Arizona Supreme Court elections
There are seven justices on the Arizona Supreme Court. For more information about these elections, visit the Arizona judicial elections page.
Judicial selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Arizona
The seven justices on the Arizona Supreme Court are each appointed by the governor from a list of names compiled by the Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments. The commission is composed of 16 members who serve staggered four-year terms. The membership includes 10 non-attorneys, five attorneys, and the chief justice of the supreme court, who chairs the commission.[1]
The initial term of a new justice is at least two years, after which the justice stands for retention in an uncontested yes-no election. Subsequent terms last six years.[2] For more information on these retention elections, visit the Arizona judicial elections page.
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a justice:[3]
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Chief justice
The court's chief justice is selected by peer vote. He or she serves in that capacity for five years.[5]
Vacancies
If a midterm vacancy occurs on the court, the seat is filled as it normally would be if the vacancy occurred at the end of a justice's term. Potential justices submit applications to the Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments, and once the commission has chosen a slate of nominees, the governor picks one from that list. After occupying the seat for two years, the newly appointed justice stands for retention in the next general election. The justice then serves a full six-year term if he or she is retained by voters.[6]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
Elections
See also: Arizona Supreme Court elections, 2030
Clint Bolick's seat
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Kathryn Hackett King's seat
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Arizona Supreme Court elections, 2028
Maria Elena Cruz's seat
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Ann Timmer's seat
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
James Beene's seat
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Bill Montgomery's seat
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Arizona Supreme Court elections, 2026
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Arizona Supreme Court elections, 2024
Clint Bolick's seat
Arizona Supreme Court
Clint Bolick was retained to the Arizona Supreme Court on November 5, 2024 with 58.2% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 58.2 | 1,534,635 |
| No | 41.8 | 1,102,423 | |
| Total Votes | 2,637,058 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Kathryn Hackett King's seat
Arizona Supreme Court
Kathryn Hackett King was retained to the Arizona Supreme Court on November 5, 2024 with 59.3% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 59.3 | 1,561,227 |
| No | 40.7 | 1,069,335 | |
| Total Votes | 2,630,562 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
See also: Arizona Supreme Court elections, 2022
Beene's seat
Arizona Supreme Court
James P. Beene was retained to the Arizona Supreme Court on November 8, 2022 with 70.5% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 70.5 | 1,305,293 |
| No | 29.5 | 545,434 | |
| Total Votes | 1,850,727 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Timmer's seat
Arizona Supreme Court
Ann Timmer was retained to the Arizona Supreme Court on November 8, 2022 with 71.1% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 71.1 | 1,301,858 |
| No | 28.9 | 529,551 | |
| Total Votes | 1,831,409 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Montgomery's seat
Arizona Supreme Court
Bill Montgomery was retained to the Arizona Supreme Court on November 8, 2022 with 55.5% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 55.5 | 1,042,134 |
| No | 44.5 | 834,653 | |
| Total Votes | 1,876,787 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
See also: Arizona Supreme Court elections, 2020
Gould's seat
Arizona Supreme Court
Andrew W. Gould was retained to the Arizona Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 68.1% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 68.1 | 1,683,460 |
| No | 31.9 | 790,095 | |
| Total Votes | 2,473,555 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Lopez's seat
Arizona Supreme Court
John Lopez IV was retained to the Arizona Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 72.7% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 72.7 | 1,806,530 |
| No | 27.3 | 679,989 | |
| Total Votes | 2,486,519 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Brutinel's seat
Arizona Supreme Court
Robert Brutinel was retained to the Arizona Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 75.1% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 75.1 | 1,865,552 |
| No | 24.9 | 617,429 | |
| Total Votes | 2,482,981 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
See also: Arizona Supreme Court elections, 2018
John Pelander's seat
Arizona Supreme Court
John Pelander was retained to the Arizona Supreme Court on November 6, 2018 with 71.8% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 71.8 | 1,188,576 |
| No | 28.2 | 467,934 | |
| Total Votes | 1,656,510 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Clint Bolick's seat
Arizona Supreme Court
Clint Bolick was retained to the Arizona Supreme Court on November 6, 2018 with 70.0% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 70.0 | 1,187,184 |
| No | 30.0 | 507,800 | |
| Total Votes | 1,694,984 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Arizona Judicial Branch, "Article 6, Section 36: Commission on appellate court appointments and terms, appointments and vacancies on commission," accessed March 24, 2023
- ↑ Arizona Judicial Branch, "Article 6, Section 37: Judicial vacancies and appointments; initial terms; residence; age," accessed March 24, 2023
- ↑ Arizona Judicial Branch, "AZ Supreme Court," accessed March 24, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Arizona Judicial Branch, "Meet The Justices," accessed March 24, 2023
- ↑ Brennan Center for Justice, "Judicial Selection: An Interactive Map," accessed March 23, 2023
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Arizona • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Arizona
State courts:
Arizona Supreme Court • Arizona Court of Appeals • Arizona Superior Court • Arizona Justice Courts • Arizona Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Arizona • Arizona judicial elections • Judicial selection in Arizona