Senior judges:
Susan Bolton,David Bury,David G. Campbell,Raner Collins,Cindy Jorgenson,Frederick Martone,Stephen McNamee,Douglas Rayes,Roslyn Silver,G. Murray Snow,James A. Soto,James Teilborg,Neil Wake,Frank Zapata

Jennifer Zipps

Barack Obama (D)

University of Arizona, 1986

Georgetown University Law Center, 1990

Diane Humetewa

Barack Obama (D)

Arizona State University, 1987

Arizona State University, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, 1993

John Tuchi

Barack Obama (D)

West Virginia University, 1987

Arizona State University Law School, 1994

Steven Logan

Barack Obama (D)

University of Louisville, 1988

University of Oklahoma College of Law, 1992

Rosemary Marquez

Barack Obama (D)

University of Arizona, 1990

University of Arizona Law, 1993

Dominic Lanza

Donald Trump (R)

Dartmouth College, 1998

Harvard Law School, 2002

Susan Brnovich

Donald Trump (R)

University of Wisconsin, 1990

University of Wisconsin Law School, 1994

Michael Liburdi

Donald Trump (R)

Arizona State University, 1998

Arizona State University, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, 2002

Scott Rash

Donald Trump (R)

University of Arizona, 1985

University of Arizona College of Law, 1991

John Hinderaker

Donald Trump (R)

University of California, Santa Barbara, 1991

University of Arizona College of Law, 1996

Krissa Lanham

Joe Biden (D)

Yale University, 2002

Yale University, 2007

Angela Martinez

Joe Biden (D)

University of Arizona, 1995

University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, 2000

Sharad Desai

Joe Biden (D)

University of Arizona, 2003

New York University School of Law, 2006

Stephen McNamee

George H.W. Bush (R)

University of Cincinnati, 1964

University of Arizona College of Law, 1969

Frank Zapata

Bill Clinton (D)

University of Arizona, 1966

University of Arizona College of Law, 1973

David Bury

George W. Bush (R)

Oklahoma State University, 1964

University of Arizona College of Law, 1967

Frederick Martone

George W. Bush (R)

College of the Holy Cross, 1965

University of Notre Dame, 1972

James Teilborg

Bill Clinton (D)

University of Arizona College of Law, 1966

Roslyn Silver

Bill Clinton (D)

University of California, Santa Barbara, 1968

Arizona State University Law School, 1971

Neil Wake

George W. Bush (R)

Arizona State University, 1971

Harvard Law School, 1974

Susan Bolton

Bill Clinton (D)

University of Iowa, 1973

University of Iowa College of Law, 1975

Cindy Jorgenson

George W. Bush (R)

University of Arizona, 1974

University of Arizona College of Law, 1977

David G. Campbell

George W. Bush (R)

University of Utah, 1976

University of Utah College of Law, 1979

Raner Collins

Bill Clinton (D)

Arkansas Polytechnic College, 1973

University of Arizona College of Law, 1975

Douglas Rayes

Barack Obama (D)

Arizona State University, 1975

Arizona State University Law School, 1978

James A. Soto

Barack Obama (D)

Arizona State University, 1971

Arizona State University Law School, 1975

G. Murray Snow

Brigham Young University, 1984

Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School, 1987

D. Thomas Ferraro

Northern Arizona University, 1977

California Western Law School, 1980

Jacqueline Marshall Rateau

University of Arizona

Michelle Burns

University of Michigan, 1981

University of Toledo, 1985

James F. Metcalf

University of Arkansas, Little Rock

Bruce G. Macdonald

University of Arizona, 1982

University of Arizona, 1985

Leslie A. Bowman

University of Arizona

University of Arizona

Eric J. Markovich

Ohio University, 1989

Syracuse University Law, 1992

John Z. Boyle

University of Arizona

Eileen Willett

University of Georgia, 1980

Rutgers School of Law, 1984

Deborah M. Fine

State University of New York, Stony Brook, 1986

Harvard Law School, 1989

Lynnette Kimmins

Arizona State University, 1988

University of Arizona, 1992

Camille Bibles

College of Idaho, 1983

College of William & Mary, 1987

Maria Aguilera

University of Arizona

Michael Morrissey

University of Virginia, 1983

University of Virginia School of Law, 1987

Alison Bachus

University of Illinois, 1999

University of Arizona College of Law, 2005

• Raner Collins (2013-2018)
• Roslyn Silver (2011-2013)
• John Roll (2006-2011)
• Stephen McNamee (1999-2006)
• Robert Broomfield (1994-1999)
• William Browning (1990-1994)

• Richard Bilby (1984-1990)
• Charles Muecke (1979-1984)
• Walter Craig (1973-1979)
• James A. Walsh (1961-1972)

Source:United States Courts, "Explanation of the Judicial Caseload Profiles for United States District Courts," accessed September 25, 2018

On July 11, 2014, JudgeNeil Wake ruled against postponing the execution of Arizona death-row inmate Joseph Wood, saying his lack of access to details about the drug protocol for his execution was not a violation of the First Amendment.^[8]

In his opinion, Wake found that Wood had already been provided with enough information related to his execution, such as the type of drugs that would be used, the specific dosage, and the drugs’ expiration dates. He wrote that this information was “sufficient for an ‘informed public debate’” over their usage.^[8]

Wood continued to seek additional information and appealed to theNinth Circuit, where a divided panel composed of JudgesJay Bybee,Ronald Gould, andSidney Thomas delayed the death row inmate’s execution on July 19, 2014. The judges cited Wood'sFirst Amendment right to obtain more knowledge about the way in which he would be killed, including the qualifications and certifications of the personnel who would perform the execution. This was the first time that an appellate court ruled that a prisoner had the right to obtain such explicit details about the manner in which he would be executed.^[9]

Arizona officials filed a motion for reconsideration of the panel’s ruling en banc, which waslater denied by the judges of the Ninth Circuit on July 21, 2014, although the decision was divided. Arizona then filed a motion with theSupreme Court of the United States to lift the Ninth Circuit's stay, and the high court granted that motion.^[10]

On July 23, 2014, Wood was executed. The procedure, which was supposed to take 10 to 15 minutes, took almost two hours. Wood reportedly gasped for the duration of the execution process, which led his attorney tofile an emergency appeal with Judge Wake, as he believed his client was still alive. In it, the attorney wrote that the execution “violated Mr. Wood’s Eighth Amendment right to be executed in the absence of cruel and unusual punishment” and requested that the Arizona Department of Corrections save Wood’s life. His attorney also called Supreme Court JusticeAnthony Kennedy and three justices of the Arizona Supreme Court in an attempt to get the courts to intervene.^[11]

Wood died before any judge could intervene, and Justice Kennedy eventually denied the request.^[11] Arizona temporarily halted executions in the state.^[12]

JudgeMurray Snow presided over a case on whether to impose sanctions against Maricopa County SheriffJoe Arpaio and his department. The department was sued over its alleged widespread use of racial profiling against Hispanics. The District of Arizona imposed a preliminary injunction against Sheriff Arpaio and his department, disallowing them from detaining individuals based on their suspicions of citizenship. This decision was reconsidered by theNinth Circuit Court of Appeals, which affirmed the lower court's ruling.^[13]

JudgeNeil Wake denied a preliminary injunction that would have ceased or delayed two executions following changes to the lethal injection protocol used by the Arizona Department of Corrections.^[14]

The federal defender had argued the changes gave too much power to the corrections director, decreased the qualifications of executioners, and eliminated the opportunity for an inmate to meet with his attorneys in person on the day he was scheduled to be executed. The request was denied by Wake, who had previously ruled in December of 2011 that the Corrections Department did not violate a prisoner's right in following its own department protocol.^[14]

JudgeSusan Bolton dismissed a lawsuit filed by Arizona on January 4, 2012, arguing that a state law passed by voters in 2010 legalizing medical marijuana put state workers at risk for federal prosecution and imprisonment due to conflict with federal drug law. Arizona GovernorJan Brewer (R), who opposed the measure, sought to block the creation of marijuana dispensaries allowed by the law, claiming that state employees charged with regulating the dispensaries were at risk for federal prosecution. Bolton ruled that the state had not established a “genuine threat of imminent prosecution” and dismissed the case.^[15]

In July 2012, JudgeJames Teilborg ruled that an Arizona state law prohibiting abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, except in medical emergencies, was constitutional because women were still able to have abortions earlier. Previously, Arizona banned most abortions after viability at 24 weeks. Two groups announced their intention to appeal the decision to theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, stating that Judge Teilborg's ruling ignored constitutional precedent.^[16]

In May 2013, the Ninth Circuit ruled the law was unconstitutional “under a long line of invariant Supreme Court precedents” that a woman had a right to end a pregnancy before viability.^[17]

TheUnited States Department of Justice suedArizona to court to challenge an immigration law scheduled to take effect on July 29, 2010. In the ruling, JudgeSusan Bolton upheld parts of the law, while striking down others.

In summary, the following provisions were upheld:

• Arizona could restrict local officials from creatingsanctuary city policies that limit enforcement of the law;

• Arizona state officials could work with the federal government on illegal immigration; and

• It was a crime to employ day laborers, often individuals residing in the U.S. without legal permission, that wait for work in public areas.^[18]

The following were parts of the law that were blocked by the decision:

• Arizona could not criminalize individuals for failing to have alien registration papers on them; and

• Arizona could not authorize "the warrantless arrest of a person" if law officials believed he or she was in the county illegally.^[19]

Arizona appealed the ruling in theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The Ninth Circuit upheld Bolton's ruling on April 1, 2011.^[20]

Read the Ninth Circuit opinion here:USA v. State of Arizona

Arizona counter-suit

OnOctober 21, 2011, Bolton dismissed a lawsuit filed by Gov.Jan Brewer (R) against the federal government as a countersuit. Brewer claimed that the federal government was not doing enough to protect the state from illegal immigration. Bolton dismissed the case saying that the charges were political questions and not appropriate for a court to decide. Bolton also said that some of the state's claims were thrown out because they were answered in a1994 court case could not be litigated again.

Bolton wrote, "While Arizona may disagree with the established enforcement priorities, Arizona’s allegations do not give rise to a claim that the counter-defendants (the federal government) have abdicated their statutory responsibilities."^[21]

JudgeDavid G. Campbell dismissed a lawsuit against Hunte Corporation on February 3, 2010, after six pet owners alleged that Petland Stores solid puppies distributed by Hunte that had come from puppy mills. The judge dismissed the case after finding that the plaintiffs failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Hunte engaged in illegal conduct. The case was part of a series of cases filed by the Humane Society of the United States.^[22]

In September 2010, theGreen Party requested that the names of nine candidates not endorsed by the party be removed from the general election ballots inArizona. The Green Party alleged that the candidates were recruited by Republicans to restrict the number of votes that could have potentially gone to Democrats. They said the public positions of the candidates were contrary to the policies supported by the party he represented.

Campbell ruled that removing the candidates from the ballot would not be fair to the candidates before a full hearing on the merits of the case occurred. This allowed counties in the state to begin printing its ballots as planned.^[23]

On January 20, 2010, JudgeRoslyn Silver ruled that portions of Arizona's matching campaign funds law, which gave participating candidates extra public funds to match other candidates' fundraising, were unconstitutional. The judge ruled that the law violated the First Amendment of the Constitution on the premise that it restricted campaigns from raising and spending their own money.^[24]

   •  Murray Snow  •  Susan Brnovich  •  Scott Rash  •  Jennifer Zipps  •  Rosemary Marquez  •  Steven Logan  •  Diane Humetewa  •  John Tuchi  •  Dominic Lanza  •  Michael Liburdi  •  John Hinderaker  •  Krissa Lanham  •  Angela Martinez (Arizona)  •  Sharad Desai

Stephen McNamee  •  Susan Bolton  •  David G. Campbell  •  Frederick Martone  •  Roslyn Silver  •  James Teilborg  •  David Bury  •  Raner Collins  •  Cindy Jorgenson  •  Frank Zapata  •  Neil Wake  •  Douglas Rayes  •  James A. Soto  •  

William Henry Sawtelle  •  Richard Elihu Sloan  •  Fred Clinton Jacobs  •  John Roll  •  Robert Broomfield  •  Earl Carroll  •  Mary Murguia  •  Albert Morris Sames  •  David Ling  •  Richard Bilby  •  William Browning  •  William Copple  •  Valdemar Cordova  •  Walter Craig  •  Arthur Davis  •  William Frey  •  Charles Muecke  •  Mary Richey  •  Howard Speakman  •  Charles Hardy (Arizona)  •  Alfredo Marquez  •  James A. Walsh  •  

John Roll  •  Robert Broomfield  •  Stephen McNamee  •  Roslyn Silver  •  Richard Bilby  •  William Browning  •  Walter Craig  •  Charles Muecke  •  James A. Walsh  •