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Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025

Are all magistrate judges required to have a law degree to be appointed in Arizona?

Tallulah Anne, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
no

A law degree is not required for all magistrate—or municipal—judge appointments in Arizona. City and town magistrates are appointed under local ordinances, meaning qualifications vary by municipality. In addition to handling matters such as misdemeanors, traffic tickets and city code violations, they can issue warrants or protection orders. 

Arizona’s judicial selection system differs by court level. Appellate and superior court judges are appointed through a merit-based system and must be licensed attorneys, while justice court judges are elected and not required to have law degrees. 

Thirty-two states allow at least some judges, including magistrates, to serve without a law degree, according to the Columbia Law Review.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

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