Arizona Supreme Court elections, 2026
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The term of one Arizona Supreme Court justice will expire on January 4, 2027. The one seat is up for retention election on November 3, 2026. The filing deadline is September 4, 2026.
Judges with expiring terms
- This is a list of the justices who must stand for retention election in 2026 in order to remain on the bench. Justices may choose not to stand for election. The list is subject to change if justices retire or are appointed.
Candidates and results
Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:
- Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
- Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies
John Lopez IV's seat
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
Voting information
- See also: Voting in Arizona
Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.
About the Arizona Supreme Court
- See also: Arizona Supreme Court
The Arizona Supreme Court is composed of seven justices who are appointed by the governor and then must stand for retention by voters thereafter. A full term on the court is six years.
Political composition
This is the political composition of the court heading into the 2026 election.
| ■ James P. Beene | Appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey (R) in 2019, and retained in 2022 | |
| ■ Clint Bolick | Appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey (R) in 2016, and retained in 2018 | |
| ■ Kathryn Hackett King | Appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey (R) in 2021 | |
| ■ John Lopez IV | Appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey (R) in 2016, and retained in 2020 | |
| ■ Bill Montgomery | Appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey (R) in 2019, and retained in 2022 | |
| ■ Ann Timmer | Appointed by Gov. Jan Brewer (R) in 2012, and retained in 2016 and 2022 | |
| ■ Maria Elena Cruz | Appointed by Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) in 2025 |
Selection
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.
See also
External links
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
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