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FIVE APPLICANTS BEING CONSIDERED FOR VACANCY ON SUPERIOR COURT IN PIMA COUNTY
JULY 11,2024

PHOENIX - The public is invited to comment on five applicants for a vacancy on the Superior Court in Pima County created by the retirement of Hon. Javier Chon-Lopez.

 

The applicants are: (AWLA MEMBERS)

 

  • Sandra M. Bensley
  • Lauri J. Owen
  • Kristin J. Schriner
  • Nathan T. Wade
  • Antonio L. Zapata

 

 

Applications can be viewed online at the Commission’s website, azcourts.gov/jnc.

 

The Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments will review applications and hear comments at a public meeting on July 31, 2024. Meeting details will be on the public meeting notice. The public meeting notice and meeting agenda will be posted on the Commission’s website at least seven days prior to the meeting.  

 

Citizens may address the Commission on the day of the meeting or send written comments to jnc@courts.az.gov or to 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007. It is not necessary to submit multiple copies of written comments -- email is preferred. Comments must be received no later than July 26 to be considered. Anonymous comments cannot be considered.

 

The Commission will select the applicants to be interviewed at the July 31 meeting, they will then be interviewed on Aug. 19. The logistics of this meeting will be available after the July 31 meeting. After the interviews, the Commission will recommend at least three nominees to Governor Katie Hobbs, who will appoint the new judge.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 10, 2024

 

Contact:  Emma Morgan
602-452-3130

 

Applications Being Accepted for Vacancy on Superior Court in Pima County

 

PHOENIX - Applications are being accepted for a vacancy on the Superior Court in Pima County created by the retirement of Hon. Javier Chon-Lopez.

 

The Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments will review applications, interview selected applicants, and recommend at least three nominees for the vacancy to Gov. Katie Hobbs, who will appoint the new judge.

 

The most current judicial application form can be downloaded at the Judicial Department website: azcourts.gov/jnc. Applications may also be obtained from the Administrative Office of the Courts, Human Resources Department, 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, by calling 602-452-3311, or by sending an email request to jnc@courts.az.gov.

 

Applicants must be at least 30 years of age, of good moral character, admitted to the practice of law in, and a resident of Arizona for the past five years and a resident of Pima County for the past year.

 

A signed original application with all attachments and a searchable PDF version of the application and attachments must be submitted to the Administrative Office of the Courts, Human Resources Department, 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007, by 3 p.m. on July 10, 2024. 

 

Applicants for previous vacancy in Pima County MUST reapply to be considered for the new vacancy.

 

The Commission may, at its discretion, use applications filed for this vacancy to nominate candidates for any additional vacancies known to the Commission before the screening meeting for this vacancy is held. 

 

All meetings of the Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments are open to the public. Meeting dates will be announced.

 

The current annual salary of a Superior Court judge is $180,000.


APPLICATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED FOR

SUPERIOR COURT COMMISSIONER

February 6, 2024

 

Presiding Judge Jeffrey T. Bergin and Presiding Juvenile Judge Michael J. Butler announce that a joint Merit Selection Committee for the Superior Court and the Juvenile Court is accepting applications for two full-time Commissioner positions which will become open upon retirement of Hon. Lori Jones   and anticipated retirement of Hon. Jack Assini.

  

The duties of this position include serving as a judicial officer in areas including family law, child support, child welfare, juvenile delinquency, probate, guardianship and conservancy, mental health proceedings under Title 36 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, and any other areas as the Presiding Judges may require. The judicial officer may also be appointed as judge pro tem for no additional compensation. The person selected for the position should expect to be rotated between Superior Court and Juvenile Court at the discretion of the Presiding Judges.  This position operates under the legal authority granted in ARS §12-213 and A.R.S. §8-231 and serves at the pleasure of the Presiding Judge.  

Current annual salary is $162,000. 

 

A commissioner of the superior court shall be:

 

·                Admitted to the practice of law in and a resident of this state for five years next preceding taking office.

 

·                To be eligible to serve as a court commissioner a person shall be a United States citizen and a resident of the county in which appointed.

 

·                He or she shall reside at the county seat or at such other city or town within the jurisdiction of the judge making the appointment as may be designated by the judge.

 

In addition, the Arizona Superior Court in Pima County has the following requirements:  

·                Must not have any disciplinary matters pending before the State Bar Disciplinary Board.  Must not have any criminal charges pending before any court. 

 

·                Have substantial court room experience. While family law, juvenile law and probate experience may be helpful, it is not required to be a successful candidate.

 

Please submit your resume with the Application.  Applications are available from the 9th floor reception of the AZ Superior Court in Pima County; from the Juvenile Court’s Information desk; or may be downloaded from the Court’s website at www.sc.pima.gov; JOBS section under the Commissioner posting. 

Submissions must be tendered to the Pima County Superior Court, Human Resources, 110 W Congress, 9th floor, Tucson, AZ  85701; faxed to (520) 724-4253 OR e-mailed to humanresources@sc.pima.gov

 

NO LATER THAN by 12:00 PM on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.

 

The applications will be submitted to the Hon. Danelle Liwski and the Hon. Janet Bostwick, Co- Chairpersons of the Merit Selection Committee.  The Committee will review the applications, interview selected applicants, and recommend candidates to the Presiding Judges, who shall make the appointment.  All applications will be a matter of public record.  Questions may be directed to Human Resources: (520) 724-4217.

 

The Committee may, at its discretion, treat the applications filed for the vacancy that is the subject of the announcement as an application for any additional similar vacancy or vacancies that become known to the Committee after the application has been submitted. 

 

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GOVERNOR HOBBS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF LAUREN GUYTON TO MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT

February 9, 2024

Phoenix, AZ – Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced the appointment of Lauren Guyton to the Maricopa County Superior Court. Commissioner Guyton has served on the court as a commissioner since 2016. Prior to that, she served for over fifteen years in the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office.

“Commissioner Guyton has shown her dedication to helping people and the community both before and throughout her legal career,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “From her background as a social worker to her time as a public defender and court commissioner, she has proven that she has the personal and legal skills necessary to understand the people in her courtroom and to be an effective superior court judge.”

Judge Guyton’s appointment is to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Timothy Thomason.

https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/news/2024/02/governor-hobbs-announces-appointment-lau

GOVERNOR HOBBS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF JOSHUA STEINLAGE TO COCONINO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
SUPERIOR COURT

 
February 1, 2024

Phoenix, AZ – Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced the appointment of Joshua Steinlage to the Coconino County Superior Court. In 2015, Judge Steinlage was appointed as a Justice of the Peace Pro Tempore in the Flagstaff Justice Court and a part-time Superior Court Judge Pro Tempore, after serving for more than ten years in the Coconino County Public Defender’s Office. He has been a full-time Judge Pro Tempore since January 2023.

“Judge Steinlage has shown a strong commitment to public service throughout his professional career,” Governor Hobbs said. “In his tenure as a judicial officer in Coconino County, Judge Steinlage has earned the respect of the community and a reputation as an outstanding judge. His experience will serve both him and the people of Arizona well in this new role.”

Judge Steinlage’s appointment is to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Dan Slayton from Division Two of the Coconino County Superior Court.

https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/news/2024/02/governor-hobbs-announces-appointment-jos


VOLUNTEER TO BE A JUDGE PRO TEMPORE

Opens February 1, 2024
Closes March 1, 2024


The Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County is seeking qualified applicants for Judges Pro Tempore in Superior Court for the FY 2025 appointment term: July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 Judge Pro Tempore candidates are appointed by Presiding Judge Joseph C. Welty. They are subject to the approval of the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court & the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

 Gain insight into the judicial process Explore a career on the bench Gain experience with ADR Give back to the profession Improve your advocacy and negotiation skills Observe other attorneys in action.

 MOST JUDGES PRO TEMPORE ARE PRO BONO VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVE IN VARIOUS COURT DEPARTMENTS AS NEEDED. THE CRIMINAL AND FAMILY DEPARTMENTS RELY ON PAID PRO TEMPORE JUDGES FOR IV-D CASES AND INITIAL APPEARANCE COURT. TO BE A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE PRO TEMPORE, ONE MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS: MUST BE AT LEAST 30 YEARS OLD OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER ADMITTED TO THE PRACTICE OF LAW IN THIS STATE FOR NOT LESS THAN FIVE YEARS.

 Applications will be accepted from February 1st to March 1st, 2024 for FY 2025. FOR QUESTIONS CONTACT: RACHEL CARRERAS (602) 372-2559 JPTPROGRAM@JBAZMC.MARICOPA.GOV NOTE: IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE PRO TEMPORE, YOU NEED TO REAPPLY.


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