The Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review announced on Apr. 10 that it will meet to decide whether justices and judges scheduled for the 2026 general election ballot meet judicial performance standards. The meeting is set for Friday, Apr. 24, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 101 of the Arizona State Courts Building in Phoenix, and will also be accessible online via Zoom.
This process is significant because it allows voters to make informed decisions about retaining judges based on comprehensive evaluations. The JPR Commission surveys litigants, witnesses, jurors, self-represented individuals, and attorneys who have appeared before Superior Court judges during specific periods of their term. Appellate court justices and judges are surveyed throughout their terms.
The commission reviewed over 10,000 surveys along with written comments and public hearing feedback to determine if each judge meets judicial performance standards. A report detailing each judge’s performance—including the commission’s findings—will be published in the Secretary of State’s voter pamphlet and posted on azjudges.info in September 2026 ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
According to the official website, the Arizona Supreme Court operates from the Arizona State Courts Building in Phoenix and ensures fair administration of justice as the top court in Arizona’s judicial system according to its official website. The court is led by a chief justice selected by fellow justices for a five-year term according to its official website and has statewide authority across Arizona according to its official website. It reviews appeals from lower courts and automatically handles death sentence cases according to its official website, collaborating with the Commission on Judicial Conduct to uphold standards according to its official website. The highest court supervises all state courts, manages attorney regulations with seven justices serving staggered terms, and gained greater administrative authority after a major amendment in 1960 according to its official website.
The list of those scheduled for review includes justices from the Supreme Court; Court of Appeals Divisions One and Two; Superior Courts in Coconino, Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties. Voters can use these reports when deciding whether or not each judge or justice should be retained.
