Down Ballot Races: Judges

[QED]

4. Maricopa County Superior Court

Last edited Sun Oct 11, 2020, 01:02 PM - Edit history (1)

I'm just going to show the recommendations. If it's a no, I'll provide the rationale.

Name / Appointed by & Year / Current Assignment / Meets? / Recommended / Rationale if no

Jay R. Adleman Brewer 2013 Criminal Department 33 meets YES

Sara Agne Ducey 2018 Juvenile Department, Durango Facility 33 meets. YES with reservations
As attorney for the AZ Republican Party, argued that "ballot harvesting" prevented fraud, with no evidence of any actual fraud.

Justin Beresky Ducey 2018 "Criminal Department Northeast Regional Court Center" 33 meets. YES

Scott Blaney Ducey 2018 Family Bench, Northeast Regional Court Center 33 Meets however rated Unsatisfactory by 1 attorney in Deportment & Patience; Poorly rated by multiple litigants in Communication, Fairness/Impartiality, Equal Treatment by Gender, Temperament, and Administrative Performance.
YES with reservations Reservations based on Judicial Performance Review and 2012 case as National Guard JAG when Blaney dismissed accusations of retaliation against a whistleblower who reported that NG members were shooting paintballs and harassing homeless people from official vehicles. Later, several recruiters were dismissed or demoted as a result of the original charges.

Lori Horn Bustamante Brewer 2014 "Juvenile Department Juvenile Court Durango Facility" 33 meets. YES

Rodrick Coffey Brewer 2013 "Family Department Southeast Facility in Mesa" 33 meets. YES

Bruce Cohen Napolitano 2005 Family Department Presiding Judge 33 meets. YES

Suzanne Cohen Brewer 2012 "Criminal Department Phoenix" 32 meets, 1 does not meet YES with reservations Reservations based on Judicial Performance Report.
Lower ratings fall in Litigant witness surveys (13 returned); they indicate 77% integrity, 83% communication, 73% temperment, 82% admin performance. "

Connie Contes Jane Hull 2002 "Juvenile Department Southeast Facility in Mesa" 33 meets. YES

Christopher A. Coury Brewer 2010 "Civil Department Phoenix" 33 meets. NO
Ruled against Invest in Ed initiative in July 2020 with a disdainful, contemptuous, and unprofessional decision. The decision included conditions for the initiative's 100-word statement that were clearly unachievable. We believe that the judge's sneering comments in the decision and in court are unacceptable in the US justice system. "Coury has been relentless in his career for court appointments," wrote Dillon Rosenblatt in the Capitol Times (8/13/20). "It took him eight tries to land on the Superior Court."

Adam Driggs Ducey 2017 "Criminal Department Phoenix" 31 meets. 2 does not meet. YES with reservations Reservations based on Judicial Performance Report
Legal ability 89%, Admin Perf 87% by attorneys. Communication 85%, Admin Perf 89% by litigants.

Ronda Fisk Ducey 2017 Associate Presiding, Criminal Bench 33 meets. YES with reservations
Reservations based on Judicial Performance Report88% communication, 89% temperament by litigants

Pamela Gates Brewer 2009 Presiding Civil Department 33 meets. YES with reservations
Disqualified health care initiative from ballot in Aug 2020, stating 100-word description omitted key points, and also some signature gatherers did not show up when subpoenaed. Both of these tactics are commonly used to prevent citizens' initiatives from reaching the voters.

Jo Lynn Gentry Napolitano 2005 "Juvenile Department Juvenile Court Durango Facility" "26 meets. 6 does not meet. NO Recommendation based on poor Judicial Performance Report. Rated poorly on "basic fairness and impartiality," "equal treatment regardless of economic status." and "understanding and compassion."
Main concern is temperament: Rated 64% temperament by attorneys. Garnered ratings in all other areas in 80s, except 98% admin performance. Litigant ratings all in 90s."

Douglas Gerlach Brewer 2010 "Lower Court of Appeals Department Phoenix" Not listed. Has notified JPR that he will not be filing for retetion.

Michael Gordon Napolitano 2005 "Juvenile Department Juvenile Court Durango Facility" 33 meets. YES

John Hannah Napolitano 2005 "Civil Department Phoenix" 33 meets. YES

Michael Kemp Napolitano 2005 "Civil Department Phoenix" 33 meets. YES

Daniel Kiley Brewer 2010 Associate Presiding Civil Judge 33 meets. YES

Margaret Labianca Ducey 2018 "Family Department Phoenix"33 meets. YES

Todd Lang Ducey 2016 "Juvenile Department Juvenile Court Durango Facility" 33 meets. YES

Margaret R. Mahoney Hull 2002 "Civil Department Phoenix" 33 meets. YES

Michael Mandell Ducey 2017 "Family Department Phoenix" 33 meets. YES

Suzanne Marwil Ducey 2018 Family Court 33 meets. YES

Scott McCoy Brewer 2005 Civil Dept, Juvenile Court, Durango Facility 33 meets. YES

Kathleen Mead Brewer 2013 Criminal Dept, Phoenix 33 meets. YES

Joseph P. Mikitish Brewer 2013 Civil Dept, Phoenix 33 meets. YES

Scott Minder Ducey 2016 Criminal Dept, Phoenix 33 meets. YES

Karen Mullins Napolitano 2006 "Juvenile Department Juvenile Court Durango Facility" 33 meets. YES

Jose Padilla Napolitano 2005 Not listed. Will not be filing for retention.

David Palmer Brewer 2009 "Civil Department Southeast Facility in Mesa" 33 meets. YES

Adele Ponce Ducey 2018 Family Department, Southeast Facility in Mesa 33 meets, however rated poorly by attorneys on Legal Ability (81%), including 5/20 Poor/Unsatisfactory in Legal Reasoning and 4/20 Poor/Unsatisfactory in Knowledge of Substantive Law. Also 83% overall in Communication. YES with reservations Reservations based on Judicial Performance Report

Timothy J. Ryan Napolitano 2005 Criminal Department, Phoenix 33 meets. YES

Teresa Sanders Hull 2001 "Criminal Department Phoenix" 33 meets. YES

Patricia Starr Brewer 2014 Criminal Presiding Judge 33 meets. YES

Sherry K. Stephens Hull 2001 "Civil Department Phoenix" 33 meets. YES with reservations
Handling of 2015 Jody Arias trial was highly concerning with regard to judge's ability to control a courtroom in contentious situations. 2018 ruling with regard to strict compliance for initiative petitions strengthened an obstacle to citizens' initiatives.

Timothy Thomason Brewer 2014 "Civil Department Phoenix" 33 meets. YES

Peter Thompson Brewer 2010 "Criminal Department Phoenix" 33 meets. YES

David K. Udall Hull 2001 "Juvenile Department Southeast Facility in Mesa" 33 meets. YES

Lisa Ann Vandenberg Ducey 2018 Family/Presiding Judge Northwest 33 meets. YES

Kevin Wein Ducey 2018 "Family Department Phoenix" 33 meets. YES

Christopher Whitten Napolitano 2006 "Juvenile Department Phoenix" 33 meets. YES

on edit: missed Adleman when first compiled