The law may be many things, but at its foundation, it has a lot to do with the search for truth. That’s why examining the way we reach that ideal is always a worthy endeavor.

Recently, I heard from Judge Mark Armstrong (ret.), now a staff attorney at the Arizona Supreme Court. He alerted me to the formation of a committee that is charged with determining the best ways, in court, that we may glean the truth of an assertion. That impetus is what led to the formation of the Advisory Committee on Rules of Evidence.

Here is Judge Armstrong’s note:

“I thought your readers might be interested to know that the Chief Justice recently established the Advisory Committee on Rules of Evidence. This is a standing committee that will study the Arizona Rules of Evidence and case law interpreting them, track changes to the Federal Rules of Evidence, and make recommendations to the Arizona Supreme Court for changes to the rules as appropriate. Any recommended changes would, of course, go through the normal rule-making process prescribed in Rule 28, Rules of the Supreme Court. … The committee’s first meeting is scheduled on September 28, 2012, and the committee welcomes comments from members of the Bar.”

Here is the committee’s purpose, as set out in the order:

“The Committee shall periodically conduct a review and analysis of the Arizona Rules of Evidence, review all proposals to amend the Arizona Rules of Evidence, compare the rules to the Federal Rules of Evidence, recommend revisions and additional rules as the Committee deems appropriate, entertain comments concerning the rules, and provide reports to this Court, as appropriate.”

Here is the membership of the advisory committee:

  • Hon. Samuel A. Thumma, Co-Chair
  • Hon. Mark W. Armstrong, Co-Chair
  • Hon. David R. Cole
  • Hon. Paul D. Julien
  • Hon. Michael Miller
  • Hon. James A. Soto
  • Paul W. Ahler
  • Timothy J. Eckstein
  • Milton W. Hathaway, Jr.
  • William G. Klain
  • Shirley J. McAuliffe
  • Carl A. Piccarreta
  • Patricia Lee Refo

Read Administrative Order 2012-43 here.