Board to consider pro tem Superior Court judge appointment; supervisors ask for more background ahead of vote

Court administration briefed the Board of Supervisors Oct. 2 on the process used to select a Superior Court pro tem to replace retired Judge Terry Bannon and said the county’s selection committee received 14 applications and interviewed finalists before forwarding a recommendation to the presiding judge and the Arizona Supreme Court.

Staff described a selection committee process defined by an administrative order and the state’s code of judicial administration: committee membership includes judges, two public members, two attorneys and an additional committee member; the committee narrowed applicants to finalists and conducted interviews before recommending a candidate to the presiding judge, who then forwarded a recommendation to the Arizona Supreme Court for an administrative appointment.

County staff said the Supreme Court issues the administrative order for the appointment and that the board’s approval of the recommended candidate is part of the local process; if the board does not approve the candidate, the selection committee will reconvene and put another finalist forward. The position is an annually renewed pro tem appointment rather than an elected seat.

Supervisor questions at the Oct. 2 session focused on the role and permanency of a recurring pro tem position versus an elected judge or a formal additional judicial division. Several supervisors asked staff to provide the candidates’ resumes and application materials ahead of the board’s regular meeting so supervisors can review qualifications before voting.