Three Candidates Nominated to Fill Pima County Superior Court Vacancy by Governor Hobbs

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs is set to appoint a new judge for the Pima County Superior Court from three nominees recommended by the Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments.

The commission announced its selections on Tuesday following a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Javier Chon-Lopez earlier this year. In a bid to ensure the most qualified candidates, the commission opened the floor for public input on five initial applicants before conducting interviews on Monday.

The three recommended nominees include Sandra M. Bensley, a Democrat currently serving as a commissioner in the Pima County Superior Court. Appointed in June, Bensley has a background as an assistant public defender in the Pima County Public Defender’s Office and previously worked as an assistant city prosecutor in Glendale.

Another nominee, Lauri J. Owen, brings a unique perspective to the table as a former deputy sheriff from Ada County, Idaho. With two decades of legal experience, her background includes serving as an assistant attorney general in Alaska and working as an attorney for Cochise County. Notably, Owen identifies as a political independent and currently operates her own private legal practice.

The third nominee, Kristen J. Schriner, has amassed 16 years of legal experience and was appointed as a Pima County Superior Court commissioner in 2022. Schriner is also affiliated with the Democratic Party.

Governor Hobbs will now review the nominees and make her decision to fill the judicial vacancy.