By Matthew Holloway |
With the retention of Arizona Supreme Court Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King assured, the effort to nominate the next Justice of Arizona’s highest court is underway after Justice Robert Brutinel announced his retirement on October 31. The pool of possibilities begins with 17 candidates and will eventually be whittled down to three, which Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs will choose from, according to The Center Square.
Applications, which ran through the month of October, were closed on Nov. 1. As the outlet noted, applications held three constitutional requirements; that prospective jurists be attorneys in good standing, under 65-years of age, and a resident of the state for at least ten years.
The judicial standards lay out that, “The judge shall demonstrate command of relevant substantive law and procedural rules, impartiality, clarity of oral and written communications, judicial temperament and professionalism upholding public confidence in the legal system and demonstrating appropriate respect for everyone.”
“Furthermore, the judge shall have possession of the administrative and management skills and work ethic necessary to be productive and efficient.”
Brutinel was appointed by former Republican Governor Jan Brewer in 2010 and was named to the post of Chief Justice by his peers in 2019. He stepped down as Chief Justice at the end of his five-year term to present-Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer.
“After 42 years as a lawyer and 28 years as a judge, I believe more strongly than ever in the rule of law and that everyone is equal before the law,” Brutinel wrote in a statement on his retirement. “Arizona’s judicial branch is truly committed to the idea that our courts and the law are a positive force for protecting our rights and improving the lives of our fellow citizens.”
“The decision to leave the court has not been easy and I will greatly miss the Court’s interesting and challenging work and particularly all the wonderful people with whom I have had the pleasure of working,” he wrote.
Brutinel’s replacement will be the first Democrat appointee since Justice Scott Bales stepped down in 2019.
The slate of candidates to replace him includes:
- Sheena S. Chiang, a Phoenix criminal defense attorney featured in Phoenix Business Journals’ 40 Under 40 in 2020.
- Ann B. Ching, a Clinical Professor of Law at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law who served on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Asian American Bar Association (2018-present) and as its President (2023-2024).
- Janette C. Corral, a Commissioner of the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County, and former Maricopa County Deputy Public Defender – Criminal Mental Health.
- Maria Elena Cruz, Judge of the Arizona Court of Appeals Division One, and former prosecutor in the Yuma County Attorney’s Office.
- Nicole C. Davis, a commercial litigation attorney in Phoenix.
- Monica N. Bellapravalu Edelstein, a Maricopa County Superior Court Judge assigned to the Criminal Department in Phoenix, a Reserve Assistant Judge Advocate General in the U.S. Air Force at Luke Air Force Base, and former Assistant United States Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Phoenix.
- D. Andrew Gaona, as noted by The Center Square, Gaona has been known to provide legal advice to the Hobbs administration, and is one of the more likely choices.
- Andrew M. Jacobs, a judge of the Arizona Court of Appeals Division One, graduate of the University of Illinois and Harvard Law School, and former research assistant to radical anti-Trump legal Professor Laurence Tribe, who wrote to X after Election Day, “The comprehensive nature of Trump’s victory suggests that alongside the large core of voters thrilled by his misogyny, xenophobia, bullying, and mendacity, many more are at least not repelled by his ever more extreme indulgence in those sadistic pleasures.”
- Shalanda M. Looney, an attorney practicing juvenile law with the Gates Law Firm.
- Doreen N. McPaul, an assistant legislative attorney working for the Tohono O’odham Nation.
- Robert J. McWhirter, a practicing private attorney specializing in criminal law.
- Regina L. Nassen, the principal assistant city attorney for the Tucson City Attorney.
- Alexander W. Samuels, the principal deputy solicitor general of the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.
- Amy D. Sells, an appellate and civil attorney for the prominent Phoenix law firm, Tiffany & Bosco
- Mikel P. Steinfeld, a Supervisor with the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office overseeing the appeals unit.
- Barry G. Stratford, a partner at the private firm Perkins Coie. This firm was also home to Clinton-operative Marc Elias and was at the center of election controversy in 2016 when Fusion GPS, an opposition research firm, was hired to develop a false-dossier about Donald Trump’s alleged ties to Russia.
- William R. Wingard, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge appointed by Gov. Hobbs in 2023.
The Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments is moving forward with these candidates, investigating their backgrounds and holding public interviews. Three of them will make the ‘short-list’ of recommendations to Hobbs after taking public comments in a meeting scheduled for Nov. 22.
Matthew Holloway is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
