Arizona Court of Appeals

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The Arizona Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court for the state of Arizona. It is divided into two divisions, with a total of twenty-eight judges on the court: nineteen in Division 1, based in Phoenix, and nine in Division 2, based in Tucson.

Contents

History

The Arizona constitution was amended in 1960 to authorize a court of appeals, which the legislature created in 1964. The original judges were elected in November 1964. The first judges were James Duke Cameron, Henry S. Stevens, and Francis J. Donofrio for Division 1, [1] and Herbert F. Krucker, John F. Molloy, and James D. Hathaway for Division 2. [2] Only one judge after the original six received their seat by election. After the introduction of merit selection in 1975, judges are appointed by the governor to fill vacancies or new positions.

Three-judge panels were added to Division 1 in 1969, 1974, 1982, and 1989. Another judge was added in 1995 "so that the Chief Judge could devote time to the court's increasing administrative workload." [2] Division 2 added three judges in 1985. [2] Six more judges were added in 2022, three for each division.

Jurisdiction

The Court of Appeals has jurisdiction to consider appeals in civil cases, including juvenile and domestic relations matters, from the Arizona Superior Court. The court also reviews workers’ compensation and unemployment benefits decisions, tax court decisions, and certain corporation commission decisions.

The court also has jurisdiction over appeals in criminal matters from superior court, except for cases in which a death sentence has been imposed. Death penalty cases go directly to the Supreme Court of Arizona.

The court may also decide "petitions for special action," which is Arizona's term for petitions for special writs, such as certiorari, mandamus, prohibition, and interlocutory appeals.

Procedures

Selection of judges

Judges are selected by a modified form of the Missouri Plan. A bipartisan commission considers applicants and sends a list of nominees to the governor. The governor is required by law to appoint from this list based on merit, without regard to party affiliation. Judges are then retained for an initial period, after which they are subject to a retention election. If the judge wins the election, his/her term is six years.

Deciding cases

The Court of Appeals decides cases in panels of three judges, called "departments." Each department chooses a presiding judge from among the three. Each division also has a Chief Judge and Vice Chief Judge, elected by all judges in the division.

Divisions

While the Court of Appeals is divided into two geographic divisions in Phoenix and Tucson, the superior courts are bound by all of the Court of Appeals decisions, regardless of the division they are issued in. An Arizona trial court is not required to give greater precedent to a Court of Appeals decision from the division it is located in then a decision from the other division. [3]

At least ten judges of Division 1 must be residents of Maricopa County and five residents of the remaining counties. Four may be from any county. At least four judges of Division 2 must be residents of Pima County and two residents of the remaining counties. Three may be from any county. [5]

Division 1 has statewide responsibility for appeals from the Industrial Commission and unemployment compensation rulings of the Department of Economic Security. [6] One department of Division 1 is responsible for appeals from the Tax Court. [7]

Court members

The members of Arizona Court of Appeals Division 1, by order of seniority, [8] include:

NameAppointmentLaw schoolAppointed byCountyAgeSource
Michael J. Brown [a] Jan. 2, 2007 Arizona State University College of Law Janet Napolitano Navajo59–60 [9] MJB
Randall M. Howe April 11, 2012 Arizona State University College of Law Jan Brewer Maricopa61–62 [10] 1 2
Samuel A. Thumma [a] April 11, 2012 University of Iowa College of Law Jan Brewer Maricopa62–63 [9] 1 2
Kent E. Cattani [a] Feb. 9, 2013 UC Berkeley School of Law Jan Brewer Maricopa67–68 [9] 1 2
Paul J. McMurdieNov. 14, 2016 Arizona State University College of Law Doug Ducey Maricopa PJM
Jennifer M. PerkinsOct. 30, 2017 SMU Dedman School of Law Doug Ducey Maricopa 1 2
James B. Morse Jr.Nov. 6, 2017 University of Virginia School of Law Doug Ducey Maricopa 1 2
David D. WeinzweigDec. 29, 2017 Arizona State University College of Law Doug Ducey Maricopa 1 2
David B. Gass [b] Sept. 13, 2019 Arizona State University College of Law Doug Ducey Maricopa 1 2
D. Steven WilliamsNov. 1, 2019 Arizona State University College of Law Doug Ducey Navajo 1 2
Cynthia J. BaileyApril 24, 2020 Arizona State University College of Law Doug Ducey Maricopa 1 2
Brian Y. FuruyaDec. 23, 2020 J. Reuben Clark Law School Doug Ducey Coconino 1 2
Angela K. PatonOct. 8, 2021 Arizona State University College of Law Doug Ducey Maricopa 1 2
Michael S. CatlettDec. 29, 2022 University of Arizona College of Law Doug Ducey Maricopa 1 2
Anni L. Hill FosterDec. 29, 2022 Gonzaga University School of Law Doug Ducey Maricopa 1 2
Daniel J. KileyDec. 29, 2022 Arizona State University College of Law Doug Ducey Maricopa 1 2
Andrew M. JacobsFeb. 23, 2023 Harvard Law School Katie Hobbs Maricopa 1 2
Veronika FabianMay 16, 2025 University of Michigan Law School Katie Hobbs Coconino57 1 2
Andrew J. BeckeMay 16, 2025 Arizona State University College of Law Katie Hobbs Yavapai 1 2

The members of Arizona Court of Appeals, Division 2 include:

NameAppointmentLaw schoolAppointed byCountyAgeSource
Peter Eckerstrom [a] 2003 Stanford Law School Janet Napolitano Pima64 PJE
Garye L. Vasquez [b] 2005 University of Arizona College of Law Janet Napolitano Pinal66 GVL
Christopher P. Staring2015 Tulane University Law School Doug Ducey Pima CPS
Karl Eppich2017 Stanford Law School Doug Ducey Pinal 1 2
Sean BrearcliffeSept. 20, 2017 Golden Gate University School of Law Doug Ducey Pima 1 2
Jeffrey L. SklarDec. 12, 2022 USC Gould School of Law Doug Ducey Pima 1 2
Lacey S. GardDec. 29, 2022 University of Arizona College of Law Doug Ducey Pinal45–46 [11] 1 2
Michael F. KellyDec. 29, 2022 University of Arizona College of Law Doug Ducey Pinal44–45 [12] 1 2
Christopher J. O’NeilDec. 29, 2022 University of Arizona College of Law Doug Ducey Pima 1 2

Former judges

Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor served on the court from 1979 to 1981 Sandra Day O'Connor 1982.jpg
Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor served on the court from 1979 to 1981

Several court of appeal judges were elevated to the Arizona Supreme Court, including: James Duke Cameron (1965–1971), Robert J. Corcoran (1981–1988), Ruth McGregor (1989–1998), Michael D. Ryan (1996–2002), Rebecca White Berch (1998–2002), Ann Timmer (2000–2012), Andrew Gould (2012–2017), James Beene (2017–2019), and Maria Elena Cruz (2017-2025).

Other notable former judges include:

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Former Chief Judge
  2. 1 2 Current Chief Judge

References

  1. ↑ History of the Court
  2. 1 2 3 Irvine, Hon. Patrick. "The Arizona Court of Appeals (1965-2005)" (PDF). myazbar.org. Arizona State Bar. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  3. ↑ State v. Patterson, 218 P.3d 1031, 1037 (Ariz. App. 2009)
  4. ↑ A.R.S. § 12–120
  5. ↑ A.R.S. § 12–120.02
  6. ↑ "Court of Appeals".
  7. ↑ A.R.S. § 12–170
  8. ↑ 2018 Annual Review
  9. 1 2 3 Seven finalists named for state supreme court
  10. ↑ State appeals judge challenged biases as first person with cerebral palsy to argue before SCOTUS
  11. ↑ "Lacey S. Gard Judge". Pinal County Judicial Bio. Pinal County. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Michael Kelly Certified by State Bar of Arizona". Hollingsworth Law. August 17, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
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