# United States District Court for the District of Arizona

The United States District Court for the District of Arizona (in case citations, D. Ariz.) is the U.S. district court that covers the state of Arizona. It is under the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
The District was established on June 20, 1910, pending Arizona statehood on February 14, 1912.
The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. As of February 17, 2025, the acting United States attorney is Rachel C. Hernandez.

## Organization of the court

The United States District Court for the District of Arizona is the sole federal judicial district in Arizona. Court for the District is held at Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff. Magistrate courts, established to hear violations on federal lands, are additionally located in Grand Canyon National Park, Kingman, and Page.
The District is further divided into three divisions, with each of these having a central office. The divisions are as follows:
* Phoenix Division
** This division comprises the following counties: Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Pinal, and Yuma. Its offices are located in Phoenix, Arizona.
* Prescott Division
** This division comprises the following counties: Apache, Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, and Yavapai. Its offices are located in Phoenix, Arizona.
* Tucson Division
** This division comprises the following counties: Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, and Santa Cruz. Its offices are located in Tucson, Arizona.

## Current judges

As of January 7, 2025:
| # | Title | Judge | Duty station | Born | Term of service | Term of service | Term of service | Appointed by |
| # | Title | Judge | Duty station | Born | Active | Chief | Senior | Appointed by |
| 37 | Chief Judge | Jennifer Zipps | Tucson | 1964 | 2011–present | 2024–present | — | Obama |
| 38 | District Judge | John J. Tuchi | Phoenix | 1964 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
| 39 | District Judge | Diane Humetewa | Phoenix | 1964 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
| 40 | District Judge | Steven Paul Logan | Phoenix | 1965 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
| 41 | District Judge | Rosemary Márquez | Tucson | 1968 | 2014–present | — | — | Obama |
| 44 | District Judge | Dominic W. Lanza | Phoenix | 1976 | 2018–present | — | — | Trump |
| 45 | District Judge | Susan Brnovich | Phoenix | 1968 | 2018–present | — | — | Trump |
| 46 | District Judge | Michael T. Liburdi | Phoenix | 1977 | 2019–present | — | — | Trump |
| 47 | District Judge | Scott H. Rash | Tucson | 1963 | 2020–present | — | — | Trump |
| 48 | District Judge | John C. Hinderaker | Tucson | 1968 | 2020–present | — | — | Trump |
| 49 | District Judge | Krissa M. Lanham | Phoenix | 1980 | 2024–present | — | — | Biden |
| 50 | District Judge | Angela M. Martinez | Tucson | 1972 | 2024–present | — | — | Biden |
| 51 | District Judge | Sharad H. Desai | Phoenix | 1981 | 2025–present | — | — | Biden |
| 23 | Senior Judge | Stephen M. McNamee | Phoenix | 1942 | 1990–2007 | 1999–2006 | 2007–present | G.H.W. Bush |
| 25 | Senior Judge | Roslyn O. Silver | Phoenix | 1946 | 1994–2013 | 2011–2013 | 2013–present | Clinton |
| 26 | Senior Judge | Frank R. Zapata | Tucson | 1944 | 1996–2010 | — | 2010–present | Clinton |
| 27 | Senior Judge | Raner Collins | Tucson | 1952 | 1998–2019 | 2013–2018 | 2019–present | Clinton |
| 28 | Senior Judge | Susan R. Bolton | Phoenix | 1951 | 2000–2016 | — | 2016–present | Clinton |
| 30 | Senior Judge | James A. Teilborg | Phoenix | 1942 | 2000–2013 | — | 2013–present | Clinton |
| 31 | Senior Judge | Frederick J. Martone | Phoenix | 1943 | 2001–2013 | — | 2013–present | G.W. Bush |
| 32 | Senior Judge | Cindy K. Jorgenson | Tucson | 1953 | 2002–2018 | — | 2018–present | G.W. Bush |
| 33 | Senior Judge | David C. Bury | Tucson | 1942 | 2002–2012 | — | 2012–present | G.W. Bush |
| 34 | Senior Judge | David G. Campbell | Phoenix | 1952 | 2003–2018 | — | 2018–present | G.W. Bush |
| 35 | Senior Judge | Neil V. Wake | Phoenix | 1948 | 2004–2016 | — | 2016–present | G.W. Bush |
| 36 | Senior Judge | G. Murray Snow | Phoenix | 1959 | 2008–2024 | 2018–2024 | 2024–present | G.W. Bush |
| 42 | Senior Judge | Douglas L. Rayes | Phoenix | 1952 | 2014–2024 | — | 2024–present | Obama |
| 43 | Senior Judge | James A. Soto | Tucson | 1950 | 2014–2024 | — | 2024–present | Obama |

## Former judges

| # | Judge | State | Born–died | Active service | Chief Judge | Senior status | Appointed by | Reason for termination |
| 1 | Richard Elihu Sloan | AZ | 1857–1933 | 1912–1913 | — | — | Taft | not confirmed |
| 2 | William Henry Sawtelle | AZ | 1868–1934 | 1913–1931 | — | — | Wilson | elevation to 9th Cir. |
| 3 | Fred Clinton Jacobs | AZ | 1865–1958 | 1923–1936 | — | 1936–1958 | Harding | death |
| 4 | Albert Morris Sames | AZ | 1873–1958 | 1931–1946 | — | 1946–1958 | Hoover | death |
| 5 | David W. Ling | AZ | 1890–1965 | 1936–1964 | — | 1964–1965 | F. Roosevelt | death |
| 6 | Howard C. Speakman | AZ | 1892–1952 | 1946–1952 | — | — | Truman | death |
| 7 | James Augustine Walsh | AZ | 1906–1991 | 1952–1976 | 1961–1972 | 1976–1991 | Truman | death |
| 8 | Arthur Marshall Davis | AZ | 1907–1963 | 1961–1963 | — | — | Kennedy | death |
| 9 | Walter Early Craig | AZ | 1909–1986 | 1963–1979 | 1973–1979 | 1979–1986 | Kennedy | death |
| 10 | Charles Andrew Muecke | AZ | 1918–2007 | 1964–1984 | 1979–1984 | 1984–2007 | L. Johnson | death |
| 11 | William Perry Copple | AZ | 1916–2000 | 1966–1983 | — | 1983–2000 | L. Johnson | death |
| 12 | William C. Frey | AZ | 1919–1979 | 1970–1979 | — | — | Nixon | death |
| 13 | Mary Anne Richey | AZ | 1917–1983 | 1976–1983 | — | — | Ford | death |
| 14 | Valdemar Aguirre Cordova | AZ | 1922–1988 | 1979–1988 | — | — | Carter | death |
| 15 | Richard Bilby | AZ | 1931–1998 | 1979–1996 | 1984–1990 | 1996–1998 | Carter | death |
| 16 | Charles Leach Hardy | AZ | 1919–2010 | 1980–1990 | — | 1990–2010 | Carter | death |
| 17 | Earl H. Carroll | AZ | 1925–2017 | 1980–1994 | — | 1994–2017 | Carter | death |
| 18 | Alfredo Chavez Marquez | AZ | 1922–2014 | 1980–1991 | — | 1991–2014 | Carter | death |
| 19 | William Docker Browning | AZ | 1931–2008 | 1984–1998 | 1990–1994 | 1998–2008 | Reagan | death |
| 20 | Paul Gerhardt Rosenblatt | AZ | 1928–2019 | 1984–2003 | — | 2003–2019 | Reagan | death |
| 21 | Robert C. Broomfield | AZ | 1933–2014 | 1985–1999 | 1994–1999 | 1999–2014 | Reagan | death |
| 22 | Roger Gordon Strand | AZ | 1934–2017 | 1985–2000 | — | 2000–2017 | Reagan | death |
| 24 | John Roll | AZ | 1947–2011 | 1991–2011 | 2006–2011 | — | G.H.W. Bush | death |
| 29 | Mary H. Murguia | AZ | 1960–present | 2000–2011 | — | — | Clinton | elevation to 9th Cir. |
* ↑ Recess appointment; the United States Senate later rejected the appointment.

## Chief judges

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.
A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.
When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

## Succession of seats

Seat 1 :
| Seat established on February 14, 1912 by 36 Stat. 557 ||||
| Sloan | 1912–1913 |
| Sawtelle | 1913–1931 |
| Sames | 1931–1946 |
| Speakman | 1946–1952 |
| Walsh | 1952–1976 |
| Richey | 1976–1983 |
| Browning | 1984–1998 |
| Collins | 1998–2019 |
| Hinderaker | 2020–present |
Seat 2 :
| Seat established on September 14, 1922 by 42 Stat. 837 (temporary) ||||
| Seat made permanent on August 19, 1935 by 49 Stat. 659 ||||
| Jacobs | 1923–1936 |
| Ling | 1936–1964 |
| Muecke | 1964–1984 |
| Strand | 1985–2000 |
| Martone | 2001–2013 |
| Rayes | 2014–2024 |
| Lanham | 2024–present |
Seat 3 :
| Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80 ||||
| Davis | 1961–1963 |
| Craig | 1963–1979 |
| Hardy | 1980–1990 |
| McNamee | 1990–2007 |
| Snow | 2008–2024 |
| Desai | 2025–present |
Seat 4 :
| Seat established on March 18, 1966 by 80 Stat. 75 ||||
| Copple | 1966–1983 |
| Rosenblatt | 1984–2003 |
| Wake | 2004–2016 |
| Brnovich | 2018–present |
Seat 5 :
| Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294 ||||
| Frey | 1970–1979 |
| Bilby | 1979–1996 |
| Zapata | 1996–2010 |
| Márquez | 2014–present |
Seat 6 :
| Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 ||
| Cordova | 1979–1988 |
| Seat abolished on June 18, 1988 (temporary judgeship expired) ||
Seat 7 :
| Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 ||||
| Carroll | 1980–1994 |
| Silver | 1994–2013 |
| Tuchi | 2014–present |
Seat 8 :
| Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629 ||||
| Marquez | 1980–1991 |
| Roll | 1991–2011 |
| Zipps | 2011–present |
Seat 9 :
| Seat established on April 20, 1984 pursuant to 71 Stat. 586 (temporary) ||||
| Seat became permanent upon the abolition of Seat 6 on June 18, 1988 ||||
| Broomfield | 1985–1999 |
| Bolton | 2000–2016 |
| Lanza | 2018–present |
Seat 10 :
| Seat established on November 29, 1999 by 113 Stat. 1501 ||||
| Teilborg | 2000–2013 |
| Logan | 2014–present |
Seat 11 :
| Seat established on November 29, 1999 by 113 Stat. 1501 ||||
| Murguia | 2000–2011 |
| Humetewa | 2014–present |
Seat 12 :
| Seat established on November 29, 1999 by 113 Stat. 1501 ||||
| Jorgenson | 2002–2018 |
| Rash | 2020–present |
Seat 13 :
| Seat established on December 21, 2000 by 114 Stat. 2762 ||||
| Bury | 2002–2012 |
| Soto | 2014–2024 |
| Martinez | 2024–present |
Seat 14 :
| Seat established on November 2, 2002 by 116 Stat. 1758 (temporary) ||||
| Campbell | 2003–2018 |
| Seat made permanent on December 23, 2024 by 138 Stat. 2693 ||||
| Liburdi | 2019–present |

## U.S. attorneys

* John Titus 1863
* Almon Gage 1863-64
* C. W. C. Powell 1869
* E. B. Pomroy 1876-82
* James A. Zabriskie 1882-85
* Owen T. Rouse 1885-89
* Harry R. Jeffords 1889-91
* Thomas F. Wilson 1891-93
* Everett E. Ellinwood 1893-98
* Robert E. Morrison 1898-1902
* Frederick S. Nave 1902-05
* Joseph L. B. Alexander 1905-10
* Joseph E. Morrison 1910-14
* Thomas A. Flynn 1914-22
* Frederick H. Bernard 1922-25
* John B. Wright 1925-29
* John C. Gung'l 1929-33
* Clifton Mathews 1933-35
* Frank E. Flynn 1935-53
* Edward W. Scruggs 1953
* Jack D. H. Hays 1953-60
* Charles A. Muecke 1960
* Mary Anne Reimann 1960-61
* Charles A. Muecke 1961-64
* Jo Ann D. Diamos 1964-65
* William P. Copple 1965-66
* Richard C. Gormley 1966-67
* Edward E. Davis 1967-69
* Richard K. Burke 1969-72
* William C. Smitherman 1972-77
* Michael D. Hawkins 1977-80
* Arthur B. Butler III 1980-81
* A. Melvin McDonald 1981-85
* Stephen M. McNamee 1985-90
* Linda A. Akers 1990-93
* Daniel G. Knauss 1993
* Janet Napolitano 1993-97
* Michael A. Johns 1997-98
* Jose de Jesus Rivera 1998-2001
* Paul K. Charlton 2001-2006
* Daniel G. Knauss 2007
* Diane Humetewa 2007-2009
* Dennis K. Burke 2009-2011
* John S. Leonardo 2012-2017
* Elizabeth A. Strange (Acting, Jan 2017 - June 2019)
* Michael G. Bailey 2019-2021
* Gary M. Restaino 2021-present