Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs will select a new judge for Division One of the Arizona Court of Appeals following the departure of Hon. Paul J. McMurdie. The Commission on Appellate Court Appointments has identified 10 potential successors, whose names and professional affiliations were made public.
According to the Arizona Court, the nominees include Molly P. Brizgys, an Independent at Mitchell Stein Carey Chapman, PC; Sheena S. Chiang, of the Law Office of Sheena Chiang, PLLC and affiliated with the Democratic Party; D. Andrew Gaona of Coppersmith Brockelman, PLC; and Grace M. Guisewite from the Maricopa County Office of the Legal Advocate. The commission emphasized the candidates’ professional experience over political affiliation.
The remaining nominees include Karen L. Johnson Stillwell, Alice M. Jones, and Alexander W. Samuels, with experience in city government and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office; Mikel P. Steinfeld and Barry G. Stratford, with backgrounds at the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office and Perkins Coie, LLP, respectively; and Erik Thorson, a Maricopa County Superior Court Judge.
Applications for all nominees are available on the Commission’s website. Governor Hobbs’ selection for the appellate court is expected to attract public attention.
