Cochise County takes the steps necessary to fill the imminent vacancy in its Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3, following the announced resignation of Justice of the Peace Staggs. Come November 12, 2024, Staggs, who has been serving since 2014, will step down, prompting the Cochise County Board of Supervisors to open the floor for applicants interested in fulfilling the remaining term through December 31, 2026. This process, governed by Arizona Revised Statute 16-230 (A) (2), requires that the successor be a member of the same political party as their predecessor, in this case, a Republican.
Following the outlined procedure, a Justice of the Peace Court Selection Committee will be created to comb through all applications, conduct interviews with a select few, and put forward recommendations to the Board. The Board is tasked with interviewing the applicants and casting their final vote in an open meeting. Individuals eyeing this position need to check off a list of statutory requirements—they must be legal residents of Arizona living within the specified precinct, registered to vote, capable of reading and writing English, be at least 18 years of age, and a registered Republican. Details about the duties of the Justice of the Peace can be perused in Title 22 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. According to Cochise County's announcement, the deadline for submissions is by 5:00 PM on September 18, 2024.
Prospective candidates are required to submit letters of interest and résumés to the Clerk of the Board and include necessary details such as their address, party affiliation, and contact information. All applicant names will be publicly posted in line with the stipulations of the Open Meeting Law. Furthermore, sessions with both the Court Selection Committee and the Board of Supervisors will be publicly announced 24 hours in advance to honor the requirements of the Open Meeting Law.
Those with inquiries are encouraged to reach out to Lara Loewenheim, the Clerk of the Board, via email at [email protected] or by dialing (520) 432-9200.
