Arizona Supreme Court


The Arizona Supreme Court is the state supreme court of the U.S. state of Arizona. Sitting in the Supreme Court building in downtown Phoenix, the court consists of a chief justice, a vice chief justice, and five associate justices. 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. They supervise the administration of all the inferior courts. They are 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.

Selection of justices

Justices are selected by a modified form of the Missouri Plan. A bipartisan commission considers applicants and sends a list of nominees to the governor. The governor is required by law to appoint from this list based on merit, without regard to party affiliation. Justices are then retained for an initial period, after which they are subject to a retention election. If the justice wins the election, his/her term is six years.

Qualifications

The current Arizona Supreme Court includes:
TitleNameAppointmentReaches age 70Law school graduated fromAppointed by
Chief JusticeRobert M. Brutinel20102028University of ArizonaJan Brewer
Vice Chief JusticeAnn Timmer20122030Arizona State University College of LawJan Brewer
Associate JusticeClint Bolick20162027UC Davis School of LawDoug Ducey
Associate JusticeAndrew Gould20162034Northwestern University School of LawDoug Ducey
Associate JusticeJohn Lopez IV20162039Arizona State University College of LawDoug Ducey
Associate JusticeJames Beene20192034/2035University of ArizonaDoug Ducey
Associate JusticeBill Montgomery20192037Arizona State University College of LawDoug Ducey

Court history

The court started in 1912 with 3 justices. Alfred Franklin, Donald L. Cunningham, and Henry D. Ross took office on February 14, 1912. In 1949, the Court expanded from 3 to 5 justices and from 5 to 7 justices in 2016.

Chief Justices