Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness

Application Deadline:  Monday, August 22, 2011

The State Bar Appointments Committee is currently accepting applications from members of the public to fill the following upcoming vacancies.  Application forms are due at the State Bar office by Monday, August 22, 2011, and can be obtained by calling Nina Benham in the State Bar's Phoenix office at (602) 340-7329 or Amy Ihrke in the State Bar's Tucson office at (520) 623-9944.  An application form can be downloaded here.

Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness

Purpose:  The Committee members are responsible for the investigation and recommendation of applicants for admission to the practice of law in Arizona.  Committee members review all applications which total approximately 1,200 per year and attend hearings for further investigation of applicants. 

Openings:  Two appointments will be made by the Arizona Supreme Court.  Steve Wilson (Maricopa County) and Dr. Ronald Watson (Pima County) are completing their terms and are ineligible for reappointment.    The State Bar Board of Governors is asked to submit three nominations per opening to the Court for its ultimate selection.

The Committee members from Maricopa County are:

Susan E. Anderson, Office of the Federal Public Defender
Frederick C. Berry, Jr., Sole Practitioner
Ed Novak, Polsinelli Shughart PC
Yvonne E. Tagart, Davis Miles PLLC
John J. Tuchi, Office of the United States Attorney
Stephen L. Weiss, Law Office of Stephen L. Weiss
Public members Florence Y. Brooks and Erika J. Hand

The Committee members from Pima County are:

Evelyn Rick, Sole Practitioner
Cary S. Sandman, Waterfall Economidis Caldwell Hanshaw & Villamana PC
Public member Wanda F. Moore

Committee members Milton W. Hathaway, Jr. (Murphy Schmitt Hathaway & Wilson PLLC) and Laura J. Zeman-Mullen (Zeman-Mullen & Ford LLP) are from Yavapai County.

Public member Bennie R. Click is from Coconino County.
 
Candidate Criteria/Qualifications:  The Committee conducts at least one formal hearing monthly in either Phoenix or Tucson.  Members are expected to participate in each formal hearing, and in informal hearings held throughout the state on a voluntary participation basis.  In addition, membership requires independent review of applicant files amounting to approximately 25-40 hours per month.  Expenses are paid for all meetings/hearings, but there is no other compensation for service as a Committee member.

Term:  Seven years commencing November 2011.