MARICOPA SUPERIOR COURT JUDICIAL NOMINEES ANNOUNCED
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.
APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR A VACANCY ON THE PIMA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
Applications are being accepted for a vacancy on the Superior Court in Pima County, created by the retirement of Judge Deborah Bernini.
The Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments will review applications, interview selected applicants, and recommend at least three nominees for the vacancy to Governor Doug Ducey, 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, Suite 221, Phoenix, 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 Arizona, as well as a resident of Arizona, for the past five years and a resident of Pima 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, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007, by 3:00 p.m. on June 30, 2022.
Applicants for the previous vacancy in Pima County MUST 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 Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments are open to the public. Meeting dates will be announced.
The new judge will be paid $149,382.60 annually.