Gov. Doug Ducey has signed legislation adding two justices to the Arizona Supreme Court despite opposition to the proposal from the high court's top judge.
Ducey said in a signing letter Wednesday that while he appreciates Chief Justice Scott Bales' concerns, he believes the court can be more efficient and take more cases with seven justices instead of the current five.
Bales said in a letter urging a veto that the court's caseload doesn't merit expansion, especially when the Legislature has underfunded other court priorities.
Ducey also pushed back at critics who said the expansion was designed to allow the Republican governor to "pack" the court with political appointees. He says the state's merit selection system for judges means he can only choose from candidates picked by an independent commission.
