Pima County Superior Court Invites Public Input on Judge Candidates

Pima County Superior Court is soliciting public comments regarding 14 candidates who have applied for a judgeship, a position recently vacated by the retirement of Judge Kenneth Lee.

The court oversees a range of cases across criminal, civil, family law, juvenile, and probate divisions, staffed by 53 judicial officers.

In accordance with Arizona law, the Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments is tasked with recommending at least three candidates, ensuring that no more than 60 percent belong to the same political party as the governor.

The applicant pool consists of eight Democrats, four Republicans, and two independents. Notable candidates include Michael J. Martinez Areinoff, an independent and in-house counsel for the Tucson Unified School District; Walter I. Goncalves, Jr., a Democrat serving as a federal public defender; and Daniel R. Huff, a Republican who holds the position of Pima County Superior Court commissioner.

Other candidates include Laine P. McDonald, a Democratic town magistrate, and Maria A. Morlacci, a Democrat who works as an assistant attorney general. Nanette C. A. Morrow, a Republican and senior litigation counsel at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office; and Kristin J. Schriner, a Democrat and Pima County Superior Court commissioner, also feature prominently among the candidates.

Members of the public can submit comments via email at jnc@courts.az.gov or by mailing them to 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007. According to the court, anonymous comments will not be taken into consideration, and the deadline for submission is January 22.

A public meeting is scheduled for January 27, during which the Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments will review the applications and gather feedback from attendees. Following this meeting, interviews with the candidates will occur on February 24, after which recommendations will be submitted to Governor Katie Hobbs for final appointment.

To qualify for the judgeship, applicants must be at least 30 years old, hold a valid law license in Arizona, have been an Arizona resident for five years, and be a resident of Pima County for the past year. The current annual salary for a Superior Court judge is set at $190,000.