Judge Suzanne NICHOLLS


Seal of the Superior Court in Maricopa County, State of Arizona

Current Assignment:

Criminal Department Phoenix

Assignment History:

Department:
Criminal
Year:
6/2023
Location:
Phoenix
 
Department:
Family Court
Year:
5/2020
Location:
Phoenix
 

Work History:

2020 - Present: 
Judge, Maricopa County Superior Court 
2015 - 2020: 
Deputy Public Advocate, Maricopa County Office of the Public Advocate 
2014 - 2015: 
Assistant Attorney General, Arizona Attorney General's Office, Child & Family Protection Division 
2012 - 2014: 
Associate Attorney, Byrne & Benesch, PC 
2009 - 2012: 
Assistant Attorney General, Arizona Attorney General's Office, Criminal Appeals Division 
2008 - 2009: 
Associate Attorney, Kunz, Plitt, Demlong & Kleifield 
2007 - 2007: 
Law Clerk, California Attorney General's Office, Criminal Law Division, Appeals, Writs & Trials Section 
2007 - 2007: 
Judicial Extern to the Honorable Donn Kessler, Arizona Court of Appeals, Div. 1 
2007 - 2007: 
Law Clerk, United States Attorney's Office, Civil Division 
2006 - 2006: 
Law Clerk to then Presiding Judge Andrew W. Gould, Yuma County Superior Court 
1998 - 2005: 
Bodily Injury Claim Team Leader, Progressive Insurance 

Education:

  • Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude, 2008, Thomas Jefferson School of Law
  • Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, 2000, Arizona State University

Committees/Associations:

  • Supreme Court of the United States Bar (2019 - Present)
  • State Bar of Arizona (2009 - Present)
  • State Bar of California (2008 - Present)
  • American Bar Association (2018 - 2019)
  • Arizona Women's Lawyers Association (2020 - present)
  • Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court (2019 - present)
  • Yuma County Bar Association (2012 - 2015)
  • Mediation Workgroup, Maricopa County Superior Court, Juvenile Division (2017 - 2020)

Community Involvement:

  • Attorney Panelist, CODY (Court Ordered Dependent Youth Program), CASA of Maricopa County (2017 - 2020)
  • Attorney Panelist, HOPE (Helping Other Parents Engage Class), Parents for Parents (2018 - 2020)
  • Competition Judge, Arizona State University Moot Court various competitions (2015 - 2018)
  • Recipient, Arizona Public Defender Association Outstanding Performance Award (2017)
  • Recipient, Real Women of Chandler's Award , Chandler Lifestyle Magazine (2017)
  • Report Writer, South West Arizona Town Hall (2014, 2018)
  • Recorder and Report Writer, Arizona Town Hall (2014)
  • Yuma Rotary Group (2013 - 2015)
  • Soroptomist International of the Kachinas (West Valley) (2010 - 2012)
  • Publication: Responding to the Cries of the Innocent: Holding Non-Offending Parents Criminally Responsible for Failing to Protect the Abused Child, 30 T. Jefferson L. Rev. 309 (2007)