Judicial Openings and Appointments

 

16 Applicants Being Considered for Two Vacancies in Division One of the Arizona Court of Appeals

 

PHOENIX - The public is invited to comment on 16 applicants for two vacancies in Division One of the Arizona Court of Appeals created by the retirements of Hon. David B. Gass and Hon. Samuel A. Thumma. AWLA Members are in Blue.

 

The applicants are:

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

 

The Commission on Appellate Court Appointments will review the applications and hear comments at a public meeting on July 16, 2026. The meeting will be held in Conference Room 101 of the Arizona State Courts Building, 1501 W. Washington Phoenix, AZ 85007. Meeting details will be available 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. 

 

Members of the public may address the Commission on the day of the meeting. Written comments may also be submitted via email to jnc@courts.az.gov or mailed 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 13 to be considered. Anonymous comments cannot be considered.

 

The Commission will select the applicants to be interviewed at the July 16 meeting, they will then be interviewed on Aug. 20. The logistics of this meeting will be available after the July 16 meeting. After the interviews, the Commission will recommend at least three nominees for each opening to Gov. Katie Hobbs, who will appoint the new judges.

16 Applicants Being Considered for Two Vacancies on Superior Court in Pima County

 

PHOENIX - The public is invited to comment on 16 applicants for two vacancies on the Superior Court in Pima County created by the retirement of Hon. Christopher C. Browning and the appointment of Hon. D. Greg Sakall as a United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Arizona. AWLA Members are in Blue.

 

The applicants are: 

 

 

 

Applications can be viewed online at the Commission’s website, azcourts.gov/jn [azcourts.gov]c. 

 

The Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments will review applications and hear comments at a public meeting on Aug. 3, 2026. 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.

 

Members of the public may address the Commission on the day of the meeting or send written comments via email to jnc@courts.az.gov or mailed 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 30 to be considered. Anonymous comments cannot be considered.

 

The Commission will select the applicants to be interviewed at the Aug. 3 meeting, and they will then be interviewed on Aug. 24. The logistics of this meeting will be available after the Aug. 3 meeting. After the interviews, the Commission will recommend at least three nominees for each opening to Gov. Katie Hobbs, who will appoint the new judges.

CITY OF PHOENIX
MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE

The City of Phoenix Judicial Selection Advisory Board is currently accepting applications for the position of City Judge for the Phoenix Municipal Court. The Court is currently recruiting for two judicial vacancies, with the possibility that this recruitment will be used to fill additional vacancies that may arise in the future.

DUTIES: Preside over a variety of trial court cases including criminal misdemeanor complaints, traffic charges, jury and non-jury trials, pre-trial conferences, arraignments, motions, orders of protection, injunctions, and other court proceedings. The position requires familiarity and application of relevant state statutes, Phoenix city ordinances, Arizona Supreme Court Rules, evidentiary rules and case law. This position is filled by appointment by the City Council to a specified term. For more details, compensation, and benefits see here (and review listed job title “City Judge” with assigned Job Code: 10570).

REQUIREMENT: Admission to the Arizona State Bar and a minimum of five years practice of law or equivalent legal experience, with preference for at least five years of law practice in Arizona.

Applications are available through the Phoenix Municipal Court’s web site here or through the Judicial Selection Advisory Board c/o Office of the Chief Presiding Judge, Phoenix Municipal Court, 300 West Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003 (602) 262-1608.

Applications and Letters of Recommendation (limitation of 5 letters) must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., July 30th.

Any applications and/or Letters of Recommendation received after this date and time will not be considered.

The Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County
Commissioner Application Period is Open

The Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County accepts applications for appointment as a Commissioner approximately one time per year and only during specifically advertised periods.

Commissioners may function as a Plea Officer, or be assigned to the Early Disposition Court, Initial Appearance Court, or Juvenile Advisory Hearings.

The selected Commissioners may also be assigned and/or assist with work or hear matters in other Court departments, including Civil, Family, Juvenile, Criminal, Probate, Mental Health, Tax, or Justice Courts. As Judicial employees of the Court, Commissioners are not permitted to practice law.

Applications will be accepted between June 18, 2026 – 11:59 pm July 13, 2026.

The recruitment portal login, and what you need to know about the position can be found on our website: Commissioner Recruitments. 

 

Public Asked for Input on Candidates for Vacancies on Superior Court in Maricopa County 

June 19, 2026

PHOENIX - The public is invited to comment on 16 candidates for three vacancies on the Superior Court in Maricopa County created by the retirements of Hon. Dean M. Fink, Hon. Michael D. Gordon and Hon. Joan M. Sinclair. AWLA Members are in Blue.

The candidates are: 

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

The Commission will meet to interview the candidates on July 14, 2026. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. and be held in Conference Room 101 at the Arizona State Courts Building - 1501 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007. The interview agenda will be posted on the Commission’s website at least seven days prior to the meeting. 

Members of the public may address the Commission on July 14, 2026. Written comments may also be submitted via email to jnc@courts.az.gov or mailed to 1501 W. Washington St., 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 9, 2026, to be considered. Anonymous comments cannot be considered. 

After the interviews, the Commission will recommend at least three nominees for each opening to Gov. Katie Hobbs, who will appoint the new judges. 

Governor Hobbs Announces Appointment of Michael John Martinez Areinoff to Pima County Superior Court FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 12, 2026 CONTACT: press@az.gov Phoenix, AZ - Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced the appointment of Michael John Martinez Areinoff to the Pima County Superior Court. Mr. Areinoff has served as Associate General Counsel for the Tucson Unified School District since 2021 and previously served as legal counsel for the district from 2008 to 2010. His experience also includes extensive criminal law practice, first with the Pima County Public Defender’s Office and later with the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the District of Arizona. He has also taught numerous courses in legal writing and criminal law and procedure at the University of Arizona. “Throughout his career, Mr. Areinoff has dutifully served the people of Pima County,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “His skills as an attorney and his dedication to public service and access to justice demonstrate that he is well prepared to be a judge, and I wish him all the best as he takes on this new role.” Mr. Areinoff’s appointment is to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Joan L. Wagener.

Governor Hobbs Announces Appointment of Aaron Demke to Mohave County Superior Court

May 21, 2026


Phoenix, AZ – Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced the appointment of Aaron Demke to the Mohave County Superior Court. Judge Demke has served as a commissioner on the court since 2021. He previously served in the Mohave County Public Defender’s Office and the Mohave County Office of the Legal Advocate.

“Judge Demke has spent his entire legal career in the service of the people of Mohave County,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “He has established himself as a highly capable lawyer and judicial officer, and I am proud to appoint him to this new role.”

Judge Demke’s appointment is to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Lee F. Jantzen.

Governor Hobbs Announces Appointment of Christian J. Bell, Utiki S. Laing, and AWLA Sustaining Member Ashley B. Rahaman to Maricopa County Superior Court

4/29/26


Phoenix, AZ – Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced the appointment of Christian J. Bell, Utiki S. Laing, and Ashley B. Rahaman to the Maricopa County Superior Court.

Judge Bell was appointed as a court commissioner in 2020, and has served in the Probate and Mental Health Department, as well as the Juvenile Department. He previously served in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and in the Phoenix City Prosecutor’s Office, where he worked on both trial and appellate matters.

Judge Laing was appointed as a court commissioner in 2013. She has served in the court’s Criminal Department since 2024 after previously being assigned to the Family Department where she served as presiding commissioner during her final year, Initial Appearance Court, and the Juvenile Department. Prior to her appointment as a commissioner, Judge Laing was a public defender in the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office.

Judge Rahaman was appointed as a court commissioner in 2021, and has served in the Criminal and Family Departments. She has also served on the court’s Commissioner Hiring Committee and Judicial Executive Committee and has been the sole judicial officer overseeing the court’s bond forfeiture calendar. Before becoming a commissioner, Judge Rahaman was in private practice, where she focused primarily on family law matters.

“I am proud to appoint these three highly qualified individuals to the bench,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “Both prior to and throughout their service as court commissioners, they have each demonstrated not only strong legal abilities, but also a dedication to public service and bettering their communities. I am confident they will continue to serve the people of Arizona and Maricopa County well in the years to come.”

The appointments are to fill the vacancies created by the retirement of Judges Pamela H. Dunne and Tracey Westerhausen and the resignation of Judge Lisa S. Wahlin.

Governor Hobbs Announces Appointment of AWLA Member Jessica Sanchez and Don Taylor to Maricopa County Superior Court

News Release January 9, 2026

Phoenix, AZ – Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced the appointment of Jessica S. Sanchez and B. Don Taylor III to the Maricopa County Superior Court. Since 2007, Sanchez has practiced law primarily in the field of education, advising and representing school districts and charter schools on issues such as employment law and constitutional law. She served on the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Arizona from 2017 to 2024, including as president from 2022 to 2023. She has also served as the President of Los Abogados and a co-chair of the Latina Mentoring Project, as well as on numerous Arizona Supreme Court committees, including the Arizona Judicial Council and the Judicial Performance Review Task Force.

Taylor has served as the presiding judge on the Phoenix Municipal Court since 2015. He was an Assistant City Prosecutor in the Phoenix City Prosecutor’s Office from 1996 to 2005 before accepting a Fulbright Fellowship to study international law abroad. He subsequently served as a legal officer for the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and as a law professor before returning to Phoenix in 2011 as the Phoenix Municipal Court’s Executive Court Administrator.

“Each of these appointees brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to the court,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “They have shown tremendous leadership and commitment to the community, and I am confident that they will serve the people of Arizona well in their new roles.”

The appointments are to fill the vacancies created by the retirement of Judges John R. Hannah and Timothy J. Ryan.

Governor Hobbs Announces Appointment of AWLA member Elizabeth Bingert and Rachel Hernandez to Maricopa County Superior Court

October 16, 2025

Phoenix, AZ – Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced the appointment of Elizabeth T. Bingert and Rachel C. Hernandez to the Maricopa County Superior Court. Bingert has served as a court commissioner since 2021 and previously served in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office. Outside of those roles, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service, including founding ROBES (Reaching Out and Building Engagement through Service), a judicial community service organization.

Hernandez served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona for over 25 years. She established herself as a leader both inside the office and out, having served as the President of the Arizona Bar Foundation, worked on numerous committees with the Arizona State Bar, as well as held leadership roles in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including as First Assistant U.S. Attorney from 2021 until earlier this year.

“I am proud to appoint two career public servants to the bench,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “Both Elizabeth Bingert and Rachel Hernandez have shown not only that they have the skills necessary to be effective judges, but that they are entering their new roles committed to serving the people of Arizona and improving access to justice.”

The appointments are to fill the vacancies created by the retirement of Judges Michael W. Kemp and M. Scott McCoy.