Arizona Supreme Court
Encyclopedia
The Arizona Supreme Court is the state supreme court
of the U.S. state
of Arizona
. It consists of a Chief Justice
, a Vice Chief Justice, and three associate justice
s. Each justice is appointed by the governor of Arizona from a list recommended by a bipartisan commission. Justices stand for retention
in an election two years after their appointment and then every six years. They must retire at age 70.
The Chief Justice is chosen for a five-year term by the court, and is eligible for re-election. He or she supervises the administration of all the inferior courts. He or she is Chairman of the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments, which nominates candidates to fill vacancies in the appellate courts. If the Governor fails to appoint one of the nominated candidates within sixty days of their names being submitted to her or him, the Chief Justice makes the appointment.
The Vice Chief Justice, who acts as Chief Justice in the latter's "absence or incapacity," is chosen by the court for a term determined by the court.
The jurisdiction of the court is prescribed by Article VI, Section 5 of the Arizona Constitution
. Most of the appeals heard by the court go through the Arizona Court of Appeals
, except for death penalty
cases, over which the Arizona Supreme Court has sole appellate jurisdiction
. The court also has original jurisdiction in a few other circumstances as outlined in the Arizona Constitution. A quorum
is three, but the whole court must sit in order to declare a law unconstitutional.
State supreme court
In the United States, the state supreme court is the highest state court in the state court system ....
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. It consists of a Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
, a Vice Chief Justice, and three associate justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
s. Each justice is appointed by the governor of Arizona from a list recommended by a bipartisan commission. Justices stand for retention
Retention election
A judicial retention election is a periodic process whereby a judge is subject to a referendum held at the same time as a general election...
in an election two years after their appointment and then every six years. They must retire at age 70.
The Chief Justice is chosen for a five-year term by the court, and is eligible for re-election. He or she supervises the administration of all the inferior courts. He or she is Chairman of the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments, which nominates candidates to fill vacancies in the appellate courts. If the Governor fails to appoint one of the nominated candidates within sixty days of their names being submitted to her or him, the Chief Justice makes the appointment.
The Vice Chief Justice, who acts as Chief Justice in the latter's "absence or incapacity," is chosen by the court for a term determined by the court.
The jurisdiction of the court is prescribed by Article VI, Section 5 of the Arizona Constitution
Arizona Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Arizona is the governing document and framework for the U.S. state of Arizona. The current constitution is the first and only adopted by the state of Arizona.-History:...
. Most of the appeals heard by the court go through the Arizona Court of Appeals
Arizona Court of Appeals
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-two judges on the court: sixteen in Division One, based in Phoenix, and six in Division Two, based in Tucson....
, except for death penalty
Capital punishment in the United States
Capital punishment in the United States, in practice, applies only for aggravated murder and more rarely for felony murder. Capital punishment was a penalty at common law, for many felonies, and was enforced in all of the American colonies prior to the Declaration of Independence...
cases, over which the Arizona Supreme Court has sole appellate jurisdiction
Appellate jurisdiction
Appellate jurisdiction is the power of the Supreme Court to review decisions and change outcomes of decisions of lower courts. Most appellate jurisdiction is legislatively created, and may consist of appeals by leave of the appellate court or by right...
. The court also has original jurisdiction in a few other circumstances as outlined in the Arizona Constitution. A quorum
Quorum
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly necessary to conduct the business of that group...
is three, but the whole court must sit in order to declare a law unconstitutional.
Justices
The current Arizona Supreme Court includes:- Chief Justice Rebecca White BerchRebecca White BerchRebecca White Berch is a justice on the Arizona Supreme Court. On July 1, 2009, she began a five-year term as the court's Chief Justice, a position to which she was elected by her peers on the court. As chief justice, she succeeds Ruth McGregor...
- Vice Chief Justice Andrew D. HurwitzAndrew D. HurwitzAndrew D. Hurwitz is a Phoenix, Arizona attorney currently serving as Vice Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. He also has been nominated to serve as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is a native of Boonton, New Jersey and a graduate of Boonton High...
- Justice W. Scott Bales
- Justice John Pelander
- Justice Robert M. Brutinel
Membership History
Alfred Franklin, Donald L. Cunningham, and Henry D. Ross took office on February 14, 1912.| Name | Length of tenure | Beginning | Succeeded by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfred Franklin | 6.5 years | 2/14/1912 | John Wilson Ross |
| John Wilson Ross | 8 weeks | 11/13/1918 | Albert C. Baker |
| Donald L. Cunningham | 9 years | 2/14/1912 | Archibald G. McAlister |
| Albert C. Baker | 2.5 years | 1/16/1919 | Edward G. Flanigan |
| Edward G. Flanigan | 1 year | 9/28/1921 | Frank H. Lyman |
| Frank H. Lyman | 2 years | 1/1/1923 | Alfred C. Lockwood |
| Alfred C. Lockwood | 18 years | 1/5/1925 | Rawghlie Clement Stanford |
| Archibald G. McAlister | 24 years | 1/4/1921 | Arthur T. LaPrade |
| Henry D. Ross | 33 years | 2/14/1912 | Joseph H. Morgan |
| Joseph H. Morgan | 2 years | 2/13/1945 | Levi Stewart Udall |
| Evo Anton DeConcini Evo Anton DeConcini Evo Anton DeConcini was Attorney General of Arizona, and a Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court from 1949 to 1953.Born in Iron Mountain, Michigan, DeConcini and his family soon moved to Wisconsin. He began studies at the University of Wisconsin in 1920, but his father's death in an automobile... |
4 years | Dudley W. Windes | |
| Rawghlie Clement Stanford Rawghlie Clement Stanford Rawghlie Clement Stanford was the fifth Governor of Arizona and served from 1937 to 1939. Born in Buffalo Gap, Texas, he was a lawyer and served as Justice of the Arizona State Supreme Court after his governorship in 1943. He later became Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court in 1953.Stanford... |
12 years | 1/4/1943 | Fred C. Struckmeyer Jr. |
| Arthur T. LaPrade | 12.5 years | 1/1/1945 | J. Mercer Johnson |
| Dudley W. Windes | 6 years | 1/13/1953 | Charles C. Bernstein |
| Levi Stewart Udall Levi Stewart Udall Levi Stewart Udall was a U.S. lawyer who served as Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. He was a member of the Udall political family.... |
13 years | 1/6/1947 | Jesse Addison Udall Jesse Addison Udall Jesse Addison Udall was a member of the Udall political family who served as chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court.... |
| J. Mercer Johnson | 3 years | 9/16/1957 | Robert O. Lesher |
| Robert O. Lesher | 2.5 months | 9/20/1960 | Renz L. Jennings |
| Marlin T. Phelps | 12 years | Lorna E. Lockwood Lorna E. Lockwood Lorna Elizabeth Lockwood was a Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. She was the first female Chief Justice of a state supreme court in the United States. In the 1960s she was almost nominated by President Lyndon Johnson to be the first female justice on the United States Supreme Court... |
|
| Renz L. Jennings | 3.5 years | 12/12/1960 | Edward W. Scruggs |
| Edward W. Scruggs | 5 months | 8/5/1964 | Ernest McFarland Ernest McFarland Ernest William McFarland was an American politician and, with Warren Atherton, is considered one of the "Fathers of the G.I. Bill". He is the only Arizonan to serve in the highest office in all three branches of Arizonan government—two at the state level, one at the federal level... |
| Charles C. Bernstein | 10 years | 1/5/1959 | Jack D. H. Hays |
| Ernest McFarland Ernest McFarland Ernest William McFarland was an American politician and, with Warren Atherton, is considered one of the "Fathers of the G.I. Bill". He is the only Arizonan to serve in the highest office in all three branches of Arizonan government—two at the state level, one at the federal level... |
6 years | 1/4/1965 | James Duke Cameron |
| Jesse Addison Udall Jesse Addison Udall Jesse Addison Udall was a member of the Udall political family who served as chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court.... |
11.5 years | 6/15/1960 | William A. Holohan |
| Lorna E. Lockwood Lorna E. Lockwood Lorna Elizabeth Lockwood was a Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. She was the first female Chief Justice of a state supreme court in the United States. In the 1960s she was almost nominated by President Lyndon Johnson to be the first female justice on the United States Supreme Court... |
14 years | 1/1/1961 | Frank X. Gordon Jr. |
| Fred C. Struckmeyer Jr. | 27 years | 1/3/1955 | Stanley G. Feldman |
| Jack D. H. Hays | 18 years | 1/4/1969 | James Moeller |
| William A. Holohan | 17 years | 1/17/1972 | Robert J. Corcoran |
| Frank X. Gordon Jr. | 16.5 years | 9/16/1975 | Thomas A. Zlaket |
| James Duke Cameron | 21 years | 1/4/1971 | Frederick J. Martone |
| Robert J. Corcoran | 7 years | 1/5/1989 | Charles E. Jones |
| James Moeller James Moeller James Moeller is an American lawyer and jurist who served as a member of the Arizona Supreme Court for eleven years from 1987 to 1998.... |
11 years | 2/23/1987 | Ruth V. McGregor |
| Frederick J. Martone | 10 years | 2/28/1992 | Rebecca White Berch |
| Thomas A. Zlaket | 10 years | 2/3/1992 | Michael D. Ryan |
| Stanley Feldman | 20 years | 1/19/1982 | Andrew D. Hurwitz |
| Charles E. Jones Charles E. Jones (judge) Charles Edward Jones, Jr. was a member of the Arizona Supreme Court. He served as an associate judge on that court from 1996 to 2002 and then as the chief justice of the court from 2002 to 2005... |
9 years | 4/26/1996 | Scott Bales |
| Ruth McGregor Ruth McGregor Ruth V. McGregor is a former justice of the Arizona Supreme Court.McGregor was a justice of the state's highest court from 1998, when she was appointed to the court by Republican Governor Jane Dee Hull until her retirement in 2009. She was retained in 2000 and 2006. She served a term as Chief... |
11 years | 2/13/1998 | John Pelander |
| Michael D. Ryan Michael D. Ryan Michael D. Ryan is an associate justice on the Arizona Supreme Court, a position he has held since July 1, 2002. He is also a veteran of the Vietnam War.Ryan has announced that he will be stepping down from the court effective August 6, 2010.-Education:... |
9 years | 5/22/2002 | Robert M. Brutinel |
| Rebecca White Berch | Presently serving | 4/08/2002 | Not applicable |
| Andrew D. Hurwitz | Presently serving | 3/17/2003 | Not applicable |
| W. Scott Bales | Presently serving | 9/16/2005 | Not applicable |
| John Pelander | Presently serving | 9/08/2009 | Not Applicable |
| Robert M. Brutinel | Presently serving | 1/10/2011 | Not Applicable |
Chief Justices
- Alfred Franklin - 01/1912 to 12/1914
- Henry D. Ross - 1/1915 to 12/1916
- Alfred Franklin - 01/1917 to 12/1917
- Donald L. Cunningham - 01/1918 to 12/1920
- Henry D. Ross - 1/1921 to 12/1922
- Archibald G. McAlister - 1/1923 to 12/1926
- Henry D. Ross - 1/1927 to 12/1928
- Alfred C. Lockwood - 1/1929 to 12/1930
- Archibald G. McAlister - 1/1931 to 12/1932
- Henry D. Ross - 1/1933 to 12/1934
- Alfred C. Lockwood - 1/1935 to 12/1936
- Archibald G. McAlister - 1/1937 to 12/1938
- Henry D. Ross - 1/1939 to 12/1940
- Alfred C. Lockwood - 1/1941 to 12/1942
- Archibald G. McAlister - 1/1943 to 12/1944
- Henry D. Ross - 1/1945 to 2/1945
- R.C. Stanford - 2/1945 to 12/1948
- Arthur T. LaPrade - 1/1949 to 12/1950
- Levi Stewart UdallLevi Stewart UdallLevi Stewart Udall was a U.S. lawyer who served as Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. He was a member of the Udall political family....
- 1/1951 to 12/1952 - R.C. Stanford - 1/1953 to 12/1953
- Marlin T. Phelps - 1/1954 to 12/1954
- Arthur T. LaPrade - 1/1955 to 12/1956
- Levi Stewart UdallLevi Stewart UdallLevi Stewart Udall was a U.S. lawyer who served as Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. He was a member of the Udall political family....
- 1/1957 to 12/1958 - Marlin T. Phelps - 1/1959 to 12/1959
- Fred C. Struckmeyer Jr. - 1/1960 to 12/1961
- Charles C. Bernstein - 1/1962 to 12/1963
- Jesse Addison UdallJesse Addison UdallJesse Addison Udall was a member of the Udall political family who served as chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court....
- 1/1964 to 12/1964 - Lorna E. LockwoodLorna E. LockwoodLorna Elizabeth Lockwood was a Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. She was the first female Chief Justice of a state supreme court in the United States. In the 1960s she was almost nominated by President Lyndon Johnson to be the first female justice on the United States Supreme Court...
- 1/1965 to 12/1965 (First female chief justice in the United States) - Fred C. Struckmeyer Jr. - 1/1966 to 12/1966
- Charles C. Bernstein - 1/1967 to 12/1967
- Ernest W. McFarland - 1/1968 to 12/1968
- Jesse Addison UdallJesse Addison UdallJesse Addison Udall was a member of the Udall political family who served as chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court....
- 1/1969 to 12/1969 - Lorna E. LockwoodLorna E. LockwoodLorna Elizabeth Lockwood was a Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. She was the first female Chief Justice of a state supreme court in the United States. In the 1960s she was almost nominated by President Lyndon Johnson to be the first female justice on the United States Supreme Court...
- 1/1970 to 12/1970 - Fred C. Struckmeyer Jr. - 1/1971 to 12/1971
- Jack D.H. Hays - 1/1972 to 12/1974
- James Duke Cameron - 1/1975 to 12/1979
- Fred C. Struckmeyer Jr. - 1/1980 to 12/1981
- William A. Holohan - 1/1982 to 1/1987
- Frank X. Gordon Jr. - 1/1987 to 1/1992
- Stanley G. Feldman - 1/1992 to 1/1997
- Thomas A. Zlaket - 1/1997 to 1/2002
- Charles E. JonesCharles E. Jones (judge)Charles Edward Jones, Jr. was a member of the Arizona Supreme Court. He served as an associate judge on that court from 1996 to 2002 and then as the chief justice of the court from 2002 to 2005...
- 1/2002 to 6/11/2005 - Ruth V. McGregor - 6/12/2005 to 6/30/2009
- Rebecca White BerchRebecca White BerchRebecca White Berch is a justice on the Arizona Supreme Court. On July 1, 2009, she began a five-year term as the court's Chief Justice, a position to which she was elected by her peers on the court. As chief justice, she succeeds Ruth McGregor...
- 7/1/2009 to Present