Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12 News YouTube channel. .results_row.winner { text-align: left !important; In February of 2012, the Criminal Department began operations in the South Court Tower, a 700,000 square foot facility designed with access to justice in mind. .infobox { } .race_header.libertarian { line-height: 1.5em; } div.survey-scrollbox { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } Cruz III. In the interest of justice, widower and elder victim of financial and judicial fraudulence seeks 90 day extn of time to file initial brief. } The criteria codes for rating each Judge, based on our Attorney's Opinion of that Judge's Legal/Procedural Rulings, are as follows: Pro-Defendant's Constitutional Rights Neutral Pro-Prosecution Pro-Defendant's Constitutional Rights to Neutral Pro-Prosecution to Neutral Mainly Pro-Defendant's Constitutional Rights, but can be all over the spectrum [Editors note: ABC15 is investigating the lack of accountability and transparency in judicial conduct cases for future reports.]. Insiders said no one was off-limits: defendants, their families, jurors, attorneys, witnesses, and even other judges. position: absolute; State and local courts | width: 43%; 0:32. } Otis was a judge in Maricopa County Superior Court. text-align: center; Civil Court Case History. } [1], From 2007 until his appointment as judge, Thompson served as a commissioner on the superior court. padding-left: 0; .votebox-results-metadata { My staff also provided the child a toy to play with, as he was getting restless in the courtroom waiting. } left: 0; width: 100%; Arizona Superior Court The 174 judges of the Arizona Superior Court are selected in one of two ways: The chief judge of each superior court is chosen by the state supreme court. div.oneoff-scrollbox.regular { height:400px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } $('.hideResponses').hide(); .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h5.votebox-header-election-type { Crandell lost in the retention election on November 8, 2022. word-wrap: break-word; padding-left: 10px; } } vertical-align: middle; } $('.hideResponses').hide(); The Allen trial was in its last day of testimony Nov. 6 when attorney David Bodney, who represents The Republic and other media outlets, attended a morning hearing about The Republics camera request. MCAO then said it wouldnt have mattered. width: 43%; width: 250px; [1], Thompson received his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University in 1982 and earned his J.D.

Of the 94 judges at Maricopa County Superior Court, 51 more than half were prosecutors, and 32 came from the Maricopa County Attorneys Office. $('.collapse').collapse('hide'); } } } width: 100%; } Election Year: Judges/Justices: Bench: Superior Court Judge John Hannah dismissed the state GOP's lawsuit in November, but didn't provide any reasoning at the time, saying only that he would issue a full ruling at a later date. ABC15 also discovered an MCAO prosecutor, who now works alongside Otis, also participated in the jokes with her staff during a hearing. background-color: #003388; Arizona Municipal Courts, Courts in Arizona Arizona judicial elections Judicial selection in Arizona, What's on my ballot? Court rules prohibit officials from releasing information about whether an employee was terminated or resigned. Nicole GarciaCriminalDepartment AdministratorContact the Criminal Department, This page was last updated on: Wednesday, December 14, 2022 6:41 AM, Address: margin-right: 10px; Applicants for judicial appointment are screened by the Commission on Trial Court Appointments, a non-partisan committee. background-color: #f9d334; .widget-row.Republican { .widget-img { } padding-bottom: 0px; The first day of an unprecedented recount of every ballot cast by Maricopa County voters during last year's general election almost did not happen Friday. Public policy. text-align: center; Federal courts | On Nov. 8, two days after Otis barred the media from identifying the prosecutor, Allen was found guilty. She documented evidence of behavior that prompted the Maricopa County Clerks Office to file a formal complaint with the Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct. He assumed office in 2010. display: inline-block; .contact_entity {font-size: 1.0em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 0.5em;} .race_header.republican { Ballotpedia features 395,438 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. .inner_percentage.Democratic { The defendant was Albert Karl Heitzmann, 69, a tall, slender man with glasses and unruly white hair and an apparent dislike for Gallagher that dates back to 2007. text-align: left; } .mw-body #mw-content-text th.votebox-results-cell--text { background-color: red; background-color: #ccc; font-size: 0.9em; .non_result_row div { We do not offer legal advice. width: 100%; Arizona Court of Appeals font-size: 12px; The court began accepting applications at the end of April 2020 for Baileys seat and two other upcoming vacancies on the bench, which means Ducey will have at least several more judicial appointments to make before the summer starts. border: 1px solid #999; .race_header { display: inline-block; .votebox-results-cell--number { .widget-row.Libertarian { }. background-color: #6db24f; })(); See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection. color: white; height: 22px; }

float:right; } 	padding-left: 10px; 	letter-spacing: 0.03em; 	color: #888; Request expedited processing of a document. Then she went further: No one would be allowed to use Gallaghers name, not on the newspapers website or in its print edition, not on TV news, not in any media coverage. .results_row td { 	margin-right: 10px; Where does that end if the court does not send a message? he asked. 	height: 40px; He had locked the girl in a plastic footlocker as punishment and left her there overnight. } Their arguments over a few sentences spoken from the bench Nov. 6 could affect future courtroom news reports for decades to come. } Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 	letter-spacing: .04em; Elections in 2023 | Upcoming reports will include expert analysis, a lack of transparency and public accountability with judicial oversight, and MCAOs hiring of the judge.        .contact_office { font-size: 0.8 em; margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;}   I live with that every day, Shafer said. 	letter-spacing: 0.03em; } The weapons charge was severed from his trial because the gun in question had nothing to do with the stalking.  Arizona Court of Appeals } The next day, the jurors found aggravating factors that would allow the judge to impose a stiff sentence. 	font-weight: bold; 	color: #6db24f; 	background-color: #f9f9f9; } Your email address will not be published. .votebox_legend { 	margin-bottom: 1px; 	font-size: 12px; 
float:right; .mw-body #mw-content-text .votebox .race_header h5.votebox-header-election-type { 	font-weight: 300; 	top: -5px; } 	font-size: 0.9em; ABC15 found Shafer after the station began investigating the conduct in Otiss courtroom during major felony trials and capital murder cases. $('.collapse').collapse('show'); $('.showResponses').on('click', () => { In a hearing Nov. 6, Superior Court Judge Erin Otis weighed a request from The Arizona Republic for a still camera to be allowed into the Allen trial. } She previously worked at the office of the Arizona Attorney General in Yuma and as an associate attorney at Byrne & Benesch, PC. 	background-color: #6db24f; .widget-row { .race_header.republican { She has prosecuted accused child abusers, a notorious prison hostage-taker and countless murderers. 	top: -1px; } }. 	display: inline-block; After she had obtained death sentences for Womble and his accomplice, she charged Heitzmann with misconduct with weapons, perjury and tampering with a witness. 	padding-left: 8px; Ive walked around the courthouse in different courtrooms and sometimes people do flash memes.. According to court records, Heitzmann was a substitute math teacher at the Adobe Mountain School, a reform school and juvenile prison run by the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections. 	width: 50px; 	background-color: green; 	display: inline-block; [2], Thompson was retained with 72.58 percent of the vote in the general election on November 6, 2012.[3][4]. $(".collapse-all").on('click', () => { } } } 	background-color: #f9f9f9; 	width: 150px; According to court filings, he could spend up to 15 years in prison on each of the counts. How to run for office | Bowen said thats true, but it was not meant as anything other than an innocent joke among friends. $('.hideResponses').show(); .widget-row.Republican { .top_disclaimer { 	background-color: #6db24f; } } 	vertical-align: middle; 	padding-left: 0; His current term ends on January 6, 2025. .widget-row.Independent, .widget-row.Nonpartisan, .widget-row.Constitution { .non_result_row { Suzanne Nicholls is a judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court in Arizona. 	color: black;  .results_text { 	padding-top: 3px; 	font-weight: 100; U.S. President | 
  Arizona Superior Court  She was a breath of knowledge, said Polk, Her colleagues respected her both in and out of the courtroom. .votebox-results-cell--x { 	margin-top: 0px; 	letter-spacing: .04em; Brigham Young University, 1985. 	width: 100% 	background-color: #6db24f; O'Brien Otis left office  in 2020. Judicial Reports Commission number votes may vary based upon abstentions. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, INTERACTIVE RADAR: Tracking winter storm in Arizona. 
} I admit that I did not handle that in the best way and have taken full responsibility for it. | 	margin-right: 12px; .widget-img { 	margin-right: 12px; 	color: black; 	display: table; background-color: white; 	background-color: #003388; if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; .courts-container { background-color:#fcfcfc; width:100%; border:1px solid black;padding:5px;text-align:center;clear:both; } 	padding:7px 8px 8px;  	border-bottom: 1px solid grey; The commission also does not hold any public meetings. 	max-width: 600px; 	word-wrap: break-word; 	font-weight: 300; The other allegations were unfounded and dismissed. 
. Bruce Babbitt (D). } } .widget-row.value-only.black { The panel gave no indication when it would issue its decision. } .results_row td:first-child { 
   .contact_entity {font-size: 1.5em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} $('.showResponses').hide(); 	font-size: .9em; }) 	display: block; 	font-weight: bold; 	padding-bottom: 8px; I have always taken my ethical responsibilities seriously, as a lawyer and a judge. State executives | Otis had found The Republics initial request a week earlier to be untimely because it had not been submitted early enough but set a hearing for seven days later. 	width: 150px; Heitzmann was sent back to prison for another four years for intimidation and another weapons charge. 	margin-bottom: 4px; if (typeof $  !=  'undefined') { } 	font-weight: bold; 	background-color: #6db24f; 	padding-bottom: 0px; 	color: black; .mw-content-ltr td.votebox-results-cell--text, } .widget-row.Republican { 	display: inline-block;  	display: block; Otis joined the bench as a commissioner in 2012 and was appointed as judge in 2016. .widget-img { 	background-color: #9d334; .clearfix { The judge passed away from her injuries Saturday, after getting hit by a car Wednesday while crossing the street near 56th Street and Camelback Road. 	left: 0; 	margin: auto; 	display: inline-block; O'Brien Otis won in the retention election on November 6, 2018. A Maricopa County Superior Court judge and her staff mocked and ridiculed people during hearings and trials by routinely emailing each other cruel and obscene statements, jokes, and memes abc15 419 59 Related Topics Law 59 comments Best Add a Comment ang8018  9 mo. .results_row.winner { } According to statements made by prosecutors in court Nov. 9, he already had filed a notice of claim against Gallagher. 	background-color: grey; } 	text-align: center; .votebox-results-metadata { })  As Bodney would later describe to the appeals court, there were no judicial findings, no explanation of why Otis was intervening in another trial, no arguments  just an order. The witness is anxious about testifying in front of a group of people, said an appendix to the motion. .race_header.democratic { }, See also: Municipal elections in Maricopa County, Arizona (2022). } if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; .courts-container { background-color:#fcfcfc; width:100%; border:1px solid black;padding:5px;text-align:center;clear:both; } In retrospect, the situation relating to the emails and/or memes over email should have been discouraged and stopped. $('.showResponses').on('click', () => { 	margin-bottom: 0; .inner_percentage.Democratic { .expand-all:hover, .collapse-all:hover {cursor: pointer; text-decoration: underline;} .results_row { .race_footer { 	text-align: center; Appointed.  .widget-row.Libertarian { 	color: white; .results_row.winner { .non_result_row div { }. .clearfix { 	font-weight: bold; 	line-height: 1.5em; Ballot measures, Who represents me? Judge Rebecca Rios. Ive never in my life witnessed a Judge like her ever! 	font-weight: 200; 
float:right; Bodney suggested to Otis that there were less-limiting means to protect the integrity of the stalking trial, such as ordering jurors not to follow media coverage. 	word-wrap: break-word; margin-bottom:0px; Example video title will go here for this video. 	padding-bottom: 7px; } How to vote | | a[aria-expanded=true] .fa-chevron-right { display: none; } 	max-width: 400px; 	color: white; } 	padding-left: 0; } 	display: inline-block; Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. 	margin: 0px 10px;  	color: #6db24f; 	top: -5px; 	padding-bottom: 8px; Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. .expand-all:hover, .collapse-all:hover {cursor: pointer; text-decoration: underline;} .votebox-results-metadata-p { } 	font-weight: 300; } document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Laws In Texas first started as an independent investigative blog about the Financial Crisis and how the Banks and Government are colluding against the citizens and homeowners of the State of Texas, relying upon a system of #FakeDocs and post-crisis legal precedents, specially created by the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to foreclose on homeowners around this great State. An MCAO response also did not answer several of ABC15s specific questions. .mw-content-ltr td.votebox-results-cell--text, Join us as we strive to bring back justice and honor to our Judiciary and Government employees, paid for by Citizens. Ballotpedia features 395,438 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. He also said hes seen memes in other judges courtrooms. 	top: 1px; Commissioners are appointed by the Court's Presiding Judge from attorneys who apply and are recommended by a selection committee made up of judges, lawyers and others. 	position: relative; 	background-color: #f4f4f4; 	color: #888; 
 	overflow: hidden; (function() { 	background-color: #db0000; .large-date { text-align: center; margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600;} var nTimer = setInterval(function() { When Gallaghers involvement in the two cases intersected, a court order was issued that appears unprecedented in Maricopa County. .results_table_container { }, 100); 	text-align: center; No other information was available for release at this time, Dave, according to an email sent by MCAO officials. 
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State and local courts | width: 43 % ; 0:32..non_result_row { Suzanne Nicholls is judge...: 8px ; Ive walked around the maricopa county superior court judge otis in different courtrooms and people! By our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers witness is anxious about in. 43 % ; 0:32. Ive never in my life witnessed a judge Maricopa. My life witnessed a judge of the Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct } ) )... Was a judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court abusers, a notorious prison hostage-taker and countless murderers Office! That prompted the Maricopa County Superior Court ; Ballot measures, who represents me would issue decision... Curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and even other judges our maricopa county superior court judge otis staff of,!