Fairness, Respect, Integrity, Innovation and Safety February 2017

Judicial Branch News

Story on Page 3

StandDown 2017

Judicial Branch NewsThe Judicial Branch News is an online newsletter published by the Media Relations Department.

Contributing WritersShari Andersen-Head

Hon. Geoffrey FishHon. Dean Fink

Contributing EditorsKaren Arra

Vincent FunariMary Byrnes

Dennis CarpenterMichelle DunivanMary VyvermanKellie Therriault

Clara ColmeneroNorma Quiroz

Features3 Maricopa County StandDown

4 Judge Michael Blair Investiture Ceremony

5 Employee Anniversaries

6 Photo Highlights of LLRC Grand Opening

7 Judge Q-and-A

8 Judicial Rotations

Cover - Judge Sherry Stephens volunteers at Maricopa County StandDown

Vol 11 Issue 2 Contents

February 2017

Pg 2

3 Maricopa County StandDown

4 Judge Michael Blair Investiture Ceremony

5 Employee Anniversaries

6 Photo Highlights of LLRC Grand Opening

7 Judge Q-and-A

8 Judicial Rotations

Cover - Judge Sherry Stephens volunteers at Maricopa County StandDown

Pg 3

Court News

Maricopa County StandDown 2017

On the weekend of February 9, the community came together to help homeless and at-risk veterans resolve their court issues during the 2017 Maricopa County StandDown.

StandDown, Arizona’s largest outreach event, is an alliance of community-based organizations that provide an annual, three-day event that connects veterans with services. The services include VA HealthCare, mental health services, clothing, meals, emergency shelter, and transitional/permanent housing. More than 50 service providers delivered on-site support during this year’s event.

The Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County contributed by arranging three operational courtrooms on Friday, February 10th and six operational courtrooms, running from 8:30 a.m. to noon, on Saturday, February 11th. The event’s success was made possible by public servants, which included judicial officers, bailiffs, court reporters, adult probation, court technology, the Clerk of Court, prosecutors, public defense attorneys and many others, volunteering their time and expertise.

This year, the Criminal Department heard 240 matters and served 154 veterans and the Family Department assisted 30 veterans with paperwork and referral services. While the primary goal of StandDown is helping homeless veterans access the resources needed to regain their highest level of independence, its secondary goal is to bring our community and service providers together in a collaborative format to build relationships throughout the year that positively benefit homeless veterans. Ultimately, the hope is to bring awareness to the ongoing resources needed to end veteran homelessness.

Submitted by Shari Andersen-Head

Pg 4

Court News

Governor Appoints Two Judges Investiture Ceremony

Southwest Regional Court Center Grand Opening

Governor Doug Ducey appointed Ronda Fisk and Adam Driggs to the Superior Court bench to fill the vacancies created by Judge Paul McMurdie and Judge Jim Beene’s appointments to the Court of Appeals.

Fisk, who will assume a criminal calendar on March 27, is a partner at Osborn Maledon. She clerked for Justice Kenton D. Jones on the Arizona Supreme Court for a year before joining the firm of Osborn Maledon in the fall of 2003. Her practice consisted of general commercial litigation, healthcare and employment counseling, and litigation. She is a 2002 graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law.

Driggs, a 5th generation Arizonan, earned his law degree in 1993 from Arizona State University and, while in law school, worked as a judicial extern for Superior Court Judge Kenneth Mangum. Most recently, he operated his own firm, and he previously worked with the Maricopa County Attorneys Office for two years. Driggs was also a state Representative for four years and a state Senator for six.

Judge Driggs will start on March 27 and preside over a family calendar at the Northeast Regional Court Center.

Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Scott Bales (right)delivers the oath of Office to Superior Court Judge Michael Blair. (left)

Presiding Judge Janet Barton was a guest speaker at the Grand Opening of the Southwest Regional Court Center in Avondale. The new facility houses four justice courts.

Pg 4

Employee Anniversaries

Court News

Pg 5

* Information provided by the Human Resources Department

15 years

Jessie A Jimenez, Adult Probation OfficerBrian P Armbruster, Adult Probation Officer

Jill C Bognar, Adult Probation Officer SupervisorBrandelyn W Jackson, Adult Probation Division Manager

Kirsten B Weigert, Adult Probation OfficerKimberly Eve Hassel, Management Analyst

Cheryl J Begay, Adult Probation OfficerRobert S Wilmarth, Human Resources Analyst

20 years

Patricia A Comer-Lopez, Adult Probation OfficerJill A Gondek, Adult Probation Officer Supervisor

Anthony F Palmer, Adult Probation OfficerPatricia L Savage, Adult Probation Officer

John P Ziter, Adult Probation OfficerAurora B Valenzuela, Executive Assistant to Director

25 years

Roxanne R Hernandez, Office Assistant Specialized

31 years

James Marshburn, Adult Surveillance OfficerKit Russell, Adult Probation Officer

Michele Bodenmiller, Presentence ScreenerRichard Breed, Adult Probation Officer Supervisor

5 years

Nicole Chanel Young, Adult Probation OfficerAntony Joseph Bidonde, Victim Witness Assistant

Jennifer L Blaisdell, Adult Probation OfficerJennifer Anne Borgen, Adult Probation Officer

Bethaney Marie Hames, Adult Probation Officer Danielle Mikelle Herrera, Adult Surveillance Officer

Ricardo Mendez, Adult Probation OfficerMichele Rene Mikel, Adult Probation Officer

Alyson Marie Popalardo, Adult Probation OfficerJustin Keith Robnett, Adult Probation Officer

Daua Jo Vidana, Administrative AssistantOlivia Imperial, Judicial Clerk Senior

Jermaine Parris Carlisle, Juvenile Detention OfficerBryan R LaBrake, Juvenile Detention Officer Supervisor

Teresa Renee Nipp, Juvenile Detention OfficerTrever Charles Walborn, Juvenile Detention Officer

James Arthur Hanratty, Polygraph ExaminerJohn Alec Slone, Judicial Assistant

Amy Jo Taylor, Adult Probation OfficerDonna Kay Galligan, Judicial Assistant

Stephanie M Castrellon, Bailiff Christine M Coaly, Court Reporter

David M Lee, Court ReporterJouseth Olivas, Judicial Clerk SeniorLucia O Perez, Judicial Clerk Senior

10 years

Michelle R Stergulz, Judicial AssistantBrandi L Carter, Adult Probation Officer

Rocio M Galarza, Presentence ScreenerGiovana Howard, Adult Probation Officer

Paul ELopez, Adult Probation OfficerGreg Moreno, Presentence Screener

Scott A Mortensen, Adult Probation Officer SupervisorAna Pasos, Judicial Clerk Associate,

David D Silvas, Adult Surveillance OfficerDanielle T Sims, Adult Probation Officer

Karina Hidalgo Medina, Juvenile Probation OfficerVickie Vincent, Juvenile Probation Officer

Willie LeeYee, Judicial Branch Security OfficerMary Clements, Administrative AssistantKaren Elizabeth Sapp, Judicial Assistant

Elizabeth A Kabel, Judicial AssistantStephanie R Smith, Adult Probation Officer

Nicole D White, Adult Probation OfficerGloria Bramlett, Judicial Clerk

Judy Ybarra, Judicial Clerk Senior

Court News

Pg 6

Photo Highlights from the LLRC Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting

Pg 7

Q-and-A with Judges Dean Fink and Geoffrey FishWhat do you like the most about your current assignment?

Criminal is very fast-paced with more in-court time than most other assignments. I enjoy that the days go by quickly and are usually very interesting. It keeps you on your toes.

What advice would you give a new lawyer?

Find a mentor attorney with good habits and skills, who is willing to both train you and to personally invest in your success.

What do you think has changed the most in the legal profession since you attended law school?

When I was in law school, computer legal research was pretty new and there was still a fairly heavy reliance on books. Now, books are largely obsolete, and I doubt most younger attorneys could do legal research the old fashioned way. (Most of the older attorneys have probably forgotten as well.)

What is your favorite thing to do when you are not working?

Travel. In most cases, I would rather spend money on seeing the world than on material things. Whether it is domestic or international travel, seeing other parts of the world is an amazing experience. I enjoy my time traveling and it helps me to better appreciate the things I love about my home, and also to identify things about my home that I would like to change. I hope to one day say that I have traveled to all 50 states and all 7 continents. I have nine states and two continents left to hit.

What piece of advice would you give your 20 year-old self?

Take more chances. If you play things too safe, you may miss out. You only live once. (Oh, and start exercising! Don’t wait until you are 45.)

If you weren’t a judge what would you be?

I really wanted to be an actor, but as a risk-averse young man, I was afraid of a profession that might not put food on the table (or allow me to buy a table). So, I went into law instead. If I played it less safe (see last answer), I think I would have pursued acting.

What do you like the most about your current assignment?

It’s Family Court, what’s not to like? Seriously, I hope that I can help the children that are caught between parents who, due to the emotions of the situation, are possibly not necessarily acting in their children’s best interests.

What advice would you give a new lawyer?

I know it’s been mentioned before, but your reputation is everything. You earn it very early on and it’s very difficult to change once it’s out there.

What do you think has changed the most in the legal profession since you attended law school?

The legal economy has completely changed with companies like Legal Zoom and other do-it-yourself entities. It is so much more financially competitive to practice law and even large law firms have restructured their business models. This places additional stress on attorneys beyond the normal everyday stress of their practice.

What is your favorite thing to do when you are not working?

I enjoy being outdoors, hiking and biking (the cruiser type of bike btw, not the high performance type).

What piece of advice would you give your 20 year-old self?

Buy as much Apple stock at $10.00 per share as possible.

If you weren’t a judge what would you be?

As I didn’t purchase Apple stock at $10.00, I still need to work. I’ve always been interested in the front and back office operations of the gaming industry, so something in that field I suppose.

Hon. Dean Fink Hon. Geoffrey Fish

Court News

Judicial Rotations 2017

Pg 8

Dept Region Bldg Suite Ctrm Dept Region Bldg Suite CtrmBassett, Edward JV DUR DUR 3250 11 Coffey, Rodrick JV SE SEJ 1103 7Blomo, James CV DT ECB 411 411 Stephens, Sherry CR DT SCT 13105 5CBrotherton, William FC DT CCB 6C 603 Pineda, Susanna JV DUR DUR 2245 6Bustamante, Lori CV DT ECB 811 811 Brotherton, William FC DT CCB 6C 603Coffey, Rodrick JV SE SEJ 1103 7 Herrod, Michael FC DT CCB 6F 605Contes, Connie JV DUR DUR 2280 4 Gerlach, Douglas CV DT ECB 513 513Gentry, Jo Lynn CV DT ECB 414 414 Bassett, Edward JV DUR DUR 3250 11Gerlach, Douglas CV DT ECB 513 513 Mroz, Rosa CR DT SCT 13109 7DHerrod, Michael FC DT CCB 6F 605 McCoy, Scott CR DT SCT 13104 5DMahoney, Margaret CR DT SCT 13114 8A Blomo, James CV DT ECB 411 411McCoy, Scott CR DT SCT 13104 5D Contes, Connie JV DUR DUR 2280 4Mroz, Rosa CR DT SCT 13109 7D Gentry, Jo Lynn CV DT ECB 414 414Pineda, Susanna JV DUR DUR 2245 6 Mahoney, Margaret CR DT SCT 13114 8ARogers, Joshua CV DT ECB 712 712 Thompson, Peter FC SE SEF 2D 204Sanders, Teresa CR DT SCT 13111 7C Bustamonte, Lori CV DT ECB 811 811Stephens, Sherry CR DT SCT 13105 5C Rogers, Joshua CV DT ECB 712 712Thompson, Peter FC SE SEF 2D 204 Sanders, Teresa CR DT SCT 13111 7CBassett, Edward* PB DT OCH 102 104 Hoffman, Kristen (retired) JV DUR DUR 3250 11Polk, Jay* FC NE NE D 107 Bassett, Edward PB DT OCH 102 104Driggs, Adam (new judge)* Polk, Jay FC NE NE D 107

Dept Region Bldg Suite Ctrm Dept Region Bldg Suite CtrmBarth, Michael CV DT ECB 812 812 Kaiser, Brian CR-RCC SE SEF 2B 202Holding, Steven FC NE NE B 103 Rees, Brian CV NE NE C 105Ireland, Jacki CR DT CCB 11D 1102 Passamonte, Carolyn SA DT CCB 9B 902Kaipio, Thomas FC DT CCB 5G 507 Mata, Julie CR-NGA DT SCT 13309 3CKaiser, Brian CR-RCC SE SEF 2B 202 Holding, Steven FC NE NE B 103Laing, Utiki JV DUR DUR 3280 10 Washington, Eartha CR-IA DT FAJ FAJ FAJMandell, Michael FC DT CCB 5E 505 Barth, Michael CV DT ECB 812 812Mata, Julie CR-NGA DT SCT 13309 3C Richter, Virginia CR-MCC DT CCB 10E 1004Passamonte, Carolyn SA DT CCB 9B 902 VandenBerg, Lisa PB DT OCH 106 108Rees, Brian CV NE NE C 105 Kaipio, Thomas FC DT CCB 5G 507Richter, Virginia CR-MCC DT CCB 10E 1004 Mandell, Michael FC DT CCB 5E 505VandenBerg, Lisa PB DT OCH 106 108 Laing, Utiki JV DUR DUR 3280 10Washington, Eartha CR-IA DT FAJ FAJ FAJ Wingard, William JV DUR DUR 2295 1Wingard, William JV DUR DUR 2295 1 Ireland, Jacki CR DT CCB 11D 1102

*Early rotations will occur in March & April Rev. 2-24-17

Judge Rotations Effective June 26, 2017Rotating ToAssuming Calendar

Assigned To Judge:Judge Rotating Current Assignment

Current Assignment

Commissioner Rotations Effective June 26, 2017

Commissioner Rotating Assuming Calendar Assigned To Commissioner:

Rotating To