Arizona

School of Public Affairs surveys thousands of Arizona lawyers, other legal professionals for state bar

Published

1 year ago

December 13, 2024

When the State Bar of Arizona decided to learn what its members thought about disciplinary procedures, it needed someone to poll its nearly 25,000 lawyers and other legal professionals.

The bar reached out to Arizona State University’s School of Public Affairs (SPA) to create and administer a survey, which uncovered several opportunities for organizational improvement.

The project began, interestingly enough, at a Sun Devil football game.

Shannon Portillo

Early in the 2023 football season, SPA Director Shannon Portillo, the Lattie and Elva Coor Presidential Chair, was invited to view a game from ASU President Michael Crow’s suite at Mountain America Stadium. There, she met 2023–24 State Bar of Arizona President Benjamin Taylor, an attorney with the Phoenix law firm of Taylor & Gomez LLP.

Portillo said Taylor talked about some member concerns regarding disciplinary procedures, and how California had recently studied outcomes of its own process.

“We talked during the game about replicating it in Arizona, but we determined Arizona didn’t have the same kind of data,” Portillo said. “But we could do a broad survey to see how lawyers understand the disciplinary process.”

Portillo sent Taylor a two-page proposal. Within a month, she met with the bar’s board of governors, where she presented it. Portillo donated her time to conduct the study, as did ASU Assistant Vice President for Community Engagement Kenja Hassan, who recently earned her PhD, and SPA Associate Professor Susan Miller. The State Bar Foundation funded the cost of a graduate student assistant, Andrew Bertucci, who is pursuing a PhD degree.

The board approved the study, which was open for recipients to fill out from late November 2023 to early January 2024. A total of 2,481 members (9.4%) completed the survey.

‘An opportunity for self-examination’

More than 1,100 of those completing it also gave written comments in addition to answering its multiple-choice questions. The number of written comments demonstrated that members were definitely interested in the subject and what they were thinking, Portillo said.

“This said to us this was an important topic,” she said. “Typically, we see a small number of people in surveys writing out comments. This shows they care about the process and whatever it takes to make it better.”

Portillo, Hassan and Miller, a fellow in SPA’s Center for Organization Research and Design, completed survey data analysis over the course of the year and released the results Dec. 1.

The survey gauged respondents’ perceptions of bias and overall effectiveness of the state bar’s disciplinary process, asking some specific questions of lawyers and other legal professionals who had participated in the process themselves, or knew someone who had.

Taylor said he found the ASU research team to be thorough and professional.

“The report showed that the State Bar of Arizona needs to address aspects of the discipline process so that it can best serve our members and the public,” Taylor said. “People who took the survey perceived that there is a difference in how lawyers are treated based on political status, financial resources, type of practice area and race/gender/ethnicity of the attorney, and that the bar is more punitive than supportive of small firms.”

Taylor said the report gives the bar “an opportunity for self-examination and to decide how to more effectively communicate the discipline process so that everyone involved is treated fairly. I thank Dr. Shannon Portillo, Dr. Susan Miller, Dr. Kenja Hassan and doctoral student Andrew Bertucci for their work.”

A ‘no-brainer’ to work with ASU team

Ted Schmidt, an attorney with the Tucson law firm Schmidt, Sethi & Akmajian, succeeded Taylor as state bar president for 2024–25. Schmidt said when his organization determined it should survey its members on the discipline system, its leaders “immediately recognized the need for help from social scientists with the expertise to craft the survey and analyze its results.”

As a result, Schmidt said, it was a “no-brainer” to turn to Portillo, Hassan, Miller and Bertucci.

“This exceptional and experienced team met with our leadership many times over the last year to properly create and administer the survey,” Schmidt said. “It was an amazing collaboration, which went above and beyond our expectations in terms of both the quality of the survey and its results, as well as the insightful analysis of the results by the ASU team of experts.”

Recently, other nonprofits and government entities have similarly partnered with the School of Public Affairs, Portillo said, from county supervisors to state education officials to veterans’ organizations. School faculty members also have developed educational tools for middle and high school students learning about public budgeting.

Portillo said she is eager for the state bar’s next steps.

“We had received incredible ideas to work with the membership to improve the process,” she said. “We look forward to seeing what they’re going to do moving forward.”

The state bar magazine, Arizona Attorney, published a story about the survey in its December issue, which contains a link to the survey results.

The School of Public Affairs is part of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.

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Arizona

Arizona baseball falls to ASU in midweek nonconference game

Published

5 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Arizona baseball falls to ASU in midweek nonconference game

TEMPE – The Phoenix metro has not been kind to Arizona baseball through the first month of the season.

Arizona fell to rival ASU 10-4 on Tuesday night in front of a packed crowd at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The Wildcats clawed back after falling behind 6-1, but the Sun Devils closed the door in the late innings.

The nonconference game was the first of five matchups between the rivals, with the UA hosting a 3-game Big 12 Conference series in early April followed by one more non-league game in Tempe.

Arizona (6-10) is now 0-4 in the Phoenix area, with three losses coming in the opening weekend College Baseball Series in Surprise. Arizona dropped to 0-3 in midweek games.

Collin McKinney got the start for the Wildcats, allowing four earned runs on five hits and six strikeouts. McKinney conceded one run in the first inning but escaped out of a bases loaded jam. He looked sharp until giving up a 2-run homer to ASU’s Dean Toigo in the fourth inning.

“We saw the velocity at times. We saw the breaking stuff,” Arizona coach Chip Hale said. “It was very encouraging from us on our side for him.“

The Sun Devils tacked on three more runs in the fourth, including a 2-run blast from Landon Hairston off reliever Matthew Martinez.

Arizona answered in the sixth inning when sophomore catcher Roman Meyers drilled a 450-feet 3-run homer to bring the score to 6-4. It was Meyers’ third homer of the season.

“He always has a chance. He’s got massive power,” Hale said. “So if he hits it he has a chance for a home run.”

Arizona’s five through nine hitters combined for six of the team’s eight hits, led by 2-hit games from Caleb Danzeisen and Cash Brennan.

Arizona’s offense, however, couldn’t keep up with the Sun Devils, who added runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to pull away. Wildcats pitchers gave up eight free bases on the night.

Arizona is back in action Friday when it begins Big 12 play at Utah. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. MST.

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Arizona

WATCH: How Helping One Woman provides hope and support with ‘Girl’s Night Out’

Published

17 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

WATCH: How Helping One Woman provides hope and support with ‘Girl’s Night Out’

PEORIA, AZ — What if a simple dinner could help someone rebuild their life? In Peoria, a local chapter of Helping One Woman is doing just that by gathering once a month for a “Girls Night Out” with a powerful purpose.

Each month, women in the community nominate someone facing an unimaginable challenge: the loss of a spouse or child, a cancer diagnosis, or another life-altering hardship. That woman becomes the evening’s honoree.

At the dinner, attendees each contribute at least $10 and take part in raffles supported by local businesses. By the end of the night, the funds raised are gifted directly to the recipient to help with expenses during a difficult time.

But organizers say the money is only part of the impact. The room full of encouragement, hugs, and shared support can be just as powerful.

ABC15’s Cameron Polom talked with the Peoria chapter president and two women whose lives were changed thanks to the group’s generosity. See the full Uplifting Arizona story in the video player above.

See more from Uplifting Arizona:

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Arizona

What have the Cardinals done in NFL free agency? – Arizona Sports

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

What have the Cardinals done in NFL free agency? – Arizona Sports

The NFL’s legal tampering window is officially open, and it didn’t take long for the Arizona Cardinals to get in the mix.

A running list of the new names and familiar faces coming to Arizona in 2026:

New names on Cardinals roster this free agency

Kendrick Bourne

The former San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots wide receiver brings another body to Arizona’s wide receivers room that includes Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr.

He’s got plenty of familiarity with new Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur from their time together in San Francisco (2017-20). Bourne also spent a year with expected Cardinals starter Jacoby Brissett in 2024 with the Patriots.

The wide receiver caught 37 passes for 551 yards in 16 games played (eight starts) last year.

He’s now on board for two years in Arizona.

Isaac Seumalo

The guard spent the past three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a seven-season stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.

He’s started 104 out of 125 games played and has spent time at both left and right guard during his NFL career.

According to Next Gen Stats, the guard allowed a 3.7% pressure rate last year. That was the lowest rate among all eligible guards in 2025.

Gardner Minshew

Minshew agreed to terms on a one-year deal on Monday.

He’s expected to back up expected starter Jacoby Brissett in 2026, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

Coming off his seventh NFL season and first with the Kansas City Chiefs, Minshew appeared in four games (one start) last year. He completed 46.2% of his throws for 37 yards and an interception.

Before landing with the Chiefs, Minshew spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders (2024), Indianapolis Colts (2023), Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2019-20).

RB Tyler Allgeier

Allgeier comes over to Arizona on a reported two-year contract.

Before agreeing to terms on the $12.25 million deal with Arizona on Monday, Allgeier played four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.

He ran for 514 yards and eight touchdowns on 143 carries last year, while adding another 14 catches for 96 yards.

While he worked mostly behind Bijan Robinson the past three years, Allgeier did surpass the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie in 2022.

Familiar faces

L.J. Collier

Collier is back on a one-year deal.

The defensive lineman appeared in four games in 2025 due to a knee injury suffered in Week 2.

He recorded six tackles and two QB hits in what was his third season with the team.

Roy Lopez

After a one-year stint with the Detroit Lions, Lopez is back with his hometown team on a reported two-year deal.

In 17 games played last year, he recorded two sacks, four tackles for loss and a pass defensed.

Before his time in Detroit, Lopez spent two seasons with Arizona from 2023-24. During that span, he registered a sack, six tackles for loss, three passes defensed and a forced fumble in 30 games played (21 starts).

K Chad Ryland

Ryland is back on a one-year deal, the team announced.

Ryland went through plenty of struggles last season after a having a career year in 2024. His accuracy dropped from 87.5% in 2024 to 75.8% last season. He was especially inconsistent from 40 yards and on, compiling a 13-of-20 mark (65%). Inside 40 yards, though, Ryland was 12-of-13 (92.3%).

Arizona brought in kicker Josh Karty late in the year (more on him later), but Ryland never gave up his role and appeared in all 17 games.

A one-year deal isn’t going to break the bank by any means.

P Blake Gillikin

The Cardinals must feel pretty good about where Gillikin is at in his recovering from a back injury last year with their signing of the punter to a one-year deal.

Before he went down five games into the season, the punter was leading the league in yards per punt with 51.7.

Not only that, across his five seasons (65 games) in the NFL, he holds the all-time record for yards per punt at 48.5.

Staying healthy is key for Gillikin, who also missed time in 2024 due to an ankle injury.

RB James Conner

Technically not a free agent, Conner was a potential cut candidate given his contract.

But after reportedly revising his deal, Conner is returning for his sixth season with the Cardinals.

The running back brings plenty of leadership and a bruising running style to the mix.

He’s coming off an abbreviated 2025 (three games) due to an ankle injury but had rushed for a pair of 1,000-yard seasons the two years prior. He scored at least seven rushing touchdowns each season from 2022-24.

CB Sean Murphy-Bunting

Much like Conner, Murphy-Bunting was another prime cut candidate due to his contract but reportedly revised his deal with Arizona as well.

Murphy-Bunting has a lot to prove after missing all of 2025 due to an injury suffered away from the team facility.

In his first season with the Cardinals, the cornerback recorded 52 tackles, three interceptions, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles across 15 starts.

Follow @Tdrake4sports

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