VOTE411 Voter Guide

Judicial Retention Elections in Arizona: Key Facts for VotersNOTE: We do not invite judges in retention elections to participate in VOTE411. You will not see any candidate responses. Read about the judges here:2026 Judicial Performance Reports: All ReportsIn Arizona, voters decide whether appointed judges remain in office through judicial retention elections. Unlike candidates for other elected offices, judges standing for retention do not run against opponents or campaign for votes. Instead, voters answer a single question: Should this judge be retained in office?How Judges Are SelectedArizona uses a merit selection system for the Arizona Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and Superior Courts in Coconino, Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal Counties. Arizona Supreme Court: The state's highest court, deciding major legal and constitutional issues and overseeing Arizona's judicial system.Arizona Court of Appeals: Reviews decisions from Superior Court to determine whether legal errors occurred.Arizona Superior Court: The state's trial court, where civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and other major cases are heard and decided.When a vacancy occurs, a bipartisan Commission on Appellate Court Appointments or Commission on Trial Court Appointments evaluates applicants and submits a list of qualified candidates to the Governor, who appoints the judge.After serving an initial term, judges appear on the ballot in retention elections rather than contested elections.Arizona Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judges stand for retention every six years.Superior Court judges in Coconino, Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal Counties stand for retention every four years.In Arizona's remaining counties, Superior Court judges are elected in nonpartisan elections rather than retained.Campaigning and AdvertisingJudges seeking retention may campaign and ask voters to retain them, but they must follow strict judicial ethics rules. They may not make promises about future cases or engage in prohibited political activity. Many rely on their Judicial Performance Review evaluations and community outreach rather than traditional political campaigns.Who Votes on Retention Elections?Not every Arizona voter sees the same judicial retention races.Arizona Supreme Court justices are voted on by all Arizona voters statewide.Court of Appeals judges are voted on only by voters in the judge's statutory retention district, as established by Arizona law. Voters within each district vote on the Court of Appeals judges assigned to that district.Division One: Maricopa voters vote on Division One judges who reside in Maricopa County. Voters in Apache, Coconino, La Paz, Mohave, Navajo, Yavapai, and Yuma counties vote on Division One judges who reside in any one of those seven counties. Division Two: Pima voters vote on Division Two judges who reside in Pima. Voters in Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Pinal, and Santa Cruz counties vote on Division Two judges who reside in any one of those six counties.Superior Court judges are voted on only by voters in the county where they serve.Judicial Performance Review (JPR)Before every retention election, judges are evaluated by Arizona's Commission on Judicial Performance Review (JPR). The Commission gathers confidential survey responses and other information from attorneys, jurors, litigants, witnesses, court staff, probation officers, law enforcement officers, and members of the public who have interacted with the judge. Each evaluation considers factors such as:Legal knowledge and abilityIntegrity and impartialityCommunication skillsJudicial temperamentAdministrative performanceProfessionalismAfter reviewing this information, the Commission votes on whether each judge meets Judicial Performance Standards or Does Not Meet Judicial Performance Standards. The Commission's recommendation, together with detailed evaluation reports, is published before the election and included in the Arizona Secretary of State's voter information materials.Judicial retention elections are one of the few opportunities voters have to provide direct accountability for Arizona's judiciary while preserving judicial independence. Reviewing the Judicial Performance Review evaluations helps voters make informed decisions based on a judge's performance rather than campaign advertising or political affiliation.For more information, including Judicial Performance Review reports and recommendations, links to bios and the judge’s cases, visit 2026 Judicial Performance Reports: All Reports.