Governor Brewer appointed Jason Holmberg to the Pinal County Superior Court on Monday. Holmberg’s appointment was made to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Janna L. Vanderpool.
In July, Vanderpool resigned from the bench citing health problems as the reason for her resignation.
The resignation came days after Vanderpool received one of the worst ratings ever from the Commission on Judicial Performance Review.
In a 23-6 vote on June 27, the Commission found her to be unqualified to serve on the bench. Over a third of the attorneys who responded to a survey on her legal abilities found them to be either poor or unsatisfactory.
Members of Arizona’s Commission on Judicial Performance Review have deemed Pinal County Superior Court Judge Janna Vanderpool unfit to be on the bench. According to the Yellow Sheet, Vanderpool was the only one of 77 judges from Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties who the 30-member commission voted as unqualified last week.
Pinal County voters elected Vanderpool to the bench three times. However, Pinal County’s Presiding Superior Court Judge Carter Olson joined the majority in the 23-6 vote against Vanderpool.
Attorneys gave Vanderpool a 36 percent rating, in a recent survey, finding her legal ability as “poor” or “unsatisfactory.” That rating, which is shared with the voters, will make Vanderpool the first judge in Pinal County not to be recommended for retention.
Holmberg has worked for the Pinal County Attorney’s Office since 2009. Holmberg currently serves as Bureau Chief for the Special Victims Unit, a role in which he handles cases involving sex crimes and child and elder abuse.
Prior to joining the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, Holmberg served as Assistant Bureau Chief for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (2004-‘09). During law school, he worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada; Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office; and Hawthorne City Attorney’s Office.
Holmberg was a nominee for the David R. White Excellence in Victim Advocacy Award (2012), and received a commendation from the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office (2003).
Holmberg graduated from the University of California-Los Angeles School of Law (2004), and earned his undergraduate degree in Communications from the University of Southern California (2001). He has been licensed to practice law in Arizona since 2004.