For the second time this year, no Democrats have applied to become Pinal County’s first merit-selected judge.
Some have attributed the difficulty in attracting Democrat applicants to Brewer’s perceived aversion to appointing them; she has selected only four Democratrs to Superior Court positions in Pima and Maricopa counties out of 34 openings.
On the appellate level, Brewer has appointed only GOP applicants.
The lack of Democrats also means another false start for Pinal County, which is moving to the new merit system of selecting judges. The county, which has had a judicial vacancy since mid-September, doesn’t even have a commission for nominating a new judge yet.
Governor Brewer spokesman Matthew Benson told the Yellow Sheet the governor intends to appoint and form the commission first and let the process play out from there. But he said she reserves the right to appoint a judge if the vacancy isn’t filled in a timely manner.
Information from the Yellow Sheet Report
