Pima County asking for public comments on candidates for vacancy in Superior Court

A Pima County commission is asking for public comments on ten candidates to fill a vacancy on the Superior Court in Pima County created by the retirement of Hon. Peter W. Hochuli.

The court consists of 53 judicial officers who preside over cases involving criminal, civil, family law, juvenile, and probate matters.

Arizona law requires the Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments to recommend at least three candidates, and no more than 60 percent of those selected can be from the same political party as the governor.

The applicants are six Democrats, three Republicans, and one independent:

• Caroline S. Allen – Democrat, assistant to United States attorney, United States Attorney’s Office
• Michael J. Martinez Areinoff – Independent, in-house counsel for Tucson Unified School District and former public defender.
• Soo C. Conatser – Republican, hearing officer, Pima County Superior Court
• Daniel R. Huff – Republican, Pima County Superior Court commissioner and former private attorney.
• Nicholas A. Knauer – Democrat, commissioner for the Pima County Superior Court, family law.
• Derek J. Koltunovich – Democrat, commissioner for the Pima County Superior Court, family law.
• Nanette C. A. Morrow – Republican, senior litigation counsel, Arizona Attorney General’s Office.
• James W. Rappaport – Democrat, deputy county attorney at the Pima County Attorney’s Office Appeals Section
• Nicole P. Savel, Democrat, assistant U.S. attorney with the District of Arizona.
• Antonio Lopez Zapata, Democrat, legal advisor for the Tucson Police Department and former public defender.

Several of the applicants were considered during May’s efforts to replace outgoing Judge James Marner.

Interviews will be conducted by the commission on July 28, at the Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites, 5151 E. Grant Rd., starting at 8:30 a.m. The public is welcome to address the commission in person at that meeting. The interview agenda will be posted at least seven days prior to the meeting.

The public can also submit written comments via email to [email protected] or be mailed to 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ 85007. The deadline for public comments is July 23.

After the meeting, the commission will make three recommendations to Gov. Katie Hobbs, who will appoint the new judge.

Applicants must be at least 30 years old, licensed to practice law in Arizona, an Arizona resident for the past five years, and a Pima County resident for the past year. As of the beginning of this year, the annual salary for a Superior Court judge is $190,000.