ANNOUNCING:

Applications are being accepted for a vacancy on the Superior Court in Maricopa County created by the retirement of Judge Carey Snyder Hyatt.

An original completed application, 5 double-sided copies, and one (1) single-sided copy must be received by the Human Resources Department, Administrative Office of the Courts, 1501 West Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007, no later than 3:00 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2015.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must be at least 30 years of age, of good moral character, admitted to the practice of law in and a resident of Arizona for the past five years, a resident of Maricopa County for the past year, and under age 65 at the time the nomination is submitted to the Governor.

APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM:
Human Resources Department – OR – by calling (602) 452-3311
Administrative Office of the Courts
1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, – OR – by sending an E-mail request to:
Phoenix jnc@courts.az.gov
– OR – at the Judicial Department website: www.azcourts.gov/jnc

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS VACANCY:

Applicants for the recent vacancies in Maricopa County DO NOT need to reapply to be considered for the new vacancy.

All written comments about applicants should be directed to the Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments, c/o Blanca Moreno, Administrative Office of the Courts, 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007. All comments received at that address will be distributed to all commission members. Applicants are asked to limit solicited reference letters to a maximum of 12, from a diverse group of people who are well-acquainted with the applicant. All letters timely submitted will be forwarded to all commissioners.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
To comment on issues relevant to the vacant judgeship or on a particular applicant, submit a written statement to the Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments, Attn: Blanca Moreno, 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007. An opportunity for public comment will also be scheduled at both Commission meetings about this vacancy.

SELECTION PROCESS:
The Arizona Constitution requires the Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments to submit at least three nominees to the Governor within 60 days of the effective date of each vacancy. The Governor has 60 days in which to make a selection from the nominees submitted by the Commission. To obtain the procedures of the Commissions on Appellate and Trial Court Appointments or a list of Commission members call (602) 452-3311 or visit the website: www.azcourts.gov/jnc.

At its first meeting, the Commission reviews the applications and determines which applicants will be interviewed. That meeting and the subsequent interviews are open to the public, and voting on the nominations is conducted in a public session. News releases announcing the meetings will be issued at least one week prior to each meeting.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:
The annual salary of a Superior Court judge is $145,000. Superior Court judges are eligible to enroll in State and/or County benefit plans.

JUDICIAL RETENTION:
Each judge is subject to an unopposed, nonpartisan retention election at the first general election held at least two years after he or she takes office. To be retained, a judge must receive a majority of affirmative votes cast. Following the first retention election, Superior Court judges stand for retention election every four years.

JUDICIAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW:
The Arizona Constitution requires that justices and judges undergo a performance review before each retention election, the results of which are disseminated to voters before the election. The Supreme Court adopts the rules that govern judicial performance review, a copy of which can be obtained by calling (602) 452-3311. The standards adopted by the Supreme Court and the Commission on Judicial Performance Review for evaluating justices and judges are:

“The judge shall administer justice fairly, ethically, uniformly, promptly and efficiently. The judge shall be free from personal bias in decision making, shall decide cases based on proper application of law and procedure to the facts, and shall issue prompt, clear rulings and decisions that demonstrate competent legal analysis. The judge shall act with dignity, courtesy and patience. The judge shall effectively manage the courtroom and discharge the administrative responsibilities of the office.”