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Arizona Supreme Court elections

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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]

“
  • Must be admitted to the practice of law in Arizona and be a resident of Arizona for the 10 years immediately before taking office;
  • May not practice law while a member of the judiciary;
  • May not hold any other political office or public employment;
  • May not hold office in any political party;
  • May not campaign, except for him/herself; and,
  • Must retire at age 70.[4]
 ”

Chief justice

The court's chief justice is selected by peer vote. He or she serves in that capacity for five years.[5]

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state supreme courts

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

2024

See also: Arizona Supreme Court elections, 2024

Clint Bolick's seat

General election

General election for Arizona Supreme Court

Incumbent Clint Bolick won election in the general election for Arizona Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Clint Bolick
Clint Bolick (Nonpartisan)
 
100.0
 
1,534,635

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,534,635
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Kathryn Hackett King's seat

General election

General election for Arizona Supreme Court

Incumbent Kathryn Hackett King won election in the general election for Arizona Supreme Court on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kathryn Hackett King
Kathryn Hackett King (Nonpartisan)
 
100.0
 
1,561,227

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,561,227
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2022

See also: Arizona Supreme Court elections, 2022

Candidates and results

Beene's seat

Arizona Supreme Court, James Beene's seat

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

It has been certified. Source

Montgomery's seat

Arizona Supreme Court, Bill Montgomery's seat

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

It has been certified. Source

Timmer's seat

Arizona Supreme Court, Ann Timmer's seat

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

It has been certified. Source



2020

See also: Arizona Supreme Court elections, 2020

Candidates and results

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

It has been certified. Source

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

It has 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

It has been certified. Source



2019

See also: Arizona Supreme Court justice vacancy (March 2019) and Arizona Supreme Court justice vacancy (July 2019)

Gov. Doug Ducey (R) appointed James Beene to the Arizona Supreme Court on April 26, 2019, to fill the seat vacated by former Justice John Pelander.[7] Beene was Ducey's fourth appointment to the seven-member court. Click here to read more about the vacancy.

Ducey also appointed Bill Montgomery (R) to the Arizona Supreme Court on September 4, 2019.[8] Montgomery replaced former Chief Justice Scott Bales, who retired on July 31, 2019. Montgomery was Ducey's fifth appointment on the seven-member court. Click here to read more about the vacancy.

2018

See also: Arizona Supreme Court elections, 2018

Candidates and results

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

It has been certified. Source

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

It has been certified. Source


2016

Justices who faced retention

■ Green check mark transparent.png Ann Timmer

Election results

November 8 general election

Ann Timmer was retained in the Arizona Supreme Court retention election with 76.71% of the vote.

Arizona Supreme Court, Timmer's seat, 2016
Name Yes votes
Green check mark transparent.pngAnn Timmer76.71%
Source: Arizona Secretary of State

2014

Retention

JudgeElection Vote
BalesScott Bales73.6% ApprovedA
BrutinelRobert Brutinel73.4% ApprovedA

2012

See also: Arizona judicial elections, 2012
John Pelander, Arizona Supreme Court, Justice Retention
2012 General election results[9]
Candidates Votes Percent
For retention Green check mark transparent.png 1,070,838 73.95%
Against retention 377,259 26.05%

2010

See also: Arizona judicial elections, 2010
Rebecca White Berch, Arizona Supreme Court, Justice Retention
2010 General election results[10]
Candidates Votes Percent
For retention Green check mark transparent.png 901,333 75.2%
Against retention 297,288 24.8%

2008

Scott Bales, Arizona Supreme Court, Justice Retention
2008 General election results[11]
Candidates Votes Percent
For retention Green check mark transparent.png 1,174,085 77.1%
Against retention 349,698 22.9%

2006

Andrew Hurwitz, Arizona Supreme Court, Justice Retention
2006 General election results[12]
Candidates Votes Percent
For retention Green check mark transparent.png 793,556 77.1%
Against retention 235,396 22.9%

See also

Arizona Judicial Selection More Courts
Seal of Arizona.png
Judicialselectionlogo.png
BP logo.png
Courts in Arizona
Arizona Court of Appeals
Arizona Supreme Court
Elections: 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017
Gubernatorial appointments
Judicial selection in Arizona
Federal courts
State courts
Local courts

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Arizona Judicial Branch, "Article 6, Section 36: Commission on appellate court appointments and terms, appointments and vacancies on commission," accessed March 24, 2023
  2. ↑ Arizona Judicial Branch, "Article 6, Section 37: Judicial vacancies and appointments; initial terms; residence; age," accessed March 24, 2023
  3. ↑ Arizona Judicial Branch, "AZ Supreme Court," accessed March 24, 2023
  4. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  5. ↑ Arizona Judicial Branch, "Meet The Justices," accessed March 24, 2023
  6. ↑ Brennan Center for Justice, "Judicial Selection: An Interactive Map," accessed March 23, 2023
  7. ↑ Office of the Governor Doug Ducey, "Governor Ducey Appoints James P. Beene To The Supreme Court Of Arizona," April 26, 2019
  8. ↑ Associated Press, "Ducey appoints Montgomery to Arizona Supreme Court," September 4, 2019
  9. ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "2012 General Election Results," December 3, 2021
  10. ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "2010 Generral Election Results," November 29, 2021
  11. ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "2008 Generral Election Results," December 1, 2008
  12. ↑ Arizona Secretary of State, "2004 Generral Election Results," December 4, 2006

Arizona courts

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

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