SB 1589 Summary

• Establishes new regulations in Arizona Title 32 Chapter 2 governing attorney discipline and licensing, requiring the Supreme Court to provide notice of disciplinary proceedings and disclose attorney responses to complainants.

• Requires attorneys to swear an oath to the U.S. and Arizona constitutions and defend clients' constitutional rights, including challenging state statutes deemed unconstitutional under the U.S. or Arizona Constitution.

• Mandates jury trials for attorney discipline cases with a 10-person jury requiring unanimous verdicts to disbar, using a clear and convincing evidence standard, with hearing fees capped at $500.

• Applies similar jury trial protections and procedural requirements to court-appointed licensed professionals (psychologists, parenting coordinators, etc.) under state bar disciplinary authority.

• Requires law schools to include curriculum on constitutional rights protection and the state bar examination to test applicants' knowledge of attorneys' duties to challenge unconstitutional laws.