AZ Supreme Court justices

Andrew Hurwitz
Extremely liberal.
Napolitano appointee - 2003
FOJ (Friend of Janet) - co-chair of her transition team to Governor's office.
Chief of staff to Democrat governors Bruce Babbit and Rose Mofford.
Worked at criminal defense firm Osborn Maledon.
On board of directors of left wing Children's Action Alliance.
On board of directors of left wing Center for the Public Interest.

Rebecca Berch Presiding Justice UP FOR RETENTION ELECTION
Moderate to liberal.
Hull appointee - 2002

Berch has presided over a Supreme Court that is soft on the death penalty, gutted the hour restrictions on strip clubs, added a requirement that prosecutors prove aggravating factors before trial in death penalty cases (another activist ruling that slows these already slow cases), presided over the chaos in the Maricopa County courts and refused to do anything about it. Under Berch, the Arizona Supreme Court tilts left on key issues related to crime and values. It has allowed a left-wing State Bar that it supervisors to run wild and become corrupted.

Came down on the prolife side of a decision involving taxpayer funding of abortions.

Ruth McGregor
Extremely liberal.
Hull appointee - 1998

Came down on the pro-abortion side of a decision involving taxpayer funding of abortions.

Michael Ryan
Conservative.
Hull appointee- 2002
Former prosecutor and Marine.

Scott Bales*
Extremely liberal.
Napolitano appointee - 2005
FOJ (Friend of Janet), worked with her at the AG's office and at her law firm Lewis & Roca
Active in the left wing Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education, won the criminal defense Foundation for Justice award.

AZ Court of Appeals judges

Division I

Dan Barker UP FOR RETENTION ELECTION
Conservative.
Appointed by Governor Hull in 2001.
Former attorney in private practice and Superior Court judge.

Michael Brown UP FOR RETENTION ELECTION
Moderate. Old Arizona Democrat style.
Appointed by Governor Napolitano in 2007.

Margaret Downie
Liberal.
Appointed in 2008 by Governor Napolitano.
Experienced trial judge.

John Gemmill UP FOR RETENTION ELECTION
Moderate to conservative - due to his libertarian persuasion.
Appointed by Governor Hull in 2001.
On the board of directors for Moon Valley Bible Church and Christian Family Care Agency.
Chief Judge of the division.

Philip Hall UP FOR RETENTION ELECTION
Conservative.
Appointed by Governor Hull in 2001.
Former prosecutor and Superior Court judge.

Pat Irvine UP FOR RETENTION ELECTION
Moderate Democrat.
Appointed by Governor Jane Hull in 2002.
Generally well-liked.

Diane Johnsen
Very liberal.
Appointed by Napolitano in 2006.
Board member of the left wing Center for Law and the Public Interest for years, board member of left wing Children's Action Alliance.
Has virtually no trial experience or criminal law experience, former law partner with liberal Supreme Court Justices Hurwitz and Bales at left-leaning Osborn Maledon.
Currently being considered for a Supreme Court appointment.

Donn Kessler
Moderate Democrat
Extensive trial experience.

Patricia Norris
Very liberal.
Appointed in 2003 by Governor Napolitano.

Patricia Orozco
Very liberal.
Appointed in 2004 by Governor Napolitano.
Former staff attorney with left-leaning Legal Aid.

Maurice Portley
Moderate Democrat.
Appointed in 2003 by Governor Napolitano.
Experienced trial judge and former JAG attorney.

Peter Swann
Liberal to moderate.
Appointed in 2008 by Governor Napolitano.
Very experienced trial judge.

Ann Scott Timmer
Very liberal.
Appointed in 2000 by Governor Jane Hull.
Assisted in impeachment of Governor Evan Mecham, former President of left-leaning Arizona Women Lawyers Association, served on board of left-leaning Community Legal Services.

Jon Thompson UP FOR RETENTION ELECTION
Conservative.
Appointed by Governor Symington in 1995.
Former prosecutor and Superior Court judge.

Sheldon Weisberg
Moderate to conservative.
Appointed in 1992 by Governor Fife Symington.

Lawrence Winthrop UP FOR RETENTION ELECTION

Liberal Republican who almost changed parties and became a Democrat.
Appointed in 2002 by Governor Jane Hull.

Division 2 (southern half of Arizona)

NOT CLEAR IF ANY ARE UP FOR RETENTION ELECTION

William Brammer
Moderate.
Appointed in 1997

Peter Eckerstrom
Extremely liberal
Appointed by Napolitano in 2003.
Entire background is criminal defense.

Philip Espinosa
Conservative.
Appointed in 1992 by Governor Fife Symington.

Virginia Kelly
Brand-new judge appointed by Brewer in 2009, don't have any information on her.

Garye Vasquez
Extremely liberal.
Appointed by Napolitano in 2005.