Law professor comments on AZ judge

Professor Paul Bender, of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, was interviewed by KPHO-Channel 5 on Feb. 26, for a story about an investigation into an Arizona judge who is accused of repeatedly violating state law.

Superior Court judges are required to rule on specific matters within 60 days, according reporter Peter Busch, but Yavapai County Judge Howard Hinson has been cited for breaking that law and allegedly lying about it.

Bender said the 60-day rule goes to the heart of one of the basic tenets of the legal system. "Relatively prompt justice is something that people want, and I think it's something that they're entitled to have so they don't have to sit around waiting," he said.

Except in rare occasions, judges should be able to comply with the rule, Bender said.