AZ attorney general ends opioid fund court battle after judge rules for Hobbs, GOP leaders

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has ended her court battle over opioid settlement funds after a judge earlier this week said she had no legal basis for her fight.

Mayes' office filed a voluntary motion to dismiss the case on Thursday, four days after a judge handed her a loss. The decision affirmed Gov. Katie Hobbs, also a Democrat, and the GOP-controlled Arizona Legislature could use the funds as called for in the state budget that goes into effect Monday.

The Democratic attorney general's spokesperson, Richie Taylor, declined to comment on the motion.

The budget Hobbs negotiated with Republican legislative leaders moved $115 million of opioid settlement funds to the Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry in June and July.

Mayes called the move a "budget gimmick" that could violate terms of the state's settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors and went to court to stop the money transfer. She won an initial injunction , but that was erased by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Hannah.

Hannah sided with the Governor's Office and Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma, whose lawyers argued the settlement funds were subject to appropriation by the Legislature .

Reach reporter Stacey Barchenger at stacey.barchenger@arizonarepublic.com or 480-416-5669 .

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ attorney general ends opioid fund court battle after judge rules for Hobbs, GOP leaders