MOHAVE COUNTY – A vacant Mohave Court Commissioner position drew 7 applications before Tuesday’s close of business submission deadline. Superior Court Administrator Kip Anderson said he believed all of those seeking the judicial post are county residents, though their identities are confidential at this time.
The job opening occurs following Megan McCoy’s recent promotion from Commissioner to Division 1 Superior Court Judge. McCoy was appointed by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to serve out the term of the Honorable Charles Gurtler, who retired on June 30, following 27 years on the bench.
Anderson said the Special Judicial Officer Selection Commission consisting of local Superior Court Judges Lee Jantzen and Rick Lambert, Attorney Bryan Whitney, County Supervisor Jean Bishop and Kingman resident Becky Fawson will screen the job application materials and select top candidates for interviews currently being planned for late September. He said the timeline for bringing a new Commissioner aboard is a little murky, but that the hope is to have the new Judge working in November, if not sooner.
Requirements include that applicants must be a U.S. citizen, a duly licensed member of the State Bar of Arizona, a resident of Arizona for at least 5 years preceding application, and at least 30 years of age. The job post said scope of work is not limited to, but includes criminal arraignments, drug court, juvenile delinquency, and dependency matters.
Superior Court Judges hold elected positions and command higher salaries than Commissioners while Commissioners serve at the pleasure of Presiding Judges. It will be Presiding Judge Steve Moss who will select a Commissioner for employment offer, after reviewing recommendations from the screening panel.
The job post said that the entry level salary is expected to be at least $119,506, equivalent to 80% of the salary of a Superior Court Judge.
Gurtler, McCoy, and the new Commissioner will be the latest dominos to click in succession in the county legal community. Longtime Superior Court Clerk Virlynn Tinnell resigned in April after being selected to serve as Justice of the Peace, replaced internally by Christina Spurlock through interim appointment by Gurtler, fortified by Gov. Ducey’s decision to keep her there until voters fill the position at the end of next year’s election cycle.
Dave Hawkins