Commission gives Hobbs five options for new AZ Supreme Court justice

Gov. Katie Hobbs will pick Arizona’s newest Supreme Court justice from five nominees — including two judges and three attorneys — recommended to her by a judicial screening panel. 

The new justice will replace Republican Robert Brutinel, who retired at the end of October, after 14 years on the high court and 28 as a judge.

Hobbs will be the first Democrat in more than 15 years to appoint a justice to Arizona’s high court. Brutinel was appointed in 2010 by then-Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican. Supreme Court Justice Scott Bales, the last judge appointed by a Democrat, was placed on the court in 2005 by then-Gov. Janet Napolitano. He retired in 2019. 

The nonpartisan Commission on Appellate Court Appointments on Monday interviewed eight semifinalists out of 17 total applicants, ultimately recommending five of them to the governor. 

Arizona law requires the commission to recommend at least three candidates for appointment, with no more than 60% of them from the same political party as the governor. On Monday, the commission members chose to recommend three Democrats and two independents. 

They are: 

• Maria Elena Cruz, a Yuma County Democrat who has been a judge since 2005, and on the Arizona Court of Appeals since 2017. She previously worked as a Yuma County Superior Court Judge and for the Yuma and Pima county attorney offices. 
• Nicole Davis, a Maricopa County independent who is the deputy director and general counsel for the Arizona Department of Economic Security. She was previously deputy general counsel for Gov. Janet Napolitano. 
• Andrew Jacobs, a Maricopa County Democrat and who was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals in March 2023. Prior to that, he was a partner at Arizona law firm Snell and Wilmer for 20 years. 
• Regina Nassen, a Pima County independent and principal assistant city attorney for Tucson. She previously held various positions in the Pima County Attorney’s Office. 
• Alexander Samuels, a Maricopa County Democrat and deputy solicitor general for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. He previously held various positions with the United States Attorney’s Office.

Hobbs has 60 days to appoint a new Supreme Court justice. Christian Slater, a spokesman for Hobbs’ office, told the Arizona Mirror that he didn’t have any information to share about the timing of Hobbs’ interviews with the candidates  or a more specific idea of when the appointment would take place, other than within the 60-day limit.