIME LATER HE WAS HIRED AS THE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AT RIVER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL IN MOJAVE VALLEY.

WHERE HE STAYED FOR A YEAR.

AND HE WAS JUST THIS SEASON IN THE SEASON OPENER ON THE SIDELINE AT SAGUARO HIGH SCHOOL IN SCOTTSDALE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO BASICALLY THAT -- WE SEE A LITTLE BIT OF THE PIPE LANE GOING THERE.

WAS THE SCHOOL -- THEY FIRED THE GUY FOR A REASON, I WOULD IMAGINE.

BUT HOW MUCH WAS THE SCHOOL AWARE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON?

>> A MOTHER WHO I SPOKE WITH WHOSE WAS IMPOUNDED DURING ONE OF THESE ALLEGED HUMAN SMUGGLING RUNS.

TOLD ME THE COACHES REACHED OUT TO HER BECAUSE THEY HAD NO IDEA ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

IN REGARDS TO PLAYERS DRIVING TO THE BOARD TORE BRING MY GRANTS BACK TO METRO PHOENIX AND THEY ASKED HER IF SHE COULD HELP THEM GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.

>> THE ONE OF THE PLAYERS, ALLEGEDLY WAS A QUARTERBACK WHO APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO YOUR REPORTING, WAS DISTRIBUTING SOME OF THESE ASSIGNMENTS.

THE KID IS STILL ON THE TEAM, IS HE?

>> CORRECT.

>> HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> THE UNIVERSITY SAID THAT THEY PREFERRED TO REDEEM.

WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

RATHER TO PUNISH ESSENTIALLY.

>> SO, ALL RIGHT, INTERESTING.

THESE WERE THE ONLY PLAYERS THAT YOU KNOW OF SO FAR.

>> WHAT ARE WITH YOU TALKING ABOUT.

HALF A DOES BE, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.

>> TWO ARRESTED AND THE ONE PROVIDED THE DRIVING ASSIGNMENT.

MY INVESTIGATION UP VEILED ANOTHER ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PLAYER FROM THE PREVIOUS SEMESTER INVOLVED NBA THE FALL OF 2021, WOULD SPOKE TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT HE WAS ARRESTED ON HIS FOURTH TRIP.

DRIVING MIGRANTS.

>> HIS FOURTH TRIP.

>> CORRECT.

>> THE SCHOOL DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING ON?

>> THE SCHOOL WAS UNAWARE OF THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT.

THE PLAYER, WHO SPOKE TO ME, TOLD ME THAT HE DID HIS BEST TO KEEP HIS ARREST A SECRET, THE CAR WAS HIS OWN.

SO WHERE AS THE MORE RECENT INCIDENT GOT OUT BECAUSE THE CAR THAT WAS IMPOUNDED BELONGED TO A PLAYER'S MOTHER.

THIS PLAYER OWNED HIS VEHICLE AND SO HE WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE IT IT ON HIS OWN.

>> WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE TALKING ROGUE KIDS WORK OUTSIDE OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM?

>> I WOULD HESITATE TO PASS ANY JUDGMENT ON ANY INFORMATION THAT I WAS UNABLE TO FIND.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT IT SEEM LIKES THIS IS A LARGER ISSUE THAN JUST AT ARIZONA CHRISTIAN.

>> YES.

>> FOR YEARS NOW TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO RECRUIT TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN ARIZONA TO ESSENTIALLY PARTICIPATE IN THIS BLACK MARKET RIDESHARE SERVICE.

JOHN THE CHIEF PATROL OFFICER FOR TUCSON SECTOR, TOLD ME THAT HIS AGENTS HAVE STOPPED CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 14 YEARS OLD.

>> AND THAT'S MY LAST QUESTION HERE.

THE DANGER INVOLVED HERE TO THE MIGRANTS, TO THESE KIDS, THE YOUNG KIDS THAT ARE BEING CROSSED AND FAIRY AHEAD CROSS BY TEAM THEY DON'T KNOW, THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS.

THE DANGER IS THERE.

THIS WOMAN YOU TALKED ABOUT WAS INJURED.

NOT IN GOOD SHAPE.

>> CORRECT.

CORRECT.

SHE WAS SUPPOSEDLY RESCUED FROM A DRAINAGE CANAL UNTIL BISBY BY ONE OF THE PLAYERS WHO HEARD HER SCREAMING WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE LOCATION TO MAKE THE PICK UP.

>> THIS IS MY LAST QUESTION.

WHAT KIND OF REACTION HAVE YOU HAD SO FAR TO THIS STORY?

>> OVERWHELMING POSITIVITY POINT IN TIME.

YOU KNOW, THIS OBVIOUSLY TOUCHES ON A LOT OF HOT BUTTON ISSUES.

WITH THE ELECTION, WITH POLITICS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

I TRIED TO FOCUS ON WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO THE KIDS.

TO THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS.

AND IN SOME CASES, YOU COULD FRAME IT THEY ARE SORT OF VICTIMS IN ALL OF THIS AS WELL.

THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE BEING RECRUITED TO STICK THEIR NECKS OUT FOR THESE CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND WHEN THEY GET A REFFED, SOMETIMES THEY ARE LET GO.

SOMETIMES THEY ARE NOT.

BUT ULTIMATELY, IT'S THESE CHILDREN THAT ARE PUTTING THEIR FUTURES ON THE LINE.

>> IT'S A FASCINATING STORY.

JASON WOLF AGAIN, ARIZONA REPUBLIC, AZ CENTRAL.COM.

THANKS FOR SHARING, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> APPRECIATE YOU.

>>> NEXT TIME.

THE CHURCH BELLS OF MIDSUMMER WILLOW ARE STEEPED IN HISTORY.

>> SACRILEGIOUS RACKET.

>> AND BLOOD.

>> WHY SOMEONE WANT TO KILL GREG.

>> AFTER ANOTHER SHOOTING.

THERE ARE QUITE A PEOPLE THAT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE A GUN.

>> BARNABY SUSPECTS THE BELL RINGSERS BE BEING TAR TED.

MUD SUMMER MURDERS.

>> THURSDAY NIGHT AT 8:00 ON ARIZONA PBS >> COUNTY SUPERVISOR BILL GATES IS THE SUBJECT OF A NEW DOCUMENTARY PRODUCED BY THE NEW YORKER.

THE FILM WAS TITLED "DENIAL" IT LOOKS AT HOW GATES WEST TARGETED BY ELECTION DID HE IN AERS NO MARICOPA COUNTY.

GATES NOT RUNNING FOR ELECTION, HE'S RESEARCHING ELECTION DENIAL I AT THE ASU ECONOMICS LAB.

WELCOME.

I HAD YOU AS CHAIRMAN?

>> IN 2022.

THAT'S RIGHT.

>> I AM GETTING THE DATES MIXED UP.

SCREEN OF THIS NEW YORKER FILM.

I HAVE SEEN THE FILM WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER.

THIS EVENING HERE AT THE AT ASU AND THE CRONKITE SCHOOL.

WHY DID YOU YES TO DO THIS?

THEY HAD A LOT OF GOOD ACCESS.

>> YEAH, THIS WAS SOMETHING THEY CAME TO US IN 2022, SAID THAT THEY WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE ACCESS.

WE KNEW AT THAT POINT ALREADY THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A LOT OF ATTENTION ON THAT PARTICULAR ELECTION.

AND BY THAT POINT, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE STARTING TO ATTACK ELECTION WORKERS.

QUESTIONING THE SYSTEM.

AND WE FELT THAT NO ONE HAD SHOWN THE HUMAN SIDE.

I TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME.

OUR ELECTIONS ARE NOT RUN BIRO BOTS.

THEY ARE NOT RUN BY FACELESS BUREAUCRATS, THEY ARE RUN BY PEOPLE.

OUR NEIGHBORS, AUNTS, YOU KNOW.

GRANDMOTHER.

AND SO WE WANTED TO -- WE SAW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HUMANIZE THE EXPERIENCE OF ELECTION WORKERS.

>> AS THINGS WENT ON, AND GOT CRAZIER AND CRAZIER, DID YOU EVER REGRET HAVING THE CAMERA SO CLOSE BY?

>> I NEVER REGRETTED IT.

OBVIOUSLY, I KNOW YOU HAVE VERY SOPHISTICATED VIEWERS THEY REMEMBER THE 2022 ELECTION SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAD.

WITH THE PRINTERS.

AND, NO, I NEVER REGRETTED IT BECAUSE I WANTED PEOPLE -- I THOUGHT IT WAS ACTUALLY GOOD FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT ELECTION.

WE ALWAYS SAY THAT.

BUT WE EMPHASIZE AND APPRECIATE IN DENIAL THE DOCUMENTARY, IT EMPHASIZES THAT NO ONE WAS DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER OF 2022.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

ELECTION DENIAL I IN GENERAL, AND AGAIN THE FILM GOES OVER -- WE HAVE TALKED, AS YOU KNOW, EVERYONE AROUND ARIZONA HAS JUST BEEN INUNDATED WITH THIS PARTICULAR STORY.

BUT ELECTION DENIAL I, BILL, I HAVE BEEN HEAR FOR QUITE A WHILE IT WAS NEVER EVEN REKNOWLY AN ISSUE, HOW DID IT TAKE SUCH ROOT IN ARIZONA.

>> WELL, IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE BEEN ASKED THAT QUESTION.

I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT A LOT.

FEW REASONS, NUMBER ONE, WE ARE A SWING STATE.

SO WE ARE ONE OF SEVEN STATES THAT ARE DECIDING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

SO TO THE EXTENT THAT PEOPLE THINK THAT THIS PROVIDES ADVANTAGES FOR THEM, EITHER POLITICAL, FUNDRAISING OR OTHERWISE, I THINK WE ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THAT.

BUT THEN I ALSO THINK THERE IS SOMETHING IN OUR POLITICAL DNA.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE 3,000 MILES AWAY FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. AND WE HAVE A HEALTHY CYNICISM I THINK OF GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S BUILT INTO OUR POLITICAL DNA.

UNFORTUNATELY BEING I THINK PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

TWISTED IT, IN A WAY TO WHERE NOW THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE IN ELECTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO A LOT OF HARASSMENT AND THREATS.

>> THEY INDEED ARE.

AND NEVER WERE BEFORE.

BUT, AGAIN, I GOTTA -- IF ONE GUY, NEVER SAID IT WAS -- I WAS CHEATED OUT, IT WAS RIGGED, IT'S A PHONEY, IT'S A FRAUD.

I REALLY WON, ONE GUY, IF HE DOESN'T SAY THAT, ARE REEVEN TALKING ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S A VERY FAIR POINT.

I THINK OTHERS WOULD SAY TO YOU, WE HAVE HAD OTHERS LIKE STACEY ABRAMS, IN GEORGIA WHO WAS RAISING SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS.

KATIE PORTER, SO, YOU KNOW, MENTIONING A COUPLE OF DEMOCRATS AS WELL IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE.

THIS NEEDS TO STOP ON BOTH SIDES.

IF YOU HAVE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS GO TO COURT, PRESENT YOUR EVIDENCE, BUT WHEN IT'S OVER, IT'S GOTTA BE OVER.

>> YOU WENT PUBLIC WITH PTSD.

AND I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT IT.

I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE FILM "DENIAL" HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO GO PUBLIC WITH THAT?

>> IT WAS DIFFICULT.

I MEAN, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALKING TOYED DO WITH MY WIFE.

A LOT OF PRAYER, CONSIDERATION, BUT IN THE END, THE REASON THAT I WENT PUBLIC WITH IT BECAUSE BECAUSE I KNEW HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE WERE STRUGGLING WITH THE CHALLENGES IN ELECTIONS, JUST LIKE YOU HAVE SAID.

THE INTEREST THING FOR ME IS ONCE I WENT PUBLIC WITH IT, NOT ONLY DID PEOPLE IN ELECTIONS COME TO MAY AND THANK MAY FOR SHARING MY STORY, BUT A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS, WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOLDIERS, FORMER MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, OR EVEN PEOPLE WHO DEALT WITH SOMETHING THAT'S CALLED CORPORATE TRAUMA, SITUATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE HAVE THAT HAVE BEEN VERY DRAMATIC FOR THEM.

>> YOU MENTIONED YOUR FAMILY, THE IMPACT OF ALL OF THIS ON YOUR FAMILY.

THE IMPACT ON FRIENDS AND INCLUDING MAYBE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT FRIENDS ANYMORE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE HARDEST PARTS.

AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN A REPUBLICAN MY WHOLE LIFE.

AND IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF MY FELLOW REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE EITHER ATTACKED ME, ATTACKED MY COLLEAGUES, ATTACKED THE ELECTION WORKERS OF MARICOPA COUNTY.

OR HAVE FALLEN SILENT WHILE OTHERS HAVE ATTACKED US.

BUT IN THE END, YOU KNOW, I HAVE LEARNED I CAN'T WORRY ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT I CAN'T CONTROL.

THERE IS SOME PEOPLE THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO RECENTLY NOW, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO REBUILD SOME OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

IS SOME OF THIS RECEDES, IT'S TOUGH, IT'S BEEN TOUGH FOR SO MANY OF US WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN ELECTIONS HERE IN ARIZONA THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

>> YOU DECIDED NO TO THE RUN FOR REELECTION, ARE YOU STILL OKAY WITH THAT?

>> I AM ABSOLUTELY OKAY WITH IT.

AGE EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING AT ASU THIS DEMOCRACY LAB.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU.

>> YEAH.

IT'S -- WE ARE THRILLED, SO GRATEFUL THAT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY HAS AGREED TO ESTABLISH THIS HERE.

THE MECHANICS OF DEMOCRACY LABORATORY.

SO THAT'S, RIGHT, WE'LL BE DOING RESEARCH IN TO, YOU KNOW WHAT, IS HAPPENING IN OUR ELECTIONS.

HOW TO RUN BETTER ELECTIONS, BUT ALSO TRYING TO TRAIN THAT NEXT GENERATION OF PEOPLE IN ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION WITH A DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE.

LAKE I SAID, GIVING THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN THAT NEXT GENERATION OF ELECTION WORKERS.

>> AND YOU SAID THAT YOU WANT TO CORRECT MISUNDERSTANDING AND MISINFORMATION.

GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE.

>> WELL, THERE ARE SO MANY EXAMPLES.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE THAT WE ARE SITTING HERE ON THE CRONKITE SCHOOL RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS AN ADMINISTRATION ISSUE, BUT THERE IS ALSO A COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEM.

SO ADDRESSING THE FACT THAT PEOPLE SAY THAT OUR TABULATION MACHINES ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.

THEY ARE NOT.

TO RESPOND TO THE STATEMENT THAT PEOPLE ARE VOTING ELECTRONICALLY.

THEY DON'T.

OVER 98% OF ALL AMERICANS VOTE ON PAPER.

ALSO, THAT THESE ELECTIONS ARE BEING RIGGED.

IF THEY ARE RIGGED THEN LITERALLY THAT WOULD INCLUDING A CONSPIRACY WITH 10S OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIM IT'S NOT GOING ON THERE IS REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC EYES ON EVERYTHING GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

>> ANY PUBLIC OFFICE IN YOUR FUTURE.

RIGHT NOW I AM JUST EXCITED TO FINISH TERM AND THRILLED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.

>> BILL GATES GOOD TO SEA YOU AGAIN.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU.

♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ ♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ ♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ >>> TONIGHT ON THE NEWS HOUR WHAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE INTEREST RATE CUT SAYS ABOUT THE FIGHT AGAINST INFLATION, THAT'S COMING UP AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ >> JUDGES ON ARIZONA'S SUPREME COURT APPELLATE COURTS AND THE THREE BIGGEST COUNTY COURTS FACE JUDICIAL RETENTION VOTES IN WHICH VOTERS DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THE JUDGES SHOULD REMAIN ON THE BENCH.

ARIZONA JUDICIAL PERFORM' REVIEW WAS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU MAKE THOSE DECEPTIONS.

JOINING US NOW, GOOD AT THAT SEE US AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.

>> GIVE PA A BETTER DEFINITION OF JUDICIAL -- OF HOW JUDICIAL RETENTION WORKS IN THE STATE?

>> WELL, START WITH HOW THE JUDGES GET A POINT, RIGHT.

IT'S A VERY ROBUST PROCESS THROUGH A COMMISSION AND ON ARE VARIOUS COMMISSIONS THAT MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS.

THE JUDGES CONTINUE TO MEAT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS THROUGHOUT THEIR TENURE AS JUDGES AND TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TO RETAIN THEM OR NOT.

>> RETENTION IS -- A RETENTION VOTE COMES AFTER WHAT, TWO YEARS?

>> I INITIALLY TWO YEARS AND SIX YEARS AFTER THAT.

>> AND HOW OFTEN ARE JUDGES VOTED OFF THE BENCH?

>> TWO YEARS AGO A COUPLE WERE VOTED OFF.

WE HAVE HAD A HANDFUL.

>> REPORTER: I HAVE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION FOR 12 YEARS.

WE HAVE HAD FIVE OR SIX DURING THAT PERIOD.

SOME JUDGES DECIDE NOT TO SAYS THE VOTER WHEN THEY SEE AIR SURVEY SCORES AND DATA.

KNOW THAT THE COMMISSION WILL BE LOOKING AT THEM CLOSELY.

THEY JUST DECIDE TO RETIRE OR MOVE ONTO SOMETHING ELSE.

>> AND THOSE SURVEY SCORES AND THAT DATA, THAT'S WHERE YOU COME IN.

>> CORRECT.

>> THE MISSION DOES WHAT?

>> A SAY RIGHT OF THE SOARS OF INFORMATION WHEN DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT JUDGES CONTINUE TO MEAT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

SURVEY IS THE PRIMARY TOOL BUT MANY OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION.

WE GET INFORMATION ON THE COMMISSION TO JUDICIAL CONDUCT.

INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC.

WE HOLE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

THE PUBLIC CAN MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT JUDGES DURING THE RETENTION PERIOD AND THE MISSION HAS OTHER AVENUES THEY CAN USE SUCH AS REVIEWING VIDEOS OF HEARINGS FOR SPECIFIC JUDGES IF WE WANT TO DO THAT SORT OF THING, THERE'S ARIZONA VARIETY I HAVE.

SOURCES BUT IT'S THE SURVEYS PRIMARILY WHERE THE DATA COMES FROM.

>> WHO ARE THE PEOPLE ON THE COMMISSION?

>> THE COMMISSION IS MADE UP OF 34 MEMBERS.

THERE CAN BE NO MORE THAN SEVEN JUDGES AND NO MORE THAN SIX LAWYERS, THAT MEANS THERE WILL BE 21 PUBLIC MEMBERS OR MORE AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND IT'S A -- THE SUPREME COURT TRIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMISSION REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THE JUDGES WORK.

RIGHT IN THEY WANT THE JUDGES TO BE REVIEWED BY PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SO WE HAVE A VERY BROAD MIX OF ETHNIC, RACIAL, GENDER, DIVERSITY, ALL WALKS OF LIFE, ALL MANNER OF OCCUPATION AND EMPLOYMENT.

>> AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE INFORMATION AND DATA COLLECTED.

HOW IS IT FORMULATED, HOW IS IT PRESENTED, SO THAT I AS A VOTER CAN LOOK AT IT AND GO IT LOOKS GOOD.

NOT SO GOOD.

>> RIGHT.

ALL OF THE DATA IS ULTIMATELY REPORTED ON THE WEBSITE FOR J.P. RESEARCH.

THE EASIEST WAY TO GET IT IS AZJUDGE.UP FORTUNATE THAT'S THE WEBSITE.

AZJUDGES.INFO.

YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE SEE ALL THE JUDGES UP FOR RETENTION, PSYCH WHAT THE VOTE WAS AS TO WHETHER THEY MET OR DID NOT MEET STANDARDS AND YOU CAN DRILL DOWN AND SEE THE SURVEYS THAT J.P. R COLLECTED DURING THE REVIEW PROCESS.

HOW MANY WERE DISTRIBUTED, HOW MANY WERE GIVEN OUT WHAT THE SCORES WERE ON THE SCALE OF EXCELLENT TO POOR.

AND HOW THEY WERE JUDGED BY EVERYONE WHO CAME IN CONTACT WITH THEM.

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT SAY I AM A JUDGE AND DIDN'T MEET THE STANDARDS BECAUSE OF X, Y AND, Z.

WHAT RESOURCE DO I HAVE?

>> THE JUDGES SPECIFICALLY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RECOURSE IN THE PROCESS.

NOW, REMEMBER, THEY HAVE BEEN TO THE COMMISSION.

IF THERE IS AN ISSUE, THAT THE COMMISSION SEES WITH THE JUDGES' SCORES IN PERFORMANCE, THE COMMISSION INVITES THE JUDGE TO COME TALK TO US IN A PRIVATE EXECUTIVE SESSION, THAT'S CONFIDENTIAL.

ABOUT THE AREAS THAT ARE NOTED TO BE DEFICIENT AND THE COMMISSION HEARS WHAT THE JUDGE THOSE SAY ABOUT THAT.

AND THE JUDGES HAVE INPUT.

THEY CAN PROVIDE WRITTEN RESPONSE OR THEY CAN APPEAR IN PERSON OR THEY CAN DO BOTH WHICH IS TYPICAL.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, THE COMMISSION CONSIDERS WHAT THE JUDGES PROVIDED AND MAKES THE VOTE ON WHAT THEY MEET STANDARDS OR NOT.

>> WHAT IF IT'S A JUDGE WHO WAS THOUGHT POORLY BECAUSE HE USED FOUL LANGUAGE OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES AND HE READS IT AND GO, I GOTTA KNOCK THIS OFF.

I AM -- I CAN DO BETTER, I WILL DO BETTER.

THAT KIND OF SELF-EVALUATION, DOES THAT FACTOR INTO THINGS?

>> ABSOLUTELY IT DOES.

TWO PARTS OF J.R. P1 IS THE SELF-EVALUATION AND IMPROVING PROCESS THAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE NONRETENTION YEARS.

THE JUDGES TYPICALLY DO THEIR OWN EVALUATIONS DURING THE NON-RETENTION YEARS AND J.P. R OVERSEES THAT SELF-IMPROVEMENT PROCESS.

OF COURSE WHEN THE JUDGE COMES TO THE COMMISSION IN AN AIR OF NOTED DEFICIENCIES THEY WILL OFFENSE SAY I DON'T LIKE THE SCORES EITHER.

THIS IS WHAT I AM DOING ABOUT IT.

A, B, C, D. I AM GETTING EDUCATED ON THIS SUBJECT OF THE LAW THAT I MAY BE NEED TO BE MORE FAMILIAR WITH.

AND THE COMMISSION CONSIDERS THAT AND THAT'S THE KIND OF THING WE LIKE TO SEE, RIGHT.

THE JUDGES ARE REFLECTIVE AND MAKING DECISIONS AND TRYING TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN SITUATION, AND TRYING TO DO BETTER JOB.

>> ONE MORE TIME AS FAR AS WHERE WE CAN GO TO GET THIS INFORMATION.

>> AZJUDGES.INFO.

>> YOU ARE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION THIS TIME, AREN'T YOU.

>> YES.

INTERESTING RETENTIONS.

WILLIAM.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW, DO OTHER STATES DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

STATES HAVE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS.

OF ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE THAT STUDY THE VARIOUS SYSTEM, ARIZONA IS REPEATEDLY HELD OUT TO BE THE BEST.

AND IT IS THE BEST BECAUSE WE HAVE A ROBUST SYSTEM FOR APPOINTMENTS.

WE GET THE BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AND SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE FOR ANYBODY THAT THE CANDIDATES ARE MEETING THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS YEAR IN AND OUT DURING RECESSION.

>> THAT'S REFRESHING TO HEAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE?

>> THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S FOR NOW.

I AM TED SIMONS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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