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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

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
Previous election results


See also

Arizona Judicial Selection More Courts
Seal of Arizona.png
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Courts in Arizona
Arizona Court of Appeals
Arizona Supreme Court
Elections: 2026 • 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

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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