Justice of the PeaceEvery county has justice courts presided over by a Justice of the Peace. Each court has one justice of the peace and one constable. Justice courts primarily deal in small claims cases for $10,000 or less. They handle misdemeanor crimes, protective orders, evictions, traffic infractions (including DUIs), and small-dollar civil matters, such as shoplifting and writing bad checks. The number of justices in a county depends on the population. Justices do not need to be attorneys or have any specific education. 4-year term.Why you should care:Due to the nature of the offenses they adjudicate, many people will have some interaction with one of their county justices of the peace. Justice courts also hear many non-criminal civil disputes, often without attorneys; in these cases, the justice of the peace will interact directly with residents.For additional information:https://www.azcourts.gov/AZ-Courts/Justice-Courts
Qualifications and Experience
3 years, Elected as Justice of the Peace in 2022.
Memberships & Affiliations
Appointed to Committee on the Impact of Domestic Violence and the Judicial College of Arizona
Endorsements
Ron Barber, Regina Romero, Adelita Grijalva, Rex Scott, Andres Cano, Matt Heinz, Paul Cunningham, Kevin Dahl, Nikki Lee, Lane Santa Criz, Miranda Schubert, Priya Sundaarshan, Chris Mathis, Nancy Gutierrez, Betty Villegas, Rosanna Gabaldon, Stephanie Stal Hamilton, Kevin Volk, Jennifer Eckstrom, Natalie Luna Rose, Ravi Shah, Matt Kopec, Steve Kozachik, Karin Uhlich, Rocque Perez, Dan Eckstrom, Sylvia Lee, Mark Hanna, Eva Dong, Edgar Soto, Hollace Lyon
Community Service
Serve on the Board of Literacy Connects and Borderlands Theater
Education
Masters in Educational Leadership, Masters in Latin American Studies, Bachelors in Bilingual Multicultural Elementary Education
The Arizona Constitution states that Justices of the Peace must be 18 years old, a resident of the state and read, write and speak English. I qualify for the position, although I have many more skills and attributes that contribute to my success in this role.
Before serving as a Justice of the Peace, I served two terms on the Tucson Unified Governing Board (2012-2020). I brought calm and level-headed leadership to the contentious discussions and decisions, collaborating, yet stood strong for my values of equity, justice and community. I demonstrated a strong commitment to children, their families and district employees, and fair decisions that I articulated and defended with passion and reason.
I retired after 20 years as a public school educator where I specialized in the professional development of teachers. This, as well as strong classroom management skills, naturally transfer to helping the community navigate the justice system when they find themselves in a court room.
I oversee the Specialty Court for Domestic Violence in Pima County. The challenges we face are related to assuring Defendants comply with mandated treatment to break patterns of generational violence. I address these by prioritizing the post-adjudicated work with Defendants to hold them accountable while treating them with dignity and respect. This is the most effective way to, in turn, support the survivors of abuse. Research shows that survivors can't always, and don't always choose to leave these difficult situations. As a judge, I must respect where everyone is on their journey, and use the authority I have to keep Defendants on track and moving forward for themselves and their families.
We also struggle with crimes of poverty like shoplifting and criminal trespassing. Homelessness is a serious issue in our community. I take these cases as opportunities to intervene and connect people to services that can have a great impact on their lives.
First and foremost, a judge must consider the legal limits and requirements when it comes to sentencing. I also request both parties submit sentencing recommendations, as the prosecutors and defense attorneys (if there is representation) know the details of a situation much more than I do. I also ask for victims and family members to give their recommendations as well. And lastly, I consider what consequences will help the Defendant learn the most. These misdemeanor crimes are opportunities for learning. I prioritize connecting people to programs in our community, much more than punishment. Having people perform community service, attend counseling or therapy sessions and treatment programs is much more beneficial than sitting in jail.
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