So you say you want to be a state supreme court justice?

If you've been a resident and practicing lawyer in Arizona for at least 10 years, this opportunity may be just what you have been waiting for.

Michael Ryan, Justice on the Arizona Supreme Court, is retiring on August 6, and the search is on for a replacement.

The job pays $155K per year, less than most Joe and Jane Schmoe attorneys earn in private practice, but the perks and respect accorded to "Justice Schmoe" far exceed those accorded to "Attorney Schmoe."

The nominating commission is accepting applications (which can be downloaded from this page).  After they've reviewed all of the applications, they'll submit three of them to the Governor for her to consider.

According to the AZ Constitution, no more than two of the nominees submitted to the Governor can belong to the same political party.

Traditionally, this process is conducted and completed without (much) consideration to partisan politics, but given that the vacancy has occurred during an election year marked by lies and race-baiting, and the decision falls to *this* governor (less interested in facts and merit than in fostering fear), don't be surprised if she finds someone like the Louisiana JP who refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple late last year.

On the other hand, if you are a bigoted Republican lawyer (and no, not all Republicans or Republican lawyers are bigots) or are a Democratic lawyer who can keep a straight face when surrounded by nativists, you may be interested in filling out and returning an application (available above).

From the posting notice/application:

An original completed application, 16 double-sided copies, and one (1) single-sided copy must be received by the Human Resources Division, Administrative Office of the Courts, 1501 W. Washington, Suite 221, Phoenix, AZ, 85007, no later than 3:00 p.m. on August 20, 2010.

BTW - Environmentalists may *not* want to apply.  That requirement of 18 copies of the application (1 original, 16 double-sided, 1 single-sided), an application packet that is almost 15 pages long, before answers are filled out and other paperwork is added in, mean that each applicant will have to kill multiple trees to even be considered.

Have fun!