Five Nominees Sent to Governor for Justice Pelander’s Vacancy – 3/1/2019

March 6, 2019

The Commission on Appellate Court Appointments has sent five nominees to Governor Ducey to fill Justice Pelander’s seat on the Arizona Supreme Court.

On March 1, 2019, the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments narrowed the list of eleven nominees to fill Justice Pelander’s seat on the Arizona Supreme Court down to five.  The Commission advanced the following individuals:

  • James P. Beene, an Arizona Court of Appeals Judge (Division One)
  • Kent E. Cattani, an Arizona Court of Appeals Judge (Division One)
  • Maria Elena Cruz, an Arizona Court of Appeals Judge (Division One)
  • Richard E. Gordon, a Pima County Superior Court Judge
  • Andrew M. Jacobs of Snell & Wilmer, LLP

Governor Ducey has 60 days to appoint the new justice.  If the Governor does not make an appointment within 60 days, the task falls to Chief Justice Bales.