May 22, 2023

PHOENIX - The Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments has recommended eight nominees to Gov. Katie Hobbs for two openings on the Superior Court in Maricopa County.

The nominees for the two openings created by the retirement of Hon. Theodore Campagnolo and the appointment of Hon. Alison S. Bachus as a U.S Magistrate Judge for the District of Arizona are:

· Christian J. Bell, Democrat, of Peoria, Commissioner with the Superior Court in Maricopa County

· Jessica J. Fotinos, Democrat, of Phoenix, General Counsel and Public Information Officer at the Clerk of the Superior Court in Maricopa County

· Gregory J. Gnepper, Independent, of Phoenix, Commissioner with the Superior Court in Maricopa County

· Brian J. Palmer, Independent, of Phoenix, Commissioner with the Superior Court in Maricopa County

· Suzanne J. Reed, Democrat, of Phoenix, Staff Attorney at the Arizona Supreme Court

· Annielaurie Van Wie, Independent, of Phoenix, Commissioner with the Superior Court in Maricopa County

· Paula A. Williams, Democrat, of Phoenix, Commissioner with the Superior Court in Maricopa County

· William R. Wingard, Independent, of Queen Creek, Commissioner with the Superior Court in Maricopa County

Gov. Hobbs will make the appointments.

April 3, 2023

The Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County accepts applications for appointment as a Commissioner approximately one time per year and only during specifically advertised periods. Commissioners may function as a Plea Officer, or be assigned to the Early Disposition Court, Initial Appearance Court, or Juvenile Advisory Hearings. The selected Commissioners may also be assigned and/or assist with work or hear matters in other Court departments, including Civil, Family Court, Juvenile, Criminal, Probate, Mental Health, Tax, or Justice Courts. As Judicial employees of the Court, Commissioners are not permitted to practice law.

Applications will be accepted from Monday, April 3rd, 2023 to Wednesday, April 26th, 2023.

What you need to know:
The online application is only available on our website during our open recruitment period. We typically have one posting per calendar year.

Starting in 2022 all submissions will be electronic. We will not be utilizing or accepting any of our previous word document forms.

The link to apply will only be available during the open recruitment period.
We have a Commissioner Applicant Mentor Program for applicants! Please see below for more information.
Completed applications and completed personal history statements must be received by the deadline.
You will need to submit a lengthy online personal history statement. The information you can expect to be collected can be found in this document.
You are welcome to submit up to 6 letters of reference with your personal history statement, but we will provide you with information on how to solicit feedback from your supporters through our electronic feedback system which is our preferred way to receive feedback.
The initial review of candidate submissions is done by the Commissioner Nominating Committee and referred to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court.
A list of qualified applicants from which future vacancies may be filled will be created.
The Presiding Judge will make the final appointments.
Applicants not selected by the time a new recruitment is announced will need to re-apply for each recruitment in order to receive consideration.

Here is the link to apply! The informational page is found here. 

April 11, 2023

Purpose of the Position
Presiding Judge Jeffrey T. Bergin and Presiding Juvenile Judge Peter W. Hochuli announce that a joint Merit Selection Committee for the Superior Court and the Juvenile Court is accepting applications for a full-time Commissioner position. The position will become open upon retirement of Hon. Deborah Pratte. Current annual salary is $148,230.



Essential Functions
The duties of this position include serving as a judicial officer in areas including family law, child support, child welfare, juvenile delinquency, probate, guardianship and conservancy, mental health proceedings under Title 36 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, and any other areas as the Presiding Judges may require. The judicial officer may also be appointed as judge pro tem for no additional compensation. The person selected for the position should expect to be rotated between Superior Court and Juvenile Court at the discretion of the Presiding Judges. This position operates under the legal authority granted in ARS §12-213 and A.R.S. §8-231 and serves at the pleasure of the Presiding Judge.


Minimum Qualifications

A commissioner of the superior court shall be:

Admitted to the practice of law in and a resident of this state for five years next preceding taking office.
To be eligible to serve as a court commissioner a person shall be a United States citizen and a resident of the county in which appointed.
He or she shall reside at the county seat or at such other city or town within the jurisdiction of the judge making the appointment as may be designated by the judge.

For more information and to apply, please click here. 

News Release
March 31, 2023

PHOENIX – Today, Governor Katie Hobbs announced the appointment of seven Maricopa County Superior Court Judges.

“On top of their impressive legal experience and qualifications, each of these appointees has demonstrated a deep commitment to public service and to the rule of law,” Governor Hobbs said. “I am confident they will be excellent additions to the bench and will serve the State well.”

The appointees are:

• Michelle Carson - Ms. Carson has served as a Commissioner on the Maricopa County Superior Court since 2018. Prior to that, she served as a senior attorney for the Maricopa County Public Defender (2006-2010) and in private practice as a criminal defense attorney, children’s best interest attorney and guardian ad litem (2010-2018). She served as Judge Pro Tem for the City of Tempe (2014-2017) and the Maricopa County Superior Court (2015-2018).

• Marischa H. Gilla - Ms.Gilla has served as a Commissioner on the Maricopa County Superior Court since 2020. Prior to that, she served in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office from 2006 to 2019, including serving as Bureau Chief of the Family Violence Bureau-East and as a Deputy County Attorney in the Capital Litigation Bureau.

• Melody G. Harmon - Ms. Harmon has served as a Commissioner on the Maricopa County Superior Court since 2018. She currently serves in the Probate Department and previously served as Presiding Commissioner in the Juvenile Department. She started her career practicing employment law, and later gained valuable trial experience at the Maricopa County Public Defender’s office before starting her own private firm in 2009.

• Amy M. Kalman - Ms. Kalman has served as a Commissioner on the Maricopa County Superior Court since 2018. She currently handles a variety of treatment courts, including Drug, DUI, and Mental Health Probation Court. She has also served on the Probate and Mental Health court assignments. Prior to that, she served in the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office as a Capital Defender (2013-2018) and Defender Attorney (2007-2013).

• Steven W. McCarthy - Mr. McCarthy has served as Commissioner on the Maricopa County Superior Court since 2019. Mr. McCarthy is fluent in Spanish and presides over a Spanish-language DUI probation court, in which he regularly communicates with probationers in Spanish and sees extremely high rates of successful completion of probation. Prior to that, he served for over 10 years in the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office.

• Colleen O’Donnell-Smith - Ms. O’Donnell-Smith has served in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office since 1999, including as Unit Chief Counsel for the Protective Services Section (2010-2020) and more recently as Unit Chief Counsel for the Civil and Criminal Litigation and Advice Section.

• Melissa M. Zabor - Ms. Zabor has served as a Commissioner on the Maricopa County Superior Court since 2017. She is currently assigned to the criminal division and also served as the Presiding Commissioner for the Initial Appearance Court. Prior to that, she served in the Maricopa County Office of the Legal Advocate (2008-2017), focusing on criminal felony public defense.

These appointees will fill the vacancies created by the retirement of Judges Laura M. Reckart, Kathleen Mead, and Janice Crawford, the appointment of Judge Daniel J. Kiley to Division One of the Arizona Court of Appeals, and the three seats vacated by Judges Rusty D. Crandell, Stephen M. Hopkins, and Howard D. Sukenic.

March 31, 2023

PHOENIX - The public is invited to comment on 21 applicants for a vacancy on the Superior Court in Maricopa County created by the retirement of the Honorable Theodore Campagnolo.

The applicants are:

• Heather A. Baker-Mushkatel • Michael Kielsky
• Christian J. Bell • Eric K. Knobloch
• Shanda A. “Jay” Calhoun • Brian J. Palmer
• Harla M. Davison • Ashley B. Rahaman
• Mary F. Dreyer • Suzanne J. Reed
• Jessica J. Fotinos • Brian P. Utsey
• Mayra J. Galindo • Annielaurie Van Wie
• Dee R. Giles • Dawn R. Walton
• Gregory J. Gnepper • Paula A. Williams
• Saman J. Golestan • William R. Wingard
• Lauren R. Guyton

Applications can be viewed online at the Commission’s website, azcourts.gov/jnc.

The Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments will review applications and hear comments at a public meeting on Apr. 24, 2023. Meeting details will be on the public meeting notice. The public meeting notice and meeting agenda will be posted on the Commission’s website at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting.

Citizens may address the Commission on the day of the meeting or send written comments to jnc@courts.az.gov or to 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007. It is not necessary to submit multiple copies of written comments – email is preferred. Comments must be received no later than Apr. 19 to be considered. Anonymous comments cannot be considered.

The Commission will select the applicants to be interviewed at the Apr. 24 meeting, they will then be interviewed on May 19, 2023. The logistics of this meeting will be available after the Apr. 24 meeting. After the interviews, the Commission will recommend at least three nominees to Governor Katie Hobbs, who will appoint the new judge.

February 21, 2023

PHOENIX - The Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments has recommended ten candidates to Governor Katie Hobbs for three openings on the Superior Court in Maricopa County.

The nominees for the openings created by the retirement of Judges Laura M. Reckart, Kathleen Mead, and Janice Crawford are:

· Michelle Carson, Democrat, of Phoenix, Commissioner with the Superior Court in Maricopa County

· Marischa H. Gilla, Republican, of Phoenix, Commissioner with the Superior Court in Maricopa County

· Gregory J. Gnepper, Independent, of Phoenix, Commissioner with the Superior Court in Maricopa County

· Melody G. Harmon, Democrat, of Phoenix, Commissioner with the Superior Court in Maricopa County

· Steven W. McCarthy, Independent, of Phoenix, Commissioner with the Superior Court in Maricopa County

· Brian J. Palmer, Independent, of Phoenix, Commissioner with the Superior Court in Maricopa County

· Suzanne J. Reed, Democrat, of Phoenix, Staff Attorney at the Arizona Supreme Court

· Dawn R. Walton, Democrat, of Gilbert, Commissioner with the Superior Court in Maricopa County

· Paula A. Williams, Democrat, of Phoenix, Commissioner with the Superior Court in Maricopa County

· Melissa M. Zabor, Democrat, of Tempe, Commissioner with the Superior Court in Maricopa County

Governor Hobbs will make the appointments.

PHOENIX - The public is invited to comment on 24 applicants for six openings on the Superior Court in Maricopa County created by the retirement of the Judges Laura M. Reckart, Kathleen Mead, and Janice Crawford and seats being vacated by Judges Rusty D. Crandell, Stephen M. Hopkins, and Howard D. Sukenic.

The applicants are:

Heather A. Baker-Mushkatel
James H. Baumann II
Christian J. Bell
Michelle Carson
Harla M. Davison
Marischa H. Gilla
Gregory J. Gnepper
Melody G. Harmon
Amy M. Kalman
Julie A. LaFave
Steven W. McCarthy
Thomas C. McDermott
Garrick A. McFadden
Rodney I. Mitchell
Colleen E. O’Donnell-Smith
Brian J. Palmer
Suzanne J. Reed
Jeremy A. Rovinsky
Jordan A. Smith
Brian P. Utsey
Dawn R. Walton
Paula A. Williams
Kirsten J. Wright
Melissa M. Zabor

Applications can be viewed online at the Commission’s website, azcourts.gov/jnc.

The Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments will review the applications and hear comments at a public meeting on Jan. 30, 2023. Meeting details will be on the public meeting notice. The public meeting notice and meeting agenda will be posted on the Commission’s website at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting.

Citizens may address the Commission on the day of the meeting or send written comments to jnc@courts.az.gov or to 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007. It is not necessary to submit multiple copies of written comments -- email is preferred. Comments must be received no later than Jan. 25, 2023 to be considered. Anonymous comments cannot be considered.

The Commission will select the applicants to be interviewed at the Jan. 30 meeting, they will then be interviewed on Feb. 24, 2023. The logistics of this meeting will be available after the Jan. 30 meeting. After the interviews, the Commission will recommend at least three nominees for each opening to Governor Katie Hobbs, who will appoint the new judges.

November 21, 2022

PHOENIX - Applications are being accepted for a vacancy on the Superior Court in Maricopa County created by the retirement of Judge Laura M. Reckart.

The Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments will review applications, interview selected applicants, and recommend at least three nominees for the vacancy to the Governor, who will appoint the new judge.

The most current judicial application form can be downloaded at the Judicial Department website: www.azcourts.gov/jnc. Applications may also be obtained from the Administrative Office of the Courts, Human Resources Department, 1501 W. Washington St., Suite 221, Phoenix, or by calling (602) 452 3311, or by sending an electronic mail request to jnc@courts.az.gov.

Applicants must be at least 30 years of age, of good moral character, admitted to the practice of law in, and a resident of Arizona for the past five years, and a resident of Maricopa County for the past year.

A signed original application with all attachments and a searchable .pdf version of the application and attachments must be submitted to the Administrative Office of the Courts, Human Resources Department, 1501 W. Washington St., Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007, by 3:00 p.m. on December 21, 2022.

Applicants for the previous vacancies in Maricopa County DO NOT need to reapply to be considered for the new vacancy.

The Commission may, at its discretion, use the applications filed for this vacancy to nominate candidates for any additional vacancies known to the Commission before the screening meeting for this vacancy is held.

All meetings of the Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments are open to the public. Meeting dates will be announced.

The current annual salary of a Superior Court judge is $149,382.60. Effective January 1, 2023, the annual salary will increase to $164,700.

Maricopa County 
Commissioner Openings
10/25/22


Information regarding the position and process can be found if you Click Here.

 

The job posting to apply can be found here!

September 2, 2022

The public is invited to comment on 49 applicants for the openings in the Arizona Court of Appeals created by the addition of three at-large positions in Division One and three at-large positions in Division Two.

The applicants for Division One are:

Andrew J. Becke
Scott M. Blum
Shanda “Jay” A. Calhoun
Michael S. Catlett
Christopher A. Coury
Rusty D. Crandell
David A. Fitzgerald
Anni L. Foster
Amanda E. Heitz
Keith J. Hilzendeger
Jared E. Holland
Andrew M. Jacobs
Alice M. Jones
Michael Kielsky
Daniel J. Kiley
Matthew A. Klopp
Benjamin D. Kreutzberg
James M. Manley
Thomas C. McDermott
Doreen N. McPaul
John D. Napper
Jay M. Polk
Joshua D. Rogers
Jeremy A. Rovinsky
Amy D. Sells
Jeffrey L. Sparks
Karen L. Johnson Stillwell
Adam M. Susser
Robert E. Trop
Cassie E. Bray Woo
Tamika N. Wooten

The applicants for Division Two are:

Michael A. Ambri
Christina M. Cabanillas
David J. Euchner
Lacey A. Stover Gard
James A. Goodwin
Gary W. Griffith
Kellie L. Johnson
Michael F. Kelly
Regina L. Nassen
Christopher J. O’Neil
Sara X. Orozco
Liliana Ortega
Andrew J. Petersen
Jeffrey L. Sklar
James M. Susa
Virjinya R. Adair Torrez
Victoria R. Thompson-Torrilhon
Timothy M. Wright

Their applications can be viewed online at the Commission’s website, http://www.azcourts.gov/jnc.

The Commission on Appellate Court Appointments will review applications and hear comments for all applicants at a public meeting on October 4, 2022. The meeting details will be available on the public meeting notice. The public meeting notice and meeting agenda will be posted on the Commission’s website at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting.

Citizens may address the Commission on the day of the meeting or send written comments to jnc@courts.az.gov or to 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007. It is not necessary to submit multiple copies of written comments, and email is preferred. Comments must be received no later than September 29, 2022, to be considered. Anonymous comments cannot be considered.

At the October 4, 2022 meeting, the Commission will choose the applicants to be interviewed. Interviews will be conducted on November 3, 2022, and November 4, 2022. The logistics of these meetings will be available after the October 4th meeting. After the interviews, the Commission will recommend at least three nominees for each opening to Governor Doug Ducey, who will appoint the new judges.

September 2, 2022

The public is invited to comment on 12 applicants for an opening in Division Two of the Arizona Court of Appeals created by the retirement of Judge Philip G. Espinosa.

The applicants are:

Michael A. Ambri
Christina M. Cabanillas
David J. Euchner
James A. Goodwin
Kellie L. Johnson
Michael F. Kelly
Regina L. Nassen
Andrew J. Petersen
Jeffrey L. Sklar
James M. Susa
Virjinya R.Adair Torrez
Victoria R. Thompson-Torrilhon

Their applications can be viewed online at the Commission’s website, http://www.azcourts.gov/jnc.

The Commission on Appellate Court Appointments will review the applications and hear comments at a public meeting on September 23, 2022. The meeting details will be available on the public meeting notice. The public meeting notice and meeting agenda will be posted on the Commission’s website at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting.

Citizens may address the Commission on the day of the meeting or send written comments to jnc@courts.az.gov or to 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007. It is not necessary to submit multiple copies of written comments, and email is preferred. Comments must be received no later than September 20, 2022, to be considered. Anonymous comments cannot be considered.

At the September 23, 2022 meeting, the Commission will choose the applicants to be interviewed. The selected applicants will be interviewed on October 11, 2022. The logistics of this meeting will be available after the September 23rd meeting. After the interviews, the Commission will recommend at least three nominees for the opening to Governor Doug Ducey, who will appoint the new judge.

July 28, 2022

The candidates are:

Jillian B. Francis Marischa H. Gilla Gregory J. Gnepper Melody G. Harmon Charlene D. Jackson James R. Knapp Sunita A. Krishna Steven W. McCarthy

Michael A. Minicozzi Colleen E. O’Donnell-Smith Suzanne J. Reed Jordan A. Smith Timothy J. Watson William R. Wingard Kirsten J. Wright Melissa M. Zabor

Their applications can be viewed online at the Commission’s website, http://azcourts.gov/jnc.

The Commission will meet to interview the candidates on August 22, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. The meeting will be held in conference room 119 of the Arizona State Courts Building, 1501 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007. The interview agenda will be posted on the Commission’s website at least 7 days prior to the meeting.

Citizens may address the Commission on the day of the meeting or send written comments to jnc@courts.az.gov or to 1501 W. Washington St., Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ 85007. It is not necessary to submit multiple copies of written comments, and email is preferred. Comments must be received no later than August 17, 2022, to be considered. Anonymous comments cannot be considered.

After the interviews, the Commission will recommend at least three nominees for each opening to Governor Doug Ducey, who will appoint the new judges.

July 20, 2022

The Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments is seeking public input on five candidates for a vacancy on the Superior Court in Pima County.

The candidates are:

Randi L. Burnett Danielle J. Kamps Constant Reagen A. Kulseth

Victoria A. Otto Paul J. Skitzki

Their applications can be viewed online at the Commission’s website, http://azcourts.gov/jnc.

The Commission will meet to interview the candidates on August 18, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. The meeting will be held in the Pima room of the Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites, 5151 East Grant Road, Tucson, AZ. The interview agenda will be posted on the Commission’s website at least 7 days prior to the meeting.

Citizens may address the Commission on the day of the meeting or send written comments to jnc@courts.az.gov or to 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ 85007. It is not necessary to submit multiple copies of written comments, and email is preferred. Comments must be received no later than August 15, 2022 to be considered. Anonymous comments cannot be considered.

After the interviews, the Commission will recommend at least three nominees for the opening to Governor Doug Ducey, who will appoint the new judge.

July 5, 2022

At the July 27, 2022 meeting, the Commission will choose the applicants to be interviewed.  The selected applicants will be interviewed on August 22, 2022. The logistics of this meeting will be available after the July 27th meeting.  After the interviews, the Commission will recommend at least three nominees for each opening to Governor Doug Ducey, who will appoint the new judges.

The public is invited to comment on 19 applicants for four vacancies on the Superior Court in Maricopa County created by resignation of Judge James D. Smith and the retirement of Judges Margaret R. Mahoney, David O. Cunanan, and Sally S. Duncan.

The applicants are:

Jillian B. Francis
Marischa H. Gilla
Gregory J. Gnepper
Melody G. Harmon 
Charlene D. Jackson 
James R. Knapp
Sunita A. Krishna 
Steven W. McCarthy
Michael A. Minicozzi
Rodney I. Mitchell
Colleen E. O’Donnell-Smith 
Suzanne J. Reed 
Jeremy A. Rovinsky
Jordan A. Smith
Brian P. Utsey
Timothy J. Watson
William R. Wingard
Kirsten J. Wright
Melissa M. Zabor 

Their applications can be viewed online at the Commission’s website, httwww.azcourts.gov/jnc. 

The Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments will review the applications and hear comments at a public meeting on July 27, 2022.  Meeting details will be available on the public meeting notice.  The public meeting notice and meeting agenda will be posted on the Commission’s website at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting.   


Citizens may address the commission on the day of the meeting or send written comments to jnc@courts.az.gov or to 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007.  It is not necessary to submit multiple copies of written comments, and email is preferred.  Comments must be received no later than July 22, 2022 to be considered.  Anonymous comments cannot be considered. 


At the July 27, 2022 meeting, the Commission will choose the applicants to be interviewed.  The selected applicants will be interviewed on August 22, 2022. The logistics of this meeting will be available after the July 27th meeting.  After the interviews, the Commission will recommend at least three nominees for each opening to Governor Doug Ducey, who will appoint the new judges.

July 1, 2022

The public is invited to comment on six applicants for a vacancy on the Superior Court in Pima County created by the retirement of Judge Deborah Bernini.


The applicants are:


Randi L. Burnett
Danielle J. Kamps Constant  
Reagen A. Kulseth  
Victoria A. Otto 
Lauri J. Owen
Paul J. Skitzki



Their applications can be viewed online at the Commission’s website, http://www.azcourts.gov/jnc. 


The Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments will review the applications and hear comments at a public meeting on July 19, 2022. Meeting details will be available on the public meeting notice. The public meeting notice and meeting agenda will be posted on the Commission’s website at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting.   


Citizens may address the commission on the day of the meeting or send written comments to jnc@courts.az.gov or to 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007. It is not necessary to submit multiple copies of written comments, and email is preferred. Comments must be received no later than July 14, 2022 to be considered. Anonymous comments cannot be considered. 

At the July 19, 2022 meeting, the Commission will choose the applicants to be interviewed.  The selected applicants will be interviewed on August 18, 2022. The logistics of this meeting will be available after the July 19th meeting. After the interviews, the Commission will recommend at least three nominees for the opening to Governor Doug Ducey, who will appoint the new judge.

May 29, 2022

PHOENIX– Governor Doug Ducey today announced the appointment of Amanda Moncayo Parker to the Maricopa County Superior Court. The appointment fills the seat previously held by Judge Rosa Mroz, who tragically passed away in February. “Amanda has shown time and time again her dedication to her community and Maricopa County,” said Governor Ducey, “I am honored to appoint her to the Maricopa County Superior Court.”

Amanda Moncayo Parker

Amanda currently serves as Bureau Chief for the Appeals and Post-Conviction Proceedings Bureau for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. As Bureau Chief, Amanda manages 17 attorneys over four practice areas, providing legal advice to trial attorneys and reviewing appellate attorneys’ briefs. Prior to her current position, Amanda served as a law clerk at the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. Through clerking she gained a great deal of experience drafting opinions and researching civil litigation issues. From 2012 until 2017, Amanda worked with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office as a law clerk in the Appeals Bureau and as a Deputy County Attorney in the Pretrial and Appeals bureaus. In 2016, Amanda received the Distinguished Service Award from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for her work on the high-profile sex crimes case State v. Christopher Simcox. She received the award again in 2018 for her work on bail eligibility hearings in the cases Simpson v. Miller and Morreno v. Brickner. She was also the Prosecutor of the Year, Operations Division in 2017. Amanda received her Bachelor’s in justice studies from Grand Canyon University, and her law degree from the George Washington School of Law. Amanda is active in her community. She serves as a member of the Arizona State Bar’s Appointments Committee, recommending appointments to the Board of Governors for statewide boards and commissions. Amanda also has a passion for helping children find forever families. In 2016, she began facilitating adoption playgroups ensuring that adoptive families could connect. Amanda has also been an active member of Los Abogados, Arizona’s Hispanic bar association.