Appointments Committee
Mission
Recommend to the Board of Governors the appointment of members to fill openings on state-wide boards, committees and commissions. Achieve a "balance" in all appointments as they relate to each voluntary professional activity, i.e., age, gender, geography, ethnicity, area of practice.
Time Commitment: The Committee meets approximately 7 times per year, usually for 2 hours.
The Committee and the Board of Governors consider all aspects of diversity in their recommendations and appointments.
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For more information, including public meeting information, please contact:
Carrie Sherman
4201 N. 24th Street, Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85016-6266
602.340.7201
Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org
Professional Volunteer Opportunities (see below)
The State Bar Appointments Committee is currently accepting applications from Active Members to fill the following upcoming vacancies. Application forms are due at the State Bar office by the deadlines noted and can be obtained by contacting Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org or calling 602.340.7201. Click on the link below to download an attorney (or non-attorney public member) application form.
The Standing Appointments Committee and the Board of Governors consider all aspects of diversity in their recommendations and appointments.
Attorney Application Form here.
Non-Attorney Public Member Application Form here.
The Board of Governors will address openings on the following entities during 2023-2024:
• American Bar Association House of Delegates
• Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness
• Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Examinations
• City of Peoria Judicial and Public Defender Advisory Board
• City of Phoenix Judicial Selection Advisory Board
• City of Tempe Judicial Advisory Board
• Client Protection Fund Board of Trustees
• State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors – Non-Lawyer Member
• State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization – Lawyer (Specialists and Non-Specialists) and Non-Lawyer Members
The Board of Governors' Special Constitutional Appointments Committee recruits and screens applicants for the following judicial nominating commissions (go to https://www.azbar.org/about-us/board-of-governors/board-committees/special-constitutional-appointments-committee/):
• Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments
• Coconino County Commission on Trial Court Appointments
• Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments
• Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments
• Pinal County Commission on Trial Court Appointments
For more information about these professional volunteer positions, contact Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org or call 602.340.7201.
State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization (Specialists, Non-Specialists, Public Member Seats) - Application Deadline Extended to May 20, 2024
Purpose: The Board of Legal Specialization (BLS), under the supervision of the Arizona Supreme Court, administers the program for the certification of legal specialists in 10 practice areas: administrative, bankruptcy, construction defect, criminal law, estate and trust, family law, personal injury and wrongful death, real estate, tax, and workers’ compensation. Identifying attorneys who have a high degree of experience in certain fields of law improves the quality of legal services and provides useful information for those seeking legal services.
The 13-member BLS consists of eight practicing attorneys who are Active Members of, and in good standing with, the State Bar of Arizona. The Board’s composition is four certified legal specialists and four lawyers who are not specialists, one representative from an ABA-accredited law school in Arizona, and four members of the public.
Openings: Nine; two certified legal specialists, two active attorneys who are not certified legal specialists, four non-attorney public members, and a representative from an ABA-accredited Arizona law school. Per policy, judicial, retired, and inactive members are welcome to apply but must change their membership to “active” in order to be eligible. The Board of Governors will submit nominations to the Arizona Supreme Court for its ultimate appointment.
Candidate Criteria/Qualifications: BLS members must –
• Possess the time, skill and patience to examine applications and peer review information submitted by attorneys seeking specialization certification or recertification.
• Understand the importance of applying the Supreme Court Rules pertaining to the process consistently and fairly.
• Attend approximately 12 meetings per year that normally convene at 4:00 p.m.
Term: Four years.
Deadline: Applications are due by COB Monday, May 20, 2024. Questions? Contact Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org; 602.340.7201.
City of Peoria Judicial and Public Defender Advisory Board - Application Deadline May 20, 2024
Purpose: Peoria's Judicial and Public Defender Advisory Board consists of 7 members, who have special qualifications related to law, public defense, and prosecution. The Board is responsible for conducting investigations into the background and qualifications of candidates for the office of Presiding Municipal Judge and Associate Municipal Judge, reviewing proposals for selection of Public Defender and alternative defender services, recommends appropriate terms and conditions to be added to such contracts, conducts reviews for all city public defenders, and recommends the awards of public defender and alternative defender services.
Openings: Two, one of whom must reside in the City of Peoria. The Board of Governors is asked to forward nominations to the Peoria City Council which makes the ultimate appointments.
Candidate Criteria/Qualifications: Applicants must be Active Members of, and in good standing with, the State Bar of Arizona. Per policy, judicial, retired, and inactive members are welcome to apply but must change their membership to “active” in order to be eligible. Board members serve without salary or compensation.
Term: Four years commencing July 2024.
Deadline: Applications are due by COB Monday, May 20, 2024. Questions? Contact Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org; 602.340.7201.
City of Tempe Judicial Advisory Board - Application Deadline May 20, 2024
Purpose: The City of Tempe Judicial Advisory Board recommends to the Tempe City Council the best qualified persons to become city magistrates and to evaluate the performance of, and advise regarding the retention of, current appointed magistrates.
Openings: Two. The Board of Governors is asked to forward nominations to the Tempe City Council which makes the ultimate appointments.
Candidate Criteria/Qualifications: Applicants must be Active Members of, and in good standing with, the State Bar of Arizona and reside in the City of Tempe. Per policy, judicial, retired, and inactive members are welcome to apply but must change their membership to “active” in order to be eligible. Applicants may not hold, or have held, any contract for professional services with the City of Tempe in the last five years. Board members serve without salary or compensation.
Term: Four years commencing July 2024.
Deadline: Applications are due by COB Monday, May 20, 2024. Questions? Contact Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org; 602.340.7201.
ABA House of Delegates - Application Deadline May 20, 2024
Purpose: The five Delegates represent the State Bar of Arizona at the Annual and Midyear Meetings of the American Bar Association House of Delegates. The State Bar reimburses only that portion of Delegate expenses relating to that portion of the House’s agenda which addresses the regulation of the profession and improving the quality of legal services.
Candidate Criteria/Qualifications: Applicants must be Active Members of, and in good standing with, the State Bar of Arizona. Per policy, judicial, retired, and inactive members are welcome to apply but must change their membership to “active” in order to be eligible. The successful candidates must also be members of, and in good standing with, the ABA throughout their tenure as Delegates. Each of the five Delegates should represent a different county, although exceptions have been made in the past. The Delegates regularly appear before the Board of Governors to report on House of Delegates’ activities.
Openings: Two appointments will be made by the Board of Governors.
Term: Two years commencing September 2024.
Deadline: Applications are due by COB Monday, May 20, 2024. Questions? Contact Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org; 602.340.7201.
Client Protection Fund Board of Trustees - Application Deadline May 20, 2024
Purpose: The Client Protection Fund is a trust that exists as a separate entity from the State Bar of Arizona. The Fund’s purpose is to promote public confidence in the administration of justice, and to preserve the integrity of the legal profession by reimbursing people who have sustained losses caused by the dishonest conduct of lawyers admitted and licensed to practice law in Arizona. Each lawyer licensed to practice law in Arizona contributes $20 per year to the Fund. The Trustees act as fiduciaries of monies deposited in the fund, invest those funds, and pay claims in appropriate cases.
Candidate Criteria/Qualifications: Any Active Member in good standing with the State Bar of Arizona, or any Judicial Member in good standing, who has practiced law or served in a judicial capacity in the State of Arizona for at least 10 years shall be eligible for appointment as a Trustee. The Trustees meet several times a year to review claims.
Openings: One appointment will be made by the Board of Governors.
Term: Five years commencing June 2024.
Deadline: Applications are due by COB Monday, May 20, 2024. Questions? Contact Carrie.Sherman@staff.azbar.org; 602.340.7201.
Appointments Agendas
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101023 Agenda Appointments Committee
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040423 Agenda Appointments Committee
020723 Agenda Appointments Committee