Arizona Justice of the Peace Association
Our Mission Statement:
“The Arizona Justice of the Peace Association, for the benefit of its members and the Judicial Branch of Government, seeks the constant improvement and growth of its members through education and fellowship. The association promotes the highest standards of professionalism while protecting the interest and independence of Justice of the Peace Courts in Arizona. It is our responsibility to live up to the charge we have been given. Together, we pledge our solidarity to protect Arizona Courts, to strengthen that which we have been given and to magnify the well regarded reputation of ourselves and others at all times.” "H I S T O R Y"
ARIZONA JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND CONSTABLE ASSOCIATION It was in the 1940's when the Justices of the Peace and Constables in Arizona met and formed a group and called themselves "ARIZONA JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND CONSTABLE ASSOCIATION." By the early 1990's, the Association had become very strong not only monetarily but had gained strength in lobbying judicial issues with their state legislators. It was then ruled by the Arizona Supreme Court that there needed to be a separation of powers and that the Justices of the Peace and Constables could no longer co-mingle as an association. Consequently, the association separated immediately dividing the association funds.
ARIZONA JUSTICE COURTS ASSOCIATION
The Justices of the Peace quickly formed a new association, named "ARIZONA JUSTICE COURTS ASSOCIATION." This association established an open policy whereas anybody with the courts could be a member. This association lasted approximately two years when its members realized that court employee issues were different in all the classifications and terminated this association.
ARIZONA JUSTICE OF THE PEACE ASSOCIATION In 1996 a new organization was formed called "ARIZONA JUSTICE OF THE PEACE ASSOCIATION." Membership was limited to Justices of the Peace currently in office. Hon. Sherry Geisler was the first president and the key figure in forming this association and keeping it going. Other than the bylaw changes in 2004 adding Magistrates and Protems and making officially retired justices honorary members, the association is as it stands today.
2020 Conference Information
Arizona Justice of the Peace Association & Arizona Magistrates Association Conference
To all Justices of the Peace, Magistrates, Pro Tem Judges & Court Staff
It’s time to make plans for the 2020 AJPA & AMA Conference.
Our year, so far, has been an extraordinary one of change, adaption, and reflection. Conferences, including our statewide Judicial Conference, have been cancelled. Meetings have morphed into Zoom conferences. We’re excited that our 2020 AJPA Conference will take place September 1,2,3, & 4, 2020, at the Prescott Resort & Conference Center, 1500 State Route 69, Prescott, Arizona. (As a reminder: This year’s conference takes place the week BEFORE Labor Day)
There is a room block set up for you: We have reserved 130 rooms in the hotel and have a deadline to book them. You should secure your room as soon as possible. We are taking the biggest part of the hotel, so please get your reservations in early. The ROOM BLOCK GROUP CODE is #G9129. Contact the Prescott Resort at 1-888-657-7855 for reservations, and ask for the room block rate of $74 (+ 12.6% privilege tax) per night for each single, double, or triple. Check in time at hotel is 3 p.m. and late check out time is Noon. One of the reasons we can keep the room rate so low is that there are no breakfast vouchers. The hotel will let you reserve your room for up to (3) days prior to the conference and (3) days after for the Labor Day Weekend at the group rate. The DEADLINE for room Reservation is August 3, 2020. After August 3rd, the availability of hotel rooms cannot be guaranteed.
About our 2020 Conference programming: We are again pleased to be working with the Arizona Magistrates Association in developing this year’s sessions. Significantly, we’re also working with the AOC of our Arizona Supreme Court to create an important plenary reviewing how our court system has responded in this year of crisis, what we have learned, what best practices we have developed, and the planning in hand as we move forward. Other sessions will focus on Information/Disinformation, Tribal & Cultural Awareness, Ethics & Elections, and Self-Represented Litigants, as well as important updates on new rules, domestic-violence and DUI issues, evictions & writs, cyber security and much, much more.
On Tuesday, September 1st we will hold a Firearms Class, limited to conference attendees ONLY, under a separate registration and cost. (See registration forms below.)
We will also host a Personal Defense Class on Tuesday, September 1st, in the afternoon.
We will send you more program details, when specifics have been confirmed.
For easy reference:
- · Our Conference will take place 9/1-4/2020 (Tuesday to Friday noon) at the Prescott Resort in Prescott, AZ.
- · Make your room reservation ASAP to secure your accommodations. Rooms are limited.
- · To make a reservation, contact the Prescott Resort at 1-888-657-7855.
- · Use AJPA Group Code #G9129 to receive a rate of $74 (+12.6% privilege tax) per room night.
- · Rooms may be reserved up to three days in advance and three days following the conference.
We look forward to seeing you all in the cooler country. Please print this out so you have all the date and phone information to make your room reservations.
Click here for Conference Registration Form (Available after June 1, 2020)
Justice of the Peace of the Year; Sherry Geisler Award
Sherry Geisler
Each year a Justice of the Peace is recognized for his or her outstanding service to the Judiciary.
In 2013 the Award name was changed to the Sherry Geisler Award in honor of the late Honorable Sherry Geisler of Round Valley Justice Court.
Judge Geisler began her career as a clerk in 1982 she served as a pro-tem and began her judicial career in 1993. When the association split from the partnership with the constables the Az Justice of the Peace Association was born Judge Geisler was the first association president in 1996. Judge Geisler served on numerous committees for the Arizona Supreme Court including the Judicial ethics commission she served as a mentor judge for many years; she was a true example of the qualities expected for the Justice of the Peace of the year award.
The Honorable Sherry Geisler, Round Valley Justice of the Peace
Honorable Anna Huberman - 2019 Justice of the Peace of the Year
This year’s recipient for the Justice of the Peace of the Year is Judge Anna Huberman from Maricopa County and was first elected to the bench in 2012. Judge Huberman is the first Justice of the Peace for a newly created precinct, the Country Meadows Justice Court. Judge Huberman also serves as the Presiding Judge for the Southwest Regional Court Center.
Judge Huberman serves on numerous committees for the State as well as locally for Maricopa County. She has served on the Judicial Conference Planning Committee in 2017 and 2018. She also serves on the board of the Judicial College of Arizona.
As a member of the Commission of Access to Justice she was appointed by Judge Lawrence Winthrop as the chair of the Limited Jurisdiction Self-Represented Litigants Workgroup and has served in that capacity for over two years. The workgroup has studied and analyzed rule change petitions for eviction actions and made recommendations to the Commission. Additionally, the work group just completed an educational product to increase access to justice for self-represented landlords and tenants. The information produced include information sheets, FAQs. glossary, videos, and forms which are available in both English and Spanish. All of this is accessible through the AOC's webpages and the AZCourtHelp website.
Judge Huberman is a presenter or co-presenter for conferences at both the local and state levels, presenting to court staff and judicial officers on subjects such as eviction actions, language access, Spanish for court staff and interpreting challenges.
Judge Huberman participates in many community activities educating the public on the court system including television/radio in both English and Spanish and also writes articles for newspapers. She volunteers for Make-a-Wish, serving meals to homeless seniors, and educating youth on her judicial position and running for elected office.
Association Officers and Board Members
Honorable John Peck
President
Honorable Rob Krombeen
Vice President
Honorable Michael Skiles
Treasurer
Honorable Cathy Riggs
Secretary
Honorable Dorothy Little
Immediate Past President
Honorable David Widmaier
Board Member
Honorable Bruce Staggs Board Member
Honorable Sam Goodman Board Member
Honorable Wyatt Palmer Board Member
Honorable David Osterfeld Board Member
Honorable Steve Urie Board Member
Honorable Gerald Williams Board Member
Honorable Charlene Pesquira Board Member
Honorable Keith Russell Board Member
Honorable Donald Roberts Board Member
Honorable Sherwood Johnston, III Board Member
Honorable Barbara Brown Board Member
Honorable Russ Jones Board Member
Honorable Erica Cornejo Board Member
Honorable Gary Griffith Board Member
Judicial Education and Resources
The following links are education and resources provided by various sources throughout the State.
Maricopa County Podcasts
Click here to view access and connect to numerous podcasts on a variety of subjects of interest to limited jurisdiction judges.
Maricopa County Resources
Click here to access and connect to several resources available to assist in the management and operations of our courts.
FAIR JUSTICE MITGATION BENCH CARD EFFECTIVE 01-01-19
Maricopa County COVID-19 Resources
Click here to view access and connect to several resources regarding COVID-19.
Wendell
IN THE NEWS
Administrative Order 2020-79 (5/20/2020) AUTHORIZING LIMITATION OF COURT OPERATIONS DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND TRANSITION TO RESUMPTION OF CERTAIN OPERATIONS - Click here
Administrative Order 2020-75 (5/8/2020) AUTHORIZING LIMITATION OF COURT OPERATIONS DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND TRANSITION TO RESUMPTION OF CERTAIN OPERATIONS - Click here
Administrative Order 2020-70 (4/24/2020) AUTHORIZING LIMITATION OF COURT OPERATIONS DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY - Click here
Arizona Supreme Court Order in Response to COVID-19 - Click here
Administrative Order 2020 - 47 (3/16/2020) AUTHORIZING LIMITATION OF COURT OPERATIONS DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY - Click here
Administrative Order 2020 - 45 (3/13/2020) SUSPENSION OF ARIZONA CODE OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION TIME REQUIREMENTS DUE TO A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY - Click here
Administrative Order 2020 - 44 (3/13/2020) JUDICIAL REVIEW OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ORDERS TO CONTROL COMMUNICABLE OR INFECTIOUS DISEASES - Click here
UPCOMING EVENTS
CANCELLED - AZ Magistrates Association Annual Spring Break Conference - March 25, 26, 27, 2020
CANCELLED - National Judges Association Conference - June 7-12, 2020, Grants Pass, Oregon
CANCELLED - Arizona Judicial Conference - June 24, 25, 26, 2020 - Tucson
AZ Justice of the Peace Association Conference - September 1-4, 2020 - Prescott
Materials and Bios from the 2019 Conference
Please note: Class Materials were not be printed this year. They are available as links which you may download to your device. Links are available below the class description on this page. Additionally, for the link to presenter Bio's, click here.
TUESDAY, 9/3/19
3-6 p.m. Registration
5-7 p.m. President’s Reception
WEDNESDAY, 9/4/19
9-9:30 a.m. Opening/Presentation of Colors/Awards & Announcements
9:30-10:30 a.m. The Road Ahead: Chief Justice Robert Brutinel (Plenary Session)
10:45 a.m.-Noon Working Smarter Together:
Noon – 1 p.m. Lunch
1-2 p.m. Hot Topics for Judges:
Class Materials: Montgomery, Penzone
Performance Reviews:
Class Materials: Slides
When the Public Comes Calling:
Class Materials: Slides, Handouts
2:15-3:15 p.m. Time Standards:
Class Materials: Handout
Compliance with Law, with AOC Assistance:
Class Materials: Handout, Slides, Links
Interpreting Challenges:
Class Materials: Handout 1, Handout 2, Handout 3,
Handout 4, Handout 5, Handout 6, Handout 7,
3:30-4:30 p.m. Effective Court Responses for People Suffering from Mental Illness.
Class Materials: Handout, Slides
What’s New and Improved about AJACS?:
Surviving Operational Reviews:
Class Materials: Handout #1, Handout #2
THURSDAY, 9/5/19
9-10 a.m. New Rules and Points to Ponder:
Class Materials: Case Law Handout, Case Law Slides,
Legislative Handout, Warrant Bond Slides, Link #1,
10:15-11:45 a.m. Criminal Justice Reform:
Class Materials: #1 Community Town Halls Final Report, #2 "Criminal Justice in Arizona” statewide Town Hall
Recommendations Report
11:45-1 p.m. LUNCH
AJPA Board will meet.
1-2 p.m. Distracted Driving Concerns:
Cameras in Court:
Class Materials: Handouts
Securing Our Networks:
Class Materials: Handout 1, Handout 2
2:15-3:15 p.m. Where we are with Court Security:
Class Materials: Handouts, Slides
Risk Assessment/Intimate Partners:
Specialty Courts:
Class Materials: Slides, Statutes
3:30-4:45 p.m. Understanding the New OP/Injunctions Process: Class Materials: Handout
5-7 p.m. A Movie, Burgers, Hot Dogs & More:
FRIDAY, 9/6/19
9-11 a.m. What Did You Think?:
Click here for Presenter Biographies