Special Constitutional Appointments Committee
Under Sections 36 and 41, Article VI of the Arizona Constitution, the State Bar Board of Governors is given the responsibility to "nominate" attorney members to the Governor for appointment to the state's appellate court and trial court commissions. Per policy, applicants must be “active members” in good standing. Judicial, retired, and inactive members are welcome to apply but must change their membership to “active” in order to be eligible.
To fulfill its responsibilities in this regard, the President of the State Bar will appoint a committee, approved by the Board of Governors and consisting of nine members: five lawyer Board members and four members from the Bar's Standing Appointments Committee. The Board's Vice President, who chairs the Appointments Committee, shall be one of nine representatives and will also chair the Special Constitutional Appointments Committee.
The Committee is charged with the recruitment and vetting of lawyer candidates considered for nomination by the Board to the Governors. The Governor makes the appointments subject to the advice and consent of the Arizona State Senate.
There are five lawyer-commissioners who serve on each of the following:
- Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments
- Coconino County Commission on Trial Court Appointments
- Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments
- Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments
- Pinal County Commission on Trial Court Appointments
Link for District Locator here.
Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments (non-Maricopa County seat)
Application Deadline: August 4, 2023.
Purpose: The five non-partisan commissions are chaired by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court (or his designee). Primary responsibility is to screen, interview and recommend judicial candidates to the Governor of Arizona for the Governor’s final selection to fill judicial vacancies.
Candidate Criteria/Qualifications: Applicants must be Active Members of, and in good standing with, the State Bar of Arizona. Per policy, applicants must be “active members” in good standing. Judicial, retired, and inactive members are welcome to apply but must change their membership to “active” in order to be eligible.
Applicants shall have resided in the state, and shall have been admitted to practice law before the Arizona Supreme Court, for not less than five (5) years.
No more than three of the five attorney-commissioners may be from the same political party and no more than two can be from the same county. Two attorney-commissioners will be appointed from Maricopa County, therefore, this particular seat is open to Active Members from any county other than Maricopa. None of the attorney or non-attorney members of the commissions 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. This includes serving as a judge pro tem. The commissions meet as necessary when judicial openings occur.
Arizona’s Constitution (Article 6, Section 36.C. and Section 41.D.) reads: In making or confirming appointments to the appellate court commission, the governor, the senate and the state bar shall endeavor to see that the commission reflects the diversity of Arizona's population.
Term: Four years. The Governor of Arizona’s appointees must be confirmed by the Arizona State Senate.
Openings: One. Candidates can be from any county within Arizona except Maricopa County. Applicants may be affiliated with any political party.
An application form must be submitted to the State Bar. For additional information contact Carrie Sherman at 602.340.7201 or Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org.
Coconino County Commission on Trial Court Appointments - Supervisorial District 4
Application Deadline: August 4, 2023.
Purpose: The five non-partisan commissions are chaired by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court (or his designee). Primary responsibility is to screen, interview and recommend judicial candidates to the Governor of Arizona for the Governor’s final selection to fill judicial vacancies.
Candidate Criteria/Qualifications: Applicants must be Active Members of, and in good standing with, the State Bar of Arizona. Per policy, applicants must be “active members” in good standing. Judicial, retired, and inactive members are welcome to apply but must change their membership to “active” in order to be eligible.
Applicants shall have resided in the state, and shall have been admitted to practice law before the Arizona Supreme Court, for not less than five (5) years and shall have resided in Supervisorial District 4 for at least one year before being nominated.
No more than three of the five attorney-commissioners may be from the same political party. None of the attorney or non-attorney members of the commissions 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. This includes serving as a judge pro tem. The commissions meet as necessary when judicial openings occur.
Arizona’s Constitution (Article 6, Section 36.C. and Section 41.D.) reads: In making or confirming appointments to the appellate court commission, the governor, the senate and the state bar shall endeavor to see that the commission reflects the diversity of Arizona's population.
Term: Four years. The Governor of Arizona’s appointees must be confirmed by the Arizona State Senate.
Openings: One opening in Supervisorial District 4. Applicants must have resided in the District at least one year. Applicants may be affiliated with any political party.
An application form must be submitted to the State Bar. For additional information contact Carrie Sherman at 602.340.7201 or Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org.
Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments - Supervisorial District 4 and Supervisorial District 5
Application Deadline: August 4, 2023.
Purpose: The five non-partisan commissions are chaired by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court (or his designee). Primary responsibility is to screen, interview and recommend judicial candidates to the Governor of Arizona for the Governor’s final selection to fill judicial vacancies.
Candidate Criteria/Qualifications: Applicants must be Active Members of, and in good standing with, the State Bar of Arizona. Per policy, applicants must be “active members” in good standing. Judicial, retired, and inactive members are welcome to apply but must change their membership to “active” in order to be eligible.
Applicants shall have resided in the state, and shall have been admitted to practice law before the Arizona Supreme Court, for not less than five (5) years and shall have resided in Supervisorial District 4 or in Supervisorial District 5 for at least one year before being nominated.
No more than three of the five attorney-commissioners may be from the same political party. None of the attorney or non-attorney members of the commissions 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. This includes serving as a judge pro tem. The commissions meet as necessary when judicial openings occur.
Arizona’s Constitution (Article 6, Section 36.C. and Section 41.D.) reads: In making or confirming appointments to the trial court commission, the governor, the senate and the state bar shall endeavor to see that the commission reflects the diversity of the county's population.
Term: Four years. The Governor of Arizona’s appointees must be confirmed by the Arizona State Senate.
Openings: One opening in Supervisorial District 4 and Supervisorial District 5. Applicants must have resided in the SD 4 or in SD 5 at least one year. Applicants may be affiliated with any political party.
An application form must be submitted to the State Bar. For additional information contact Carrie Sherman at 602.340.7201 or Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org.
Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments - Supervisorial District 2, 3 and 5
Application Deadline: August 4, 2023.
Purpose: This non-partisan commission is chaired by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court (or his designee). Primary responsibility is to screen, interview and recommend judicial candidates to the Governor of Arizona for the Governor’s final selection to fill judicial vacancies.
Candidate Criteria/Qualifications: Applicants must be Active Members of, and in good standing with, the State Bar of Arizona. Per policy, applicants must be “active members” in good standing. Judicial, retired, and inactive members are welcome to apply but must change their membership to “active” in order to be eligible.
Applicants shall have resided in the state, and shall have been admitted to practice law before the Arizona Supreme Court, for not less than five (5) years and shall have resided in Supervisorial District (SD) 2, SD 3 or SD 5 for at least one year before being nominated.
No more than three of the five attorney-commissioners may be from the same political party. None of the attorney or non-attorney members of the commissions 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. This includes serving as a judge pro tem. The commissions meet as necessary when judicial openings occur.
Arizona’s Constitution (Article 6, Section 36.C. and Section 41.D.) reads: In making or confirming appointments to the trial court commission, the governor, the senate and the state bar shall endeavor to see that the commission reflects the diversity of the county's population.
Term: Four years. The Governor of Arizona’s appointees must be confirmed by the Arizona State Senate.
Openings: Three openings. One opening in each of the following Supervisorial Districts - 2, 3 and 5. Applicants must have resided in their respective District at least one year. Applicants may be affiliated with any political party.
An application form must be submitted to the State Bar. For additional information contact Carrie Sherman at 602.340.7201 or Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org.
Pinal County Commission on Trial Court Appointments - Supervisorial District 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Application Deadline: August 4, 2023.
Purpose: The five non-partisan commissions are chaired by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court (or his designee). Primary responsibility is to screen, interview and recommend judicial candidates to the Governor of Arizona for the Governor’s final selection to fill judicial vacancies.
Candidate Criteria/Qualifications: Applicants must be Active Members of, and in good standing with, the State Bar of Arizona. Per policy, applicants must be “active members” in good standing. Judicial, retired, and inactive members are welcome to apply but must change their membership to “active” in order to be eligible.
Applicants shall have resided in the state, and shall have been admitted to practice law before the Arizona Supreme Court, for not less than five (5) years and shall have resided in Supervisorial District (SD) 1, SD 2, SD 3, SD 4 or SD 5 for at least one year before being nominated.
No more than three of the five attorney-commissioners may be from the same political party. None of the attorney or non-attorney members of the commissions 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. This includes serving as a judge pro tem. The commissions meet as necessary when judicial openings occur.
Arizona’s Constitution (Article 6, Section 36.C. and Section 41.D.) reads: In making or confirming appointments to the trial court commission, the governor, the senate and the state bar shall endeavor to see that the commission reflects the diversity of the county's population.
Term: Four years. The Governor of Arizona’s appointees must be confirmed by the Arizona State Senate.
Openings: One opening in Supervisorial District (SD) 1, SD 2, SD 3, SD 4 and SD 5. Applicants must have resided in their respective District at least one year. Applicants may be affiliated with any political party.
An application form must be submitted to the State Bar. For additional information contact Carrie Sherman at 602.340.7201 or Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org.