EIGHT IS ENOUGH: List of Possible Arizona Supreme Court Justices Cut In Half, Public Input Requested

And then there were eight. Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ann Timmer convened a rare meeting of the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments ("CACA")today, and they cut in half the list of candidates to replace the retiring Justice Robert Brutinel.

17 attorneys and judges submitted applications for the position last month. The Commission will interview the remaining eight in a public meeting on December 9. Written comments will be accepted until December 4.

The whittled down list includes two judges from the Court of Appeals (Maria Elena Cruz and Andrew Jacobs), attorneys from various local, state and tribal governments and two in private practice. Two list themselves as not being registered with a political party and the others are Democrats.

Here is the complete list: 

 • Maria Elena Cruz

• Nicole C. Davis

• D. Andrew Gaona

• Andrew M. Jacobs

• Doreen N. McPaul

• Regina L. Nassen

• Alexander W. Samuels

• Amy D. Sells

After the interviews, CACA will forward at least three names for Governor Katie Hobbs to choose from. There is no confirmation hearing, but thanks to voters' rejection of Proposition 317 this month, voters will have a chance to either retain or not retain the new Justice at the end of the six year term.

This will be the first Arizona Supreme Court appointment for a Democratic Governor in nearly 20 years, when Janet Napolitano appointed Scott Bales.

This article was reported by AZ Law founder Paul Weich. 

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