Centennial Series: Top 10 Arizona Legal Cases

A. Cases of National Importance:

1. Miranda v. Arizona. U.S. Supreme Court (1966).

Requires police to give “Miranda warnings” prior to questioning a suspect in custody, in order to be able to use a confession obtained through the interrogation at trial.

2. In re Gault. U.S. Sup. Ct. (1967).

Requires that juveniles be given due process protections in juvenile delinquency proceedings.

3. Bates v. State Bar of Arizona. U.S. Sup. Ct. (1977).

Holds that lawyer advertising is protected by the First Amendment.

B. Cases of Arizona Importance:

1. State v. Tucson Gas, Elec. Light & Power Co. Az Sup Ct. (1914).

Holds that the Arizona Corporation Commission, rather than the state Legislature, has the exclusive power to regulate utility rates.

2. Orme v. Salt River Valley Water Users’ Ass’n.  Az Sup. Ct. (1923).

Holds that the Legislature, if it can get a two-thirds vote in each House, can prevent voters from subjecting new legislation to a voter referendum by declaring an emergency, whether an emergency actually exists.

3. Williams v. Lee.  U.S. Sup. Ct. (1959).

Holds that state courts have no jurisdiction over civil cases that arise on Indian Reservations, even if the dispute is between an Indian and a non-Indian.

4. Arizona v. California. U.S. Sup. Ct. (1963).

Establishes the extent of Arizona’s right to water from the Colorado River.

5. Kenyon v. Hammer. Az Sup. Ct. (1984).

Holds that the right to recover damages for personal injury is a fundamental right in Arizona that cannot be abrogated by the Legislature.

6. Mecham v. Gordon. Az Sup Ct. (1988).

Because of Gov. Evan Mecham’s impeachment conviction, cancelled a recall election that had been scheduled on the basis of voter recall petitions, thus permitting Secretary of State Rose Mofford to serve out the remainder of Mecham’s term.

7. Roosevelt Elementary School District v. Bishop. Az Sup. Ct. (1994).

Requires substantial equalization of state funding for public school districts in Arizona.