Pinal County Commission on Trial Court Appointments

Application Deadline - Thursday, May 30, 2013

The State Bar Standing Appointments Committee is currently accepting applications to fill two openings on the Pinal County Commission on Trial Court Appointments for Supervisorial Districts 4 and 5.

Click here for an application form.

For additional information contact Nina Benham at 602.340.7329 or Nina.Benham@staff.azbar.org.
 

Purpose:  This newly formed commission will be chaired by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court (or her designee).  Primary responsibility is to screen, interview and select judicial nominees for submission to the Governor of Arizona for her appointment of superior court judges in Pinal County.

Openings:  Two--We are seeking applicants from two of the newly established supervisorial districts in Pinal County--Supervisorial Districts 4 and 5.  Under the Article VI of the Arizona Constitution, the selection of superior court judges in counties with populations exceeding 250,000 requires that candidates be considered by a trial court commission for nomination to the Governor of Arizona.  Based on the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Pinal County now exceeds 250,000, triggering the constitutional requirement to create a trial court commission. 

Candidate Criteria/Qualifications:  Applicants must be active members of, and in good standing with, the State Bar of Arizona.  Applicants shall have resided in the state, and shall have been admitted to practice before the Arizona Supreme Court, for not less than five (5) years.   Applicants must have resided in Pinal County District 4 or 5 for at least one year and can be members of any political party.  For more information on the newly created five supervisorial districts in Pinal County click here.

Candidates from both supervisorial districts are encouraged to apply as the Commission must have one attorney member from each supervisorial district. None of the attorney or non-attorney members of the Commission shall hold any governmental office, elective or appointive, for profit and no attorney member is eligible for appointment to any judicial office of this state until one year after membership in the Commission terminates.  The Commission meets as necessary when judicial openings occur.

Arizona's Constitution provides for diversity on the Commission; all qualified attorneys are encouraged to apply for these important positions.The Standing Appointments Committee and Board of Governors consider all aspects of diversity in their recommendations and appointments.

Term:  Four years.