The Commission on Appellate Court Appointments is seeking public comment on the applicants for seven vacancies on the Arizona Court of Appeals.

The Commission on Appellate Court Appointments is seeking public comment for the applicants for seven vacancies on the Court of Appeals, with four vacancies on Division Two and three vacancies on Division One.

The first vacancy on Division Two was created by the retirement of Judge Philip G. Espinosa.  The applicants for this position are limited only to residents of Pima County.

There are twelve applicants to fill the vacancy created by Judge Espinosa’s retirement: 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, and Victoria R. Thompson-Torrilhon.

The remaining six vacancies are split evenly between Division One, which hears cases arising in Apache, Coconino, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Yavapai, and Yuma counties, and Division Two, which hears cases arising in Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Greenlee, Graham, and Gila counties.  These six vacancies represent the new “at-large” positions created by the legislature during the most recent legislative session.  Unlike other vacancies, an “at-large” judge may be a resident of any county in the Division.

There are 31 applicants for the three Division One at-large vacancies:  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, and Tamika N. Wooten.

There are 18 applicants for the three Division Two at-large vacancies:  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, and Timothy M. Wright.

Public comments are due to the Commission on September 29, 2022.  The Commission will review applications and hear public comments at a public meeting on October 4, 2022.  At the October 4 meeting, the Commission will select which applicants to interview at public meetings to occur on November 3-4, 2022.  After the interviews, the Commission will recommend at least three nominees for each position to Governor Doug Ducey, who will appoint the new judges.