Opinion ID: 867299
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: ¶ 7 Article 6, Section 5(1) of the Arizona Constitution grants this Court original jurisdiction over mandamus, injunction and other extraordinary writs to State officers. We exercise this jurisdiction through the special action procedure, but our decision to accept jurisdiction is highly discretionary. Forty-Seventh Legislature v. Napolitano, 213 Ariz. 482, 485 ¶¶ 10-11, 143 P.3d 1023, 1026 (2006); Randolph v. Groscost, 195 Ariz. 423, 425 ¶ 6, 989 P.2d 751, 753 (1999). ¶ 8 This case warrants the exercise of our special action jurisdiction. The key issue is whether our constitution allows the Legislature to pass bills, but then refuse for political reasons to present them to the Governor for her veto or approval. We accepted jurisdiction because the two political branches have a good faith dispute over their respective powers in the lawmaking process and the issue is of first impression and statewide importance. See Forty-Seventh Legislature, 213 Ariz. at 485-86 ¶ 11, 143 P.3d at 1026-27; Randolph, 195 Ariz. at 425 ¶ 6, 989 P.2d at 753. ¶ 9 The Legislature argues that even if special action jurisdiction is appropriate, the Governor should have instead filed this action in the superior court because there are intense fact questions. We disagree. The relevant facts are undisputed; the merits of this case turn on the meaning of a constitutional provision. In light of the parties involved, the issue, and the timing of this dispute in relation to the enactment of a budget, special action relief was properly sought from this Court. See League of Ariz. Cities & Towns v. Martin, 219 Ariz. 556, 558 ¶ 4, 201 P.3d 517, 519 (2009).