The search for new members of the Superior Court in Maricopa County is now open for public input as 14 candidates are being considered to fill the vacancies left by the retirements of Judges Timothy J. Ryan and John R. Hannah. Details made available on the Arizona Courts website provide insights into this critical public process. Community members have a window to review the list of applicants, which includes legal professionals Samin Adib, Ramsey K. Bronyah, Lindsey G. Coates, Harla M. Davison, Lindsay M. Hughes, Rebecca K. Jones, Utiki S. Laing, Addison B. Owen, Ashley B. Rahaman, Jessica S. Sanchez, Sarah E. Selzer, Jonathan C. Simon, B. Don Taylor III, and Kirsten J. Wright.
The Governor's Office is looking for feedback before the next phase of selection, according to an announcement by the Judicial Nominating Commission. The commission's interviews are scheduled for Nov. 18, 2025, providing a stage for candidates to demonstrate their aptitude for the judicial roles. The interviews will start bright and early at 9 a.m. in the conveniently located Conference Room 101 of the Arizona State Courts Building at 1501 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ. For those looking to digest the candidate's qualifications beforehand, the agenda will be posted on the Commission's website a week before the interviews.
In what seems to be a pillar of transparent governance, the public's voice will not go unheard. The Commission will welcome in-person commentary on the day of the interviews. Additionally, for those who prefer the written word, emails may be sent to [email protected] or, if one is inclined towards more traditional methods, mailed to the same address at Suite 221. To ensure consideration, make sure your comments are sent no later than Nov. 13, 2025. Keep in mind that, in the pursuit of transparency, anonymity just won't do – anonymous comments won't be part of the dialogue.
After all candidates have had their say and the community has weighed in, the Commission's responsibility culminates in a recommendation. They'll send Governor Katie Hobbs at least three nominees for each spot needing to be filled. It is then up to Gov. Hobbs to appoint new judges to the court, a move that carries weight in shaping the legal landscape of Maricopa County for years to come.
