Danelle Liwski
AZ · Presiding Judge, Arizona Superior Court in Pima County
Danelle Liwski is the presiding judge of the Arizona Superior Court in Pima County and serves in Division 6.
Where Danelle Liwski stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record)
Track record
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Led the launch of STEPs, a Pima County court program started in February 2021. It sends people facing low-level drug charges to treatment instead of prosecution.
March 31, 2021Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: sc.pima.gov
Track record — General
General · 2 records
Was appointed a Pima County Superior Court judge in April 2011. In July 2024 she became the presiding judge, who runs the county's trial courts.
November 14, 2025
Source: tucsonrotary.org
Was kept on the bench by Pima County voters on November 8, 2022. The retention vote was 230,082 yes (75.4%) to 75,152 no.
November 8, 2022
Source: content.civicplus.com
Track record — Impartiality
Impartiality · 2 favorable
Was found to meet judicial performance standards by Arizona's judicial review commission in 2026. In surveys, 95% rated her impartiality and 88% rated her legal ability as acceptable or better.
April 24, 2026Favorable on Impartiality
Source: jpr.azcourts.gov
Was found to meet judicial performance standards by Arizona's judicial review commission in 2022. The vote was 27 to 0, and 98% of lawyers rated her legal ability acceptable or better.
April 22, 2022Favorable on Impartiality
Source: jpr.azcourts.gov
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 2 favorable · 2 unfavorable
Was found to meet judicial performance standards by Arizona's judicial review commission in 2026. In surveys, 95% rated her impartiality and 88% rated her legal ability as acceptable or better.
April 24, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: jpr.azcourts.gov
Had her order releasing a secret grand jury transcript reversed by the Arizona Court of Appeals on May 16, 2023. The court said only the presiding judge had that power.
May 16, 2023Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: appeals2.az.gov
Was found to meet judicial performance standards by Arizona's judicial review commission in 2022. The vote was 27 to 0, and 98% of lawyers rated her legal ability acceptable or better.
April 22, 2022Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: jpr.azcourts.gov
Had a ruling overturned by the Arizona Court of Appeals on August 28, 2015. She had let a drug defendant use a medical marijuana defense, and the court said that was a legal error.
August 28, 2015Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: appeals2.az.gov
Past race Danelle Liwski ran in:
- Pima County Superior Court Judge — Hon. Danelle Liwski retention · November 3, 2026 · Pima County, Arizona · incumbent