Appointments Committee

Mission

Recommend to the Board of Governors the appointment of members to fill openings on state-wide boards, committees and commissions. Achieve a "balance" in all appointments as they relate to each voluntary professional activity, i.e., age, gender, geography, ethnicity, area of practice. Time Commitment: The Committee meets approximately 7 times per year, usually for 2 hours.

The Committee and the Board of Governors consider all aspects of diversity in their recommendations and appointments.

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For more information contact:

Carrie Sherman
4201 N. 24th Street, Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85016-6266
602.340.7201
Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org

Professional Volunteer Opportunities (see below)

The State Bar Appointments Committee is currently accepting applications from Active Members to fill the following upcoming vacancies. Application forms are due at the State Bar office by the deadlines noted and can be obtained by contacting Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org or calling 602.340.7201. Click on the link below to download an attorney (or non-attorney public member) application form.

The Standing Appointments Committee and the Board of Governors consider all aspects of diversity in their recommendations and appointments.

Attorney Application Form here.

Non-Attorney Public Member Application Form here.

The Board of Governors will address openings on the following entities during 2022-2023:

• American Bar Association House of Delegates
• Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct
• Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness
• Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Examinations
• City of Peoria Judicial Selection Advisory Board
• City of Scottsdale Judicial Appointments Advisory Board
• Client Protection Fund Board of Trustees
• Community Legal Services Board of Directors
• DNA-People’s Legal Services Inc. Board of Directors
• Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Trustees Council
• State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors – Public Member

The Board of Governors' Special Constitutional Appointments Committee recruits and screens applicants for the following judicial nominating commissions (go to https://www.azbar.org/about-us/board-of-governors/board-committees/special-constitutional-appointments-committee/):

• 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

For more information about these professional volunteer positions, contact Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org or call 602.340.7201.

City of Scottsdale Judicial Appointments Advisory Board - Application Deadline April 17, 2023

Purpose: The City of Scottsdale Judicial Appointments Advisory Board (JAAB) makes advisory recommendations to the Scottsdale City Council regarding the appointment and reappointment of full-time city judges. The JAAB will use merit-based criteria to recommend the best-qualified persons to become city judges and to advise the City Council about retaining city judges.

Candidate Criteria/Qualifications: Applicants must reside in the City of Scottsdale. 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. Board members serve without salary or compensation.

Term: Three years commencing June 2023.

Openings: One. The Board of Governors is asked to forward nominations to the Scottsdale City Council which makes the appointment.

Applications are due by April 17, 2023. Questions? Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org; 602.340.7201.

Client Protection Fund Board of Trustees - Application Deadline April 17, 2023

Purpose: The Client Protection Fund is a trust that exists as a separate entity from the State Bar of Arizona. The Fund’s purpose is to promote public confidence in the administration of justice, and to preserve the integrity of the legal profession by reimbursing people who have sustained losses caused by the dishonest conduct of lawyers admitted and licensed to practice law in Arizona. Each lawyer licensed to practice law in Arizona contributes $20 per year to the Fund. The Trustees act as fiduciaries of monies deposited in the fund, invest those funds, and pay claims in appropriate cases.

Candidate Criteria/Qualifications: Any Active Member in good standing with the State Bar of Arizona, or any Judicial Member in good standing, who has practiced law or served in a judicial capacity in the State of Arizona for at least 10 years shall be eligible for appointment as a Trustee. The Trustees meet several times a year to review claims.

Term: Five years commencing June 2023.

Openings: One appointment will be made by the Board of Governors.

Applications are due by April 17, 2023. Questions? Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org; 602.340.7201.

ABA House of Delegates - Application Deadline May 16, 2023

Purpose: Delegates represent the State Bar of Arizona at the Annual and Midyear Meetings of the American Bar Association House of Delegates. The State Bar reimburses only that portion of Delegate expenses relating to that portion of the House’s agenda which addresses the regulation of the profession and improving the quality of legal services.

Openings: Two appointments will be made by the Board of Governors. One of the Delegates appointed must be a young lawyer, 35 years of age or younger, at the beginning of his or her term.

Term: Two years commencing September 2023.

Applications are due by May 16, 2023. Questions? Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org; 602.340.7201.

City of Avondale Judicial Advisory Board - Application Deadline May 16, 2023

Purpose: The City of Avondale Judicial Advisory Board evaluates and recommends to the Avondale City Council the best qualified persons to become full-time city judges, to evaluate the performance of incumbent full-time city judges and to advise the City Council about retaining them.

Candidate Criteria/Qualifications: Applicants must be Active Members of, and in good standing with, the State Bar of Arizona and reside in Maricopa County. 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. Board members serve without salary or compensation.

Openings: One. The Board of Governors is asked to forward nominations to the Avondale City Council which makes the appointment.

Term: Upon appointment serve to June 30, 2024, with an automatic renewal through June 30, 2028.

Applications are due by May 16, 2023. Questions? Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org; 602.340.7201.

Community Legal Services Board of Directors - Application Deadline May 16, 2023

Purpose: The Community Legal Services (CLS) Board consists of 27 members, four of whom are appointed by the State Bar Board of Governors. The vision of CLS is “protecting rights, increasing fairness and providing access to justice” and its mission statement reads that it "is committed to increasing fairness in the civil justice system by advocating, litigating, and educating on behalf of Arizona’s most underserved communities." Board members work collectively to ensure the fiscal integrity of the program, set policies and procedures directing CLS activities and goals, establish substantive law “priorities”, enhance the organization’s standing within the community, and plan and actively participate in fundraising activities.

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. CLS Board members are expected to attend and contribute to all Board meetings which are held each September, November, January, March and May on the first Wednesday of each month beginning at 6:00 p.m., as well as a two-day working retreat typically held in July or August. In addition, Board members are expected to participate on at least one committee during the year. CLS is particularly interested in having Board members who will contribute their time and energy to Board activities during their appointed term on the Board.

Openings: Two appointments will be made by the Board of Governors.

Term: Six years commencing June 2023.

Applications are due by May 16, 2023. Questions? Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org; 602.340.7201.