Coconino County is searching for a new jurist to join the bench, and the public has received an invitation to weigh in on the matter. Six candidates have emerged to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Hon. Cathleen Brown Nichols on the Superior Court. Detailed profiles of each applicant, which include Rhys S. Campbell, Charles W. Doughty, Brent D. Harris, Neil E. Sherman, Marianne E. Sullivan, and Adam K. Zickerman, are now available for public scrutiny on the Arizona Judicial Branch's website.
As mandated by protocol, the Coconino County Commission on Trial Court Appointments is set to consider the totality of skill and merit exhibited by the candidates and has scheduled a public meeting for December 19. Interested parties can find the schedule and agenda for this meeting online at least seven days prior. Comments can be submitted via email or post, however, it is worth noting that for the comments to be included in the deliberative process they must be submitted by the December 16 deadline. Anonymity will strip any contribution of its value in this civic conversation.
Insights gleaned from the participatory element of this procedural dance are critical. Following the collation of public input, the Coconino County Commission on Trial Court Appointments will decide which applicants should proceed to the interview round. These interviews, set to occur on January 9, 2025, are a step closer to the seat of justice. The exact framework for this occasion will be clarified following the December 19 meeting. Further information can be sought through the provided link to the official call for public comment.
