Arizona Supreme Court Decisions

Article 6 of the Arizona Constitution governs the Arizona Supreme Court, which was founded in 1912. Section 5 of Article 6 provides the Court with discretionary authority to review decisions by lower state courts, including Court of Appeals decisions and some Superior Court decisions. The Arizona Supreme Court must review an appeal in a case in which a defendant received the death penalty, but it may decline to review an appeal in any other case. Parties seeking review by the Supreme Court must file a Petition for Review with the Court.

The Arizona Supreme Court consists of seven justices, including a Chief Justice, a Vice Chief Justice, and five Associate Justices. The Governor of Arizona appoints each new justice with the assistance of a nominating commission. To be eligible, a candidate must be under 70, a resident of Arizona for at least 10 years, and licensed to practice in Arizona for at least 10 years. Once a new justice has been appointed, they will serve for at least two years before going through a retention election. Afterward, they will serve for six-year renewable terms. The Chief Justice and the Vice Chief Justice serve in those capacities for five-year renewable terms. A justice cannot hold another public office and cannot participate in any campaigns other than their own.

Removing a justice may involve impeachment by the Arizona House of Representatives in a majority vote and then a conviction by the Arizona Senate in a two-thirds vote. Also, the Arizona Supreme Court may remove a justice if the Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct recommends this action.

In addition to hearing appeals, the Arizona Supreme Court oversees the actions of the Arizona Bar Association and the Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct. The Chief Justice of the Court also presides over Senate impeachment trials of public officials who are accused of crimes.

Browse Opinions From the Arizona Supreme Court

Recent Decisions From the Arizona Supreme Court
IN RE TERM OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO M.N.  
Date: February 7, 2025
Docket Number: CV-24-0114-PR

Justia Opinion Summary: Mother conceived M.N. with Father in summer 2020. Before M.N. was born, Mother and her boyfriend initiated adoption proceedings without informing the adoption agency about Father. M.N. was born on March 23, 2021, and…

San Diego Gas & Electric Co. v. Arizona Department of Revenue  
Date: January 31, 2025
Docket Number: CV-23-0283-PR

Justia Opinion Summary: San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) owns an interstate electric transmission line running from Arizona to California. The Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) is responsible for valuing SDG&E's property in Arizona…

STATE v FOOTHILLS RESERVE MASTERS ASSOCIATION, INC.  
Date: January 28, 2025
Docket Number: CV-23-0292-PR

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves the State of Arizona and the Foothills Reserve Master Owners Association (HOA) regarding the condemnation of easements in a master-planned community. The community, consisting of 590 homes, had…

State v. Spreitz  
Date: January 6, 2025
Docket Number: CR-94-0454-AP

Justia Opinion Summary: In 1994, Christopher Spreitz was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder, sexual assault, and kidnapping of Ruby Reid. Reid was last seen leaving a bar in Tucson, and her body was found days later in a desert area.…

STATE OF ARIZONA v MITCHAM  
Date: December 17, 2024
Docket Number: CR-23-0236-PR

Justia Opinion Summary: In January 2015, Ian Mitcham was arrested for DUI in Scottsdale, Arizona. He consented to a blood test to determine alcohol concentration or drug content, and two vials of blood were drawn. Mitcham was informed that the…

FONTES v DANA LEWIS et al (Decision Order)
Date: October 25, 2024
Docket Number: CV-24-0251-T/AP
CITY OF MESA v. RYAN  
Date: October 17, 2024
Docket Number: CV-23-0284-PR

Justia Opinion Summary: A police officer from the City of Mesa, while driving his patrol car, was involved in a multi-vehicle accident that injured a bicyclist, Philip Rogers. Rogers claimed the officer's negligent driving caused the accident…

STATE OF ARIZONA v STRONG  
Date: September 3, 2024
Docket Number: CR-17-0201-AP

Justia Opinion Summary: Preston Strong was convicted of six counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Strong had a history of financial troubles and was friends with one of the victims, Luis Rios, who often loaned him money. An…

ARIZONA RIGHT TO LIFE v FONTES et al (Decision Order)
Date: August 20, 2024
Docket Number: CV-24-0180-AP/EL
FRANCISCO v AFFILIATED UROLOGISTS  
Date: August 16, 2024
Docket Number: CV-23-0152-PR

Justia Opinion Summary: David Francisco, a retired endodontist, sought treatment from Dr. Kevin Art of Affiliated Urologists, Ltd. in 2018. Dr. Art performed a urological procedure and prescribed the antibiotic Ciproflaxin (Cipro) without…

STATE OF ARIZONA v MONTOYA  
Date: August 15, 2024
Docket Number: CR-22-0106-AP

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the appellant, Christopher Montoya, was convicted of first-degree murder, second-degree burglary, kidnapping, aggravated identity theft, unlawful use of means of transportation, theft, and two counts of…

GILPIN v MARTINEZ  
Date: August 7, 2024
Docket Number: CR-23-0252-PR

Justia Opinion Summary: Marcos Martinez killed his grandmother and subsequently pleaded guilty except insane (GEI) to first-degree murder. Under his plea agreement, he was committed to the Arizona State Hospital and will remain under the…

STATE OF ARIZONA v WILLIAMS  
Date: August 6, 2024
Docket Number: CR-23-0068-PR

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2016, Bennett Laquan Williams was charged with fourteen felonies, including sex trafficking and various misdemeanors. The State alleged he was on probation and had seven prior felony convictions, including a 2004…

GILMORE v. GALLEGO  
Date: July 31, 2024
Docket Number: CV-23-0130-PR

Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a dispute over the constitutionality of "release time" provisions in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the City of Phoenix and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal…

STATE OF ARIZONA v MONINGER  
Date: July 24, 2024
Docket Number: CR-21-0239-PR

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2018, Kevin Moninger, a Nevada resident, posted classified ads on a website for sexual encounters. He received a response from "Sabrina," a fictional 13-year-old girl created by an undercover officer. Over several…

The opinions published on Justia State Caselaw are sourced from individual state court sites. These court opinions may not be the official published versions, and you should check your local court rules before citing to them. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site, or the information linked to on the state site.

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

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