More Information
Susan Pickard
Commission Staff
1501 W. Washington St., Ste. 410
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
602.452.3252
spickard@courts.az.gov
Commission Web Site:
http://supreme.state.az.us/courtserv/ComMinorities/minorities.htm
Other Resource Links:
• Arizona Judicial Branch - http://supreme.state.az.us/
- Judicial Vacancies - http://supreme.state.az.us/hr/hrjobs/courts.htm
- Juvenile Justice Service Division - http://supreme.state.az.us/jjsd/
• State Bar of Arizona - http://www.azbar.org/
• Maricopa County Bar Association - http://www.maricopabar.org/
• Pima County Bar Association - http://www.pimacountybar.org/
• Arizona Black Bar Association (formerly known as the Hayzel B. Daniels
Bar Association - http://hbdaniels.com/
• Los Abogados Bar Association - http://www.losabogados.org/
• American Bar Association Judicial Intern Opportunity Program http://www.abanet.org/litigation/jiop/
• National Bar Association Arizona Diversity Pipeline Program http://www.nbapipeline.org/index.html

Commission on
Minorities in the
Judiciary
Diversity
Cultural
Competency
Over
Representation
of Minority
Youth
Collaboration
and Outreach

This publication can be provided in an alternative format or other assistance
may be provided upon request by a qualified individual with a disability under
the provisions of The Americans with Disabilities Act.

COMMISSION ON MINORITIES IN THE
JUDICIARY
The Commission on Minorities in the Judiciary
(Commission) is a standing commission of the Arizona
Judicial Council (AJC). The work of the Commission is
given direction by Good to Great, the Strategic Agenda
for Arizona Courts, 2005-2010 and Arizona Code of
Judicial Administration (ACJA) § 1-107.
Central to the Commission’s purpose is assisting the
Arizona Judicial Branch in achieving the goals of enhancing communication
between the courts and minority communities; providing continuing education
to the judiciary and judicial staff on issues of cultural competency and racial
and ethnic diversity; increasing the diversity of the judiciary; and addressing
the over representation of minority youth in the justice system.
Since 1990, the Commission, through its members’ efforts, recommendations
to the AJC and collaborations with other stakeholders, has accomplished
great things. These accomplishments include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Hosting the Color-blind Justice? Minority Youth Over-representation in
the Arizona Juvenile Justice System Conference
Developing the 1993 Equitable Treatment of Minority Youth Report and
subsequent reports and Statewide Report Cards
Initiating Building Blocks Program in the Maryvale community - now a
project of Maricopa County’s Tinker Toys Initiative
Initiating Project RESTORE (a civil rights restoration project) in Maryvale
Establishing the Committee to Study Interpreter Issues
Establishing the Arizona Court Interpreter Funding Committee
Conducting the Chris Nakamura Judicial Appointment Workshop
biannually at the Minority Bar Convention and standalone seminar in
Pima County
Conducting the Judicial Clerkship Workshops at the U of A and ASU Law
Schools
Instituting a Cultural competency component in New Judge Orientation
In 2003 the Commission was awarded the Justice Award for Community
and Court Involvement for Community Outreach with Justice Zlaket

The Commission collaborates with other stakeholders:
•
Coalition for Juvenile Justice
•
Arizona Juvenile Justice Advisory Commission
•
Committee on Judicial Education and Training
•
Council on Legal Education Opportunities (CLEO)
•
State Bar of Arizona
•
Arizona Asian American Bar Association
•
Arizona Black Bar Association
•
Los Abogados Bar Association

Commission Members
Judge Roxanne K. Song Ong, Chair Judge Marie “Toni” Lorona
Phoenix Municipal Court
Eloy Justice Court
Jesus Diaz, Vice-Chair
Bryon Matsuda
Pima County Juvenile Court Services Coconino County Juvenile Court
Services
Judge Maria M. Avilez
Judge Leslie Miller
Sahuarita Municipal Court
Superior Court in Pima County
Mike Baumstark
Justin M. Ruggieri, Esq.
Administrative Office of the Courts
Tohono O'odham Gaming Enterprise
Judge Peter Eckerstrom
Patricia Seguin
Arizona Court of Appeals, Division II
Superior Court in Maricopa County
Brenetta Monyette Green
Margarita Silva, Esq.
Alcock & Associates, P.C.
Navidad, Leal & Silva, PLC
Joi Hollis, M.Ed.
Arthur Wilkerson
Superior Court in Pima County
Conciliation Court Services
Arizona Department of Juvenile
Corrections
Karin Humiston
Judge Eileen Willett
Cochise County Juvenile Court
Services
Superior Court in Maricopa County
Judge Mitchell D.K. Kalauli
Moccasin Justice Court
Niccole L. King, Esq.
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian
Community
Lisa S. Loo, Esq.
Arizona State University

Professor Penny L. Willrich
Phoenix School of Law