Maricopa County Superior Court Judge — Hon. Marischa H. Gilla retention
Maricopa County, Arizona
My vote power
Retention race
Election date
November 3, 2026 · General election
About this office
- Deciding trials in the county
- Ruling on evidence and setting sentences in criminal cases
- Deciding family, probate, and civil disputes
Affects: Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Civil Rights,
Marischa H. Gilla
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared
Marischa H. Gilla is a Maricopa County Superior Court judge on the 2026 retention ballot.
Where Marischa H. Gilla stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (6 records)
Mixed record
Civil Rights (1 support · 4 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 6 support
Terminated parental rights involving five children on abandonment, substance-abuse and out-of-home-placement grounds; the Court of Appeals affirmed.
March 30, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Terminated parental rights to K.C. after finding abuse and failure to protect; the Court of Appeals affirmed.
December 19, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Found K.C. dependent after concluding the child's parents had failed to protect the child; the Court of Appeals affirmed.
April 9, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Became bureau chief of the Maricopa County Attorney's Family Violence Bureau.
January 1, 2016Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: superiorcourt.maricopa.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Moved to the Maricopa County Attorney's Capital Litigation Bureau.
January 1, 2014Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: superiorcourt.maricopa.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Moved to the Maricopa County Attorney's Family Violence Bureau.
January 1, 2007Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: superiorcourt.maricopa.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 support · 4 oppose
Denied an in-loco-parentis visitation petition after giving special weight to a fit parent's decision; the Court of Appeals affirmed.
July 27, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Terminated parental rights involving five children on abandonment, substance-abuse and out-of-home-placement grounds; the Court of Appeals affirmed.
March 30, 2026Opposes Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Terminated parental rights to K.C. after finding abuse and failure to protect; the Court of Appeals affirmed.
December 19, 2024Opposes Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Terminated a father's parental rights to J.G. on out-of-home-placement grounds; the Court of Appeals affirmed.
May 14, 2024Opposes Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Terminated a mother's parental rights to A.S.; the Court of Appeals affirmed.
April 2, 2024Opposes Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — General
General · 5 records
Began serving in the Superior Court's family department.
June 1, 2025
Source: superiorcourt.maricopa.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Began serving in the Superior Court's juvenile department.
April 1, 2023
Source: superiorcourt.maricopa.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Was appointed to the Maricopa County Superior Court by Governor Katie Hobbs.
March 31, 2023
Source: azgovernor.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Began serving in the Superior Court's criminal department.
May 18, 2020
Source: superiorcourt.maricopa.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Was appointed a full-time Maricopa County Superior Court commissioner effective May 18, 2020.
May 18, 2020
Source: superiorcourt.maricopa.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Impartiality
Impartiality · 1 favorable
Received a 2022 commissioner-review survey showing 100% favorable responses for basic fairness and most equal-treatment measures.
May 20, 2022Favorable on Impartiality
Source: azcourts.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 10 favorable
Denied an in-loco-parentis visitation petition after giving special weight to a fit parent's decision; the Court of Appeals affirmed.
July 27, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Was found to meet Arizona judicial performance standards for the 2026 retention cycle.
April 10, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: jpr.azcourts.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Terminated parental rights involving five children on abandonment, substance-abuse and out-of-home-placement grounds; the Court of Appeals affirmed.
March 30, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Terminated parental rights to K.C. after finding abuse and failure to protect; the Court of Appeals affirmed.
December 19, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Terminated a father's parental rights to J.G. on out-of-home-placement grounds; the Court of Appeals affirmed.
May 14, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Found K.C. dependent after concluding the child's parents had failed to protect the child; the Court of Appeals affirmed.
April 9, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Terminated a mother's parental rights to A.S.; the Court of Appeals affirmed.
April 2, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Entered private practice as a criminal-defense attorney.
January 1, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: superiorcourt.maricopa.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became bureau chief of the Maricopa County Attorney's Family Violence Bureau.
January 1, 2016Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: superiorcourt.maricopa.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Began serving as a Maricopa County deputy county attorney in the Juvenile Division.
January 1, 2006Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: superiorcourt.maricopa.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 2 records
Was found to meet Arizona judicial performance standards for the 2026 retention cycle.
April 10, 2026
Source: jpr.azcourts.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Received a 2022 commissioner-review survey showing 100% favorable responses for basic fairness and most equal-treatment measures.
May 20, 2022
Source: azcourts.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Source: jpr.azcourts.gov