‘When government agencies act as prosecutor, judge, and jury, they violate the basic American principle that everyone deserves a fair trial before an impartial jury of their peers’
By Bob Unruh
The legal fight involves a rubber-recycling company and its alleged securities violations.
But the real dispute is something about which Americans must have concern: Whether those targeted by a government action have a right to a jury decision, or if some government functionary can simply rule against them and order them to pay a penalty.
The fight is being handled by the Pacific Legal Foundation.
“The Arizona Supreme Court’s decision to hear this case recognizes that fundamental constitutional rights are at stake,” said Adi Dynar, an attorney for the foundation. “When government agencies act as prosecutor, judge, and jury, they violate the basic American principle that everyone deserves a fair trial before an impartial jury of their peers.”
It is the EFG America corporation that asked the Arizona Supreme Court to protect the constitutional right to jury trials, and the justices have agreed.
It was a state agency’s bureaucrats at the Arizona Corporation Commission that forced the Mesa-based company into unfair in-house tribunals.