Erosion of public confidence in courts spurs group from former state supreme court judges

February 24, 2026 | Anna Stolley Persky | ABA

Scott Bales, former chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, says he couldn’t just stand idly by as the country’s faith in the court system eroded.

“We’ve seen over the last several years a rising number of attacks and threats of attacks, unfortunately, on judges,” says Bales, who, after his retirement from the Arizona Supreme Court, served as executive director of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver in 2019 and 2020.

Late last year, he joined up with other former state supreme court justices to educate the public, and work with civic organizations, lawmakers, the media and others to explain the role and importance of an independent judiciary. The group, the Alliance of Former Chief Justices, announced its creation on Dec. 15, 2025, a day devoted to celebrating the Bill of Rights. . . .