Arizona Supreme Court Justice Andrew Gould has scheduled his retirement for April 1, 2021. Gould’s replacement will be Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s (R) sixth nominee to the seven-member supreme court.
Under Arizona law, justices on the Arizona Supreme Court are selected through the assisted appointment method for six-year renewable terms. Following the initial appointment, judges are subject to a retention election in the next general election which occurs more than two years after the appointment.
Gould joined the Arizona Supreme Court in 2016. He was appointed by Governor Ducey.
Before serving on the state supreme court, Gould served as a judge with Division One of the Arizona Court of Appeals from 2011 to 2016. He served as a judge with the Yuma County Superior Court from 2001 to 2011. Gould served as chief civil deputy for the Yuma County Attorney’s Office from 1999 to 2001. Previously, he worked as a civil litigator in private practice.
Following Gould’s retirement, the Arizona Supreme Court will include the following members:
• Robert Brutinel, appointed by Gov. Jan Brewer (R) in 2010
• Ann Timmer, appointed by Gov. Jan Brewer (R) in 2012
• Clint Bolick, appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey (R) in 2016
• John Lopez IV, appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey (R) in 2016
• James Beene, appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey (R) in 2019
• Bill Montgomery, appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey (R) in 2019
In 2021, there have been 10 supreme court vacancies in nine of the 29 states where replacement justices are appointed instead of elected. The vacancies have been caused by retirements.
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