Governor Katie Hobbs is making moves to fill the void in Maricopa County Superior Court, as she announced the appointment of three new judges to the bench. According to a press release from her office, Janette Corral, Nicole Hartley, and Brian Palmer are the chosen legal professionals poised to take on the robes.
The three bring a diverse set of backgrounds to the roles, with Corral and Hartley both hailing from Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law and boasting significant experience within the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office. Palmer, having graduated from the University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law, brings a different perspective with over a decade in private practice focusing on civil and commercial litigation. The appointments are set to effectively begin to replace the retired Judges Bruce R. Cohen, Jo Lynn Gentry, and Lisa A. VandenBerg.
Janette Corral's decade-long tenure in the Maricopa County court system includes assignments such as a Deputy Public Defender and an attorney in the Criminal Mental Health Unit. She has recently held the position of Commissioner for the Maricopa County Superior Court, a role she's excelled in for four years. Nicole Hartley, on the other hand, has served as Commissioner since 2021 and has over 10 years of experience as a Deputy Public Defender.
Brian Palmer's path diverges from the public defense arena, as his expertise lies in civil and commercial litigation from his time in private practice. His transition into public service saw him appointed as Senior Civil Litigation Counsel for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, before taking on the role of Commissioner for the Maricopa County Superior Court in 2020. Palmer is expected to bring a rich insight into the private sector's workings to further inform his new position on the Superior Court bench.
