It is rare for voters to fire judges. The last time a judge was ousted was in 2014, after Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Benjamin Norris received a rating from the commission saying he did not meet standards. Hopkins stood as an outlier as 73 other judges met judicial standards, according to assessments from commissioners, though both Sukenic and Crandell had commissioners vote against them.
Judge Stephen M. Hopkins lost his reelection with only 38% voting to retain him after 15 commissioners on the Commission on Judicial Performance Review found Hopkins to be unfit for the bench.
Voters also rejected Judge Rusty Crandell, with 51% voting against his retention and Judge Howard Sukenic, with rejection from 59% of voters.
Crandell may stand a chance in securing reelection as hundreds of thousands of ballots remain to be counted.
Hopkins and Crandell oversaw criminal cases. Sukenic worked in family law.
It is rare for voters to fire judges. The last time a judge was ousted was in 2014, after Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Benjamin Norris received a rating from the commission saying he did not meet standards.
Hopkins stood as an outlier as 73 other judges met judicial standards, according to assessments from commissioners, though both Sukenic and Crandell had commissioners vote against them.
