PHOENIX – The Commission on Appellate Court Appointments decided Friday that eight of the 17 applicants to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Robert Brutinel will advance to the next round on Dec. 9.
That is the date when the commissioners conduct interviews and decide who they want to send to Gov. Katie Hobbs for her final decision.
The commission could decide all eight would make suitable justices and send the governor the entire list from which to choose.
But commissioners also have the option to send the Democratic governor as few as three – the legal minimum allowed under the Arizona Constitution. At least one political independent must be listed.
That’s because the panel is precluded from submitting a final list of nominees from only one party. And no Republicans submitted an application.
Those advancing to the interview stage of the process are:
– Maria Elena Cruz who is a judge on the state Court of Appeals. She is a Democrat.
– Nicole Davis, deputy director of the Department of Economic Security and the agency’s general counsel. She is a political independent.