Description:

Attorneys who serve in this capacity act as judges on an occasional basis, as needed by the court. Appointments are made in accordance with ARS §§ 12-141 and 12-142 for a period of one year beginning on July 1, 2023.

Duties:

Those serving as judge pro tem for the Family Law Bench will be expected to provide a minimum of 24 hours of service during the one-year term. Expected hours of service on other benches may vary. While judges pro tem are not paid, service in this capacity may qualify as an activity that satisfies the requirement of E.R. 6.1, Rule 42, Arizona Rules of the Supreme Court relating to a lawyer's volunteer pro bono service. Service as a judge pro tem is subject to the limitations of Rule 81, Part D, of the Arizona Code of Judicial Conduct.

Qualifications:

By statute, judges pro tempore of the Superior Court shall be not less than 30 years of age, of good moral character and admitted to the practice of law in this state for not less than five years next preceding the date of appointment. Applicants must be approved by the Presiding Judge of the Pima County Superior Court, the Pima County Board of Supervisors and the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. In addition, it is a requirement that judges pro tempore, like other judicial officers must sign and file an oath of office with the Secretary of State.

Please note that applicants selected as a judge pro tempore on the Probate Bench must take special training for probate judges. This training will be provided free of charge to all those selected as judges pro tempore for the Probate Bench and will be available by computer. Applicants selected will be contacted by the Probate Presiding Judge's office to arrange for the training.

The Chief Justice has advised that no judge pro tempore appointment will be approved for any candidate or incumbent whose disciplinary check reveals that the lawyer is presently in a disciplinary diversion program, where probable cause has been found that the attorney has committed an ethical violation, where formal disciplinary proceedings have been initiated, or where the attorney is not in active status. Applicants who are selected as judges pro tempore must advise the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court immediately if they become participants in a disciplinary diversion program or if they are subject to a probable cause finding or if formal disciplinary proceedings are initiated against them or if they cease to be on active status at any time during their term of appointment.