Gov. Doug Ducey announced the appointment of Judge Cynthia Bailey to the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division I.

This appointment was made to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Diane M. Johnsen. 

Ms. Bailey has served in all three branches of Arizona government, according to a release from Mr. Ducey’s office. She has been a judge with the Maricopa County Superior Court since 2012, achieving broad experience in the civil, criminal and family divisions.

Before her appointment as a judge on the Superior Court, she served as a commissioner on the same court for two years.

She is currently the Northeast Regional Court Presiding Judge and handles a civil calendar.

Since being appointed to the bench, she has demonstrated her leadership skills through involvement in various judicial committees, including the Settlement Conference Committee, Behavioral Health Committee, Initiatives Committee, Judicial Executive Committee and Superior Court Judges Pro Tem Appointment Committee.

Prior to joining the bench, Ms. Bailey was a Deputy Maricopa County Attorney, where she managed a felony caseload from 1993-1995 in the criminal division prosecuting major felonies through numerous jury trials.

From 2007-2010, Ms. Bailey worked in the civil division, practicing in the mental health court where she appeared in court daily to seek court-ordered mental health treatment for individuals unwilling to obtain help voluntarily.

She also worked at the Arizona Legislature where she was the Senate Rules Attorney from 1997-2001 and served as the Senate Judiciary Committee Analyst in 2004. There, she gained in-depth exposure to both the Arizona Constitution and all titles of state law. In these nonpartisan roles she reviewed, interpreted, and advised on bills. As the rules attorney, she advised on the constitutionality of proposed laws while also serving as an ethics advisor.