The Governor's Office has scheduled interviews for an upcoming judicial appointment to the Yuma County Superior Court. In an effort for transparency and public involvement, the process has been opened to public observation and comment. As reported by the Office of Governor Katie Hobbs, the interviews are slated to occur on Monday, October 27, 2025, inside Courtroom 316 of the Yuma County Historic Courthouse located at 250 W. 2nd Street in Yuma, AZ.
This initiative aligns with the office's approach to fill the bench vacancy following Judge Lawrence C. Kenworthy's retirement. Two candidates, Eliza B. Johnson and Claudia M. González Jiménez, will partake in the interviews at 1:10 PM and 1:30 PM, respectively. In keeping with the state's constitutional mandates, while judges in less populous areas are typically elected, gubernatorial appointments are made in instances when a judge retires or resigns until a general election can be held.
In advance of the interviews, a public comment period has been scheduled for 12:30 PM, inviting citizens to voice their opinions on the judicial hopefuls. Additionally, the option to mail written commentary to [email protected] has been extended to the public. For those wishing to peruse the applicants' portfolios, they're accessible online at the Governor's official website. Stakeholders and community members are asked to ensure their written feedback is submitted by October 31, 2025, to be considered in the appointment process.
The public's ability to participate in the selection of their judiciary is an integral component of a transparent legal system. The forthcoming interviews are not just a mere procedural formality but a stage for community engagement in shaping the justice delivered in Arizona's corridors of power. The full details of the interview schedule and associated logistics can be found on the Governor's official website.
