Photo by Jim Small | Arizona Mirror
A panel that screens judicial hopefuls winnowed down the applicants to fill a vacant seat on the Arizona Supreme Court to eight semi-finalists on Friday.
The new justice, who will be chosen by Gov. Katie Hobbs, will replace Republican Robert Brutinel, who retired at the end of October, after 14 years on the high court and 28 as a judge.
Hobbs will be the first Democrat in more than 15 years to appoint a justice to Arizona’s high court. Brutinel was appointed in 2010 by then-Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican. Supreme Court Justice Scott Bales, the last judge appointed by a Democrat, was placed on the court in 2005 by then-Gov. Janet Napolitano. He retired in 2019.
The nonpartisan Commission on Appellate Court Appointments, which selected the eight semi-finalists from 17 applicants, is asking for public comments on the candidates ahead of the commission’s interviews with them, set for Dec. 9. After the interviews, the commission will recommend at least three of applicants to Hobbs for her to choose from.
The commission is required to submit at least one nominee to the governor who belongs to a different political party than her.
The candidates are:
- Maria Elena Cruz: A Yuma County Democrat who has been an Arizona judge since 2005, currently in the Arizona Court of Appeals. She previously worked as a Yuma County Superior Court Judge and for the Yuma and Pima county attorney offices.
- Nicole C. Davis: A Maricopa County independent who is the deputy director and general counsel for the Arizona Department of Economic Security. She was previously deputy general counsel for Gov. Janet Napolitano.
- D. Andrew Gaona: A Maricopa County Democrat and partner at the Phoenix law firm Coppersmith Brockelman. Gaona has represented Democrats, including Hobbs, in high-profile cases, including Republican Kari Lake’s unsuccessful challenge to the results of the 2022 election for Arizona governor, which she lost to Hobbs.
- Andrew M. Jacobs: A Maricopa County Democrat and who was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals in March 2023. Prior to that he was a partner at Arizona law firm Snell and Wilmer for 20 years.
- Doreen N. McPaul: A Maricopa County Democrat and assistant legislative attorney for the Tohono O’odham Nation. She is a member of the Navajo Nation and previously served as its attorney general.
- Regina L. Nassen: A Pima County independent and assistant city attorney for Tucson. She previously held various positions in the Pima County Attorney’s Office.
- Alexander W. Samuels: A Maricopa County Democrat and deputy solicitor general for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. He previously held various positions with the United States Attorney’s Office.
- Amy D. Sells: A Maricopa County Democrat and civil litigation and appeals attorney at the Phoenix office of law firm Tiffany & Bosco in Phoenix. She’s worked for various law firms in the Valley since 2005.
Members of the public can submit written comments about the applicants to jnc@courts.az.gov or mail them to 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ 85007.
To be considered, comments must be received by Dec. 4, and cannot be submitted anonymously. Members of the public can also comment in person on Dec. 9. The hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. in conference room 101 of the Arizona State Courts Building at 1501 W.
Washington St. in Phoenix.
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