The United States District Court for the District of Arizona (in case citations, D. Ariz.) is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Arizona. Court is held in the cities of Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma, and Prescott. The district was created on June 20, 1910, by 36 Stat. 557. By that statute, the United States Congress organized Arizona as one judicial district, authorized one judgeship for the court, and assigned the district to the Ninth Circuit. The act became effective upon the admission of the State of Arizona on February 14, 1912.
Cases from the District of Arizona are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit). From 1930 to 2000, Tucson courts were housed in the James A. Walsh U.S. Courthouse. Presently, courts are located in the Sandra Day O'Connor United States Courthouse in downtown Phoenix. Following the murder (during the 2011 Tucson shooting, by Jared Loughner) of the Arizona District's Chief Judge at the time, Judge John M. Roll, a federal courthouse named for him that will serve the District in Yuma, Arizona (as stated, where court is now held) has had ground broken for a 2013 completion date.
The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in this court. The current United States Attorney for Arizona is John S. Leonardo, who was confirmed by unanimous consent by the Senate on June 29, 2012.
On Tuesday, March 21, 2012, President Barack Obama nominated Judge John S. Leonardo to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. “Judge John S. Leonardo’s legal career has been distinguished and impressive,” said President Obama. “I am confident that, as a U.S. Attorney, he will be relentless in his pursuit of justice and serve the people of Arizona with distinction.” Judge John S. Leonardo served as a Judge for the Pima County Superior Court, a position he held from 1993 to 2012. From 2002 to 2007, he also served as the Presiding Judge. Prior to his judicial service, Judge Leonardo served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Arizona from 1982 to 1993 and for the Northern District of Indiana from 1973 to 1982, where he also served as the First Assistant United States Attorney from 1978 to 1982. From 1972 to 1973, Judge Leonardo was an Assistant State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, Maryland. Judge Leonardo graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1969 and from the George Washington University School of Law in 1972.
Read more about United States District Court For The District Of Arizona: Current Judges, Former Judges
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