Top legislative Republicans are asking the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to block a trial judge's ruling stipulating they have to answer questions regarding laws passed last year.

Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma argue they have legislative privilege.

U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton, who is presiding over the case starting in November, says the need for Toma and Petersen to answer questions overrides any legislative privilege they may have.

The laws in question contain language requiring county recorders to send the Arizona attorney general names of people suspected of trying to register without being citizens.

Another would require voters to provide proof of residency on top of what is already needed to cast a ballot. 

Challengers are seeking communications with outside groups as well as motivations in creating the legislation and whether lawmakers considered if  some groups of voters would be impacted more than others.