Eight Supreme Court Contenders Move Forward to Critical Screening Panel Interviews

A panel responsible for screening candidates for the Arizona Supreme Court has narrowed down the list of applicants to eight semi-finalists as of Friday. This selection follows the retirement of Republican Justice Robert Brutinel, who served the high court for 14 years and was a judge for 28 years overall.

Governor Katie Hobbs is set to make history as the first Democrat to appoint a justice to Arizona’s Supreme Court in over 15 years. Brutinel was previously appointed by Republican Governor Jan Brewer in 2010, while Justice Scott Bales, the last Democrat-appointed judge, was placed on the court in 2005 by then-Gov. Janet Napolitano.

The nonpartisan Commission on Appellate Court Appointments made its selection from 17 applicants. In a move toward public engagement, the commission is inviting comments on the candidates prior to interviews scheduled for December 9. After these interviews, at least three nominees will be forwarded to Hobbs for her selection.

Notably, the commission must include at least one nominee from a different political party than Hobbs, reflecting the state’s commitment to political balance on the bench.

The eight semi-finalists are:

Maria Elena Cruz: A Yuma County Democrat and Arizona judge since 2005, currently serving on the Arizona Court of Appeals. Cruz has also worked with the Yuma County Superior Court and the Yuma and Pima county attorney’s offices.

Nicole C. Davis: An independent from Maricopa County, she serves as the deputy director and general counsel for the Arizona Department of Economic Security, previously holding a similar position under Gov. Napolitano.

D. Andrew Gaona: A Democrat and partner at Coppersmith Brockelman in Maricopa County. His notable work includes representing Democrats such as Hobbs against Republican Kari Lake’s legal challenges from the 2022 gubernatorial race.

Andrew M. Jacobs: Appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals in March 2023, this Maricopa County Democrat was previously a partner at Snell and Wilmer for two decades.

Doreen N. McPaul: An assistant legislative attorney for the Tohono O’odham Nation, McPaul, a member of the Navajo Nation, previously served as attorney general for her tribe.

Regina L. Nassen: This Pima County independent works as an assistant city attorney in Tucson and has held various roles within the Pima County Attorney’s Office.

Alexander W. Samuels: A Democrat and deputy solicitor general for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Samuels has extensive experience with the United States Attorney’s Office.

Amy D. Sells: A Maricopa County Democrat, Sells practices civil litigation and appeals at Tiffany & Bosco in Phoenix, where she has been engaged with numerous law firms since 2005.

Public comments on the applicants are welcomed until December 4. Written submissions can be sent via email to [email protected] or mailed to 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

For those wishing to provide feedback in person, a hearing will be held on December 9 at 8:30 a.m. in conference room 101 of the Arizona State Courts Building, located at 1501 W. Washington St. in Phoenix.