Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One Judge — Hon. James B. Morse retention
Source: elections.maricopa.gov
What does this office do?
- 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, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, Housing Affordability,
James B. Morse
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · Official site
James B. Morse Jr. is a judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One, since 2017. He spent nearly 10 years as a federal prosecutor and also worked as a Maricopa County deputy county attorney.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 10 records
Freedom Club PAC recommended retaining Morse in Arizona's 2026 judicial election.
September 27, 2026
Source: azballot.org
Wrote a ruling denying a jury-trial request in an Arizona Corporation Commission securities-enforcement case.
April 8, 2025
Source: azcourts.gov
Wrote a ruling granting a woman the right to seek a different judge for a new family-court petition.
November 26, 2024
Source: azcourts.gov
Wrote a mixed defamation ruling allowing some claims about a philanthropist's reputation to continue while dismissing others.
October 29, 2024
Source: azcourts.gov
Wrote a ruling that Phoenix residents and a neighborhood group lacked standing to challenge permits for relocating and digitizing billboards.
August 15, 2023
Source: azcourts.gov
Wrote a ruling partly upholding and partly overturning Arizona's utility-rate decision for Arizona Public Service, including a customer-service penalty and power-plant investment.
March 7, 2023
Source: azcourts.gov
Wrote a ruling allowing Tempe voters to pursue a referendum on a Town Lake development deal after finding the petition met legal requirements.
January 26, 2023
Source: azcourts.gov
Wrote a ruling overturning Arizona insurance regulators' order barring two companies from the individual health-insurance market for five years.
March 26, 2020
Source: azcourts.gov
Wrote a ruling upholding a woman's probation revocation and prison sentence.
April 18, 2019
Source: azcourts.gov
Began service on Arizona's Court of Appeals after working as a federal and county prosecutor and in private practice.
November 6, 2017
Source: coa1.azcourts.gov
Track record — Impartiality
Impartiality · 1 favorable
Arizona's judicial review commission found that Morse met its performance standards for the 2026 retention vote.
April 24, 2026Favorable on Impartiality
Source: jpr.azcourts.gov
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 1 favorable
Arizona's judicial review commission found that Morse met its performance standards for the 2026 retention vote.
April 24, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: jpr.azcourts.gov
Source: apps.azsos.gov