John Hinderaker
John Hinderaker is a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. He was nominated by President Donald Trump (R) on December 2, 2019, and confirmed by a 70-27 vote of the U.S. Senate on September 23, 2020.[1] To see a full list of judges appointed by Donald Trump, click here.
The United States District Court for the District of Arizona is one of 94 U.S. District Courts. They are the general trial courts of the United States federal courts. To learn more about the court, click here.
Hinderaker was a judge of the Pima County Superior Court in Arizona from 2018 to 2020. Gov. Doug Ducey (R) appointed Hinderaker to the court to succeed Judge Sean Brearcliffe.[2]
Judicial nominations and appointments
United States District Court for the District of Arizona (2020-present)
- See also: Federal judges nominated by Donald Trump
On December 2, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) nominated Hinderaker to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. He was confirmed by a 70-27 vote of the U.S. Senate on September 23, 2020.[1] Hinderaker received commission on September 29, 2020.[3] To read more about the federal nominations process, click here.
 |
| Nominee Information |
| Name: John Hinderaker |
| Court: United States District Court for the District of Arizona |
| Progress |
| Confirmed 296 days after nomination. |
 Nominated: December 2, 2019
|
| ABA Rating: Unanimously well qualified
|
| Questionnaire: Questionnaire |
| Hearing: December 4, 2019
|
| QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more) |
| Reported: March 5, 2020
|
| Confirmed: September 23, 2020
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| Vote: 70-27
|
Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Hinderaker by a vote of 70-27 on September 23, 2020.[1] To see a full breakdown of the vote on the official U.S. Senate website, click here.
| Hinderaker confirmation vote (September 23, 2020) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Yea | Nay | No vote | ||||||
 Democratic |
41 | 3 | 1 | ||||||
 Republican |
27 | 24 | 2 | ||||||
 Independent |
2 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 70 | 27 | 3 | ||||||
Change in Senate rules
Hinderaker was confirmed to a U.S. District Court under a new precedent the Senate established.
On April 3, 2019, the U.S. Senate voted 51-48 in favor of a change to chamber precedent lowering the maximum time allowed for debate on executive nominees to posts below the Cabinet level and on nominees to district court judgeships from 30 hours after invoking cloture to two.[4]
The change was passed under a procedure, often referred to as the nuclear option, that requires 51 votes rather than 60.[5]
It was the third use of the nuclear option in Senate history. In 2013, it was used to eliminate the 60-vote threshold to confirm presidential nominees, except those to the Supreme Court. In 2017, it was used to eliminate the 60-vote threshold required to confirm Supreme Court nominees.[6] For more, see Filibuster and reconciliation in the United States Congress.
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Hinderaker's nomination on December 4, 2019.[7] Hinderaker was reported to the full Senate on March 5, 2020, after a 16-6 vote by the judiciary committee.[8]
Nomination
On November 6, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) announced his intent to nominate Hinderaker to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Arizona.[9] The president officially submitted the nomination on December 2, 2019.[1]
Hinderaker was nominated to replace Judge Raner Collins, who assumed senior status, on March 3, 2019.[1]
Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D) supported Hinderaker's nomination. Sinema said in a statement, "Hinderaker brings a wealth of experience to the U.S. District Court as one of the most well-respected professionals in the Arizona legal community. He has served Arizona with distinction. I am confident he will continue that legacy on the District Court and I am pleased the White House worked with me to find a highly qualified nominee for this important position."[10]
The American Bar Association unanimously rated Hinderaker well qualified for the position.[11] To read more about ABA ratings, click here.
Pima County Superior Court (2018-2020)
- See also: Judges appointed by Doug Ducey
Hinderaker became a judge on the Pima County Superior Court in Arizona in 2018. Gov. Doug Ducey (R) appointed Hinderaker to the court in February 2018 to succeed Judge Sean Brearcliffe.[2] Hinderaker left office after he was confirmed to the United States District Court for the District of Arizona on September 23, 2020.
2020 retention election
Pima County Superior Court, John Hinderaker's seat
John Hinderaker was retained to the Pima County Superior Court on November 3, 2020 with 73.0% of the vote.
Retention Vote |
% |
Votes |
|||
| ✔ | Yes |
73.0
|
284,667 | ||
No |
27.0
|
105,279 | |||
Total Votes |
389,946 | ||||
|
|
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
John Hinderaker did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Early life and education
Hinderaker was born in 1968 in Indio, California. He earned his B.A., with honors, in business economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 1991 and his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1996. During his legal studies, he was a member of the Arizona Law Review.[12]
Professional career
- 2020-present: Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona
- 2018-2020: Judge, Pima County Superior Court, Arizona
- 1998-2018: Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP in Tucson, Arizona
- 2003-2018: Partner
- 1998-2003: Associate
- February-March 1998: Research attorney, International Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade
- 1996-1998: United States District Court for the District of Arizona
Associations
- Arizona Judges Association
- Arizona Women Lawyers Association
- American Bar Association
- Boy Scouts of America
- Pima County Bar Association[12]
About the court
| District of Arizona |
|---|
| Ninth Circuit |
|
| Judgeships |
| Posts: 13 |
| Judges: 13 |
| Vacancies: 0 |
| Judges |
| Chief: Murray Snow |
| Active judges: Susan Brnovich, John Hinderaker, Diane Humetewa, Krissa Lanham, Dominic Lanza, Michael Liburdi, Steven Logan, Rosemary Marquez, Angela Martinez, Scott Rash, G. Murray Snow, John Tuchi, Jennifer Zipps Senior judges: |
The United States District Court for the District of Arizona is one of 94 United States district courts. Cases are heard in Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma, and Prescott. When decisions of the court are appealed, they are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, based in downtown San Francisco at the James R. Browning Federal Courthouse. Initial appeals are heard at the Richard Chambers Federal Courthouse in Pasadena, California.
The jurisdiction of the District of Arizona consists of all the counties in the state of Arizona. Court is held in the cities of Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Yuma and Prescott.
The District of Arizona has original jurisdiction over cases filed within its jurisdiction. These cases can include civil and criminal matters that fall under federal law.
To read opinions published by this court, click here.
The federal nomination process
Federal judges are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. There are multiple steps to the process:
- The president nominates an individual for a judicial seat.
- The nominee fills out a questionnaire and is reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing with the nominee, questioning them about things like their judicial philosophy, past rulings or opinions, etc.
- As part of this process, the committee sends a blue slip to senators from the home state in which the judicial nomination was received, allowing them to express their approval or disapproval of the nominee.
- After the hearing, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to approve or return the nominee.
- If approved, the nominee is voted on by the full Senate.
- If the Committee votes to return the nominee to the president, the president has the opportunity to re-nominate the individual.
- The Senate holds a vote on the candidate.
- If the Senate confirms the nomination, the nominee receives a commission to serve a lifelong position as a federal judge.
- If the Senate does not confirm the nomination, that nominee does not become a judge.
See also
- United States District Court for the District of Arizona
- United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
- Pima County Superior Court, Arizona
- Pima County, Arizona
- Arizona Superior Courts
- Courts in Arizona
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
- United States District Court for the District of Arizona
- United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
- Pima County Superior Court
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Congress.gov, "PN1314 — John Charles Hinderaker — The Judiciary," accessed December 3, 2019
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Office of the Governor Doug Ducey, "Governor Ducey Appoints John Hinderaker and Scott McDonald to The Pima County Superior Court," February 27, 2018
- ↑ Federal Judicial Center, "Hinderaker, John Charles," accessed September 30, 2020
- ↑ The Hill, "GOP triggers 'nuclear option' to speed up Trump picks," April 3, 2019
- ↑ Axios, "Senate GOP invokes 'nuclear option' to speed up confirmations of Trump nominees," April 3, 2019
- ↑ NBC News, "McConnell to use 'nuclear option' to confirm lower-level nominees," April 2, 2019
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Nominations," December 4, 2019
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee, "Results of Executive Business Meeting," March 5, 2020
- ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Judicial Nominees," November 6, 2019
- ↑ Kyrsten Sinema, U.S. Senator for Arizona, "Sinema applauds nomination of John Hinderaker for U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona," November 6, 2019
- ↑ American Bar Association, "Ratings of Article III and Article IV judicial nominees: 116th Congress," accessed December 4, 2019
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Senate Judiciary Committee, "Questionnaire for judicial nominees: John Charles Hinderaker," accessed December 17, 2019
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
United States District Court for the District of Arizona 2020-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Pima County Superior Court 2018-2020 |
Succeeded by - |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 |
Thomas Parker • Elizabeth Branch • Neil Gorsuch • Amul Thapar • David C. Nye • John K. Bush • Kevin Newsom • Timothy J. Kelly • Ralph Erickson • Scott Palk • Trevor McFadden • Joan Larsen • Amy Coney Barrett • Allison Eid • Stephanos Bibas • Donald Coggins Jr. • Dabney Friedrich • Greg Katsas • Steven Grasz • Don Willett • James Ho • William L. Campbell Jr. • David Stras • Tilman E. Self III • Karen Gren Scholer • Terry A. Doughty • Claria Horn Boom • John Broomes • Rebecca Grady Jennings • Kyle Duncan • Kurt Engelhardt • Michael B. Brennan • Joel Carson • Robert Wier • Fernando Rodriguez Jr. • Annemarie Carney Axon • | ||
| 2018 |
Andrew Oldham • Amy St. Eve • Michael Scudder • John Nalbandian • Mark Bennett • Andrew Oldham • Britt Grant • Colm Connolly • Maryellen Noreika • Jill Otake • Jeffrey Beaverstock • Emily Coody Marks • Holly Lou Teeter • Julius Richardson • Charles B. Goodwin • Barry Ashe • Stan Baker • A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr. • Terry F. Moorer • Susan Baxter • William Jung • Alan Albright • Dominic Lanza • Eric Tostrud • Charles Williams • Nancy E. Brasel • James Sweeney • Kari A. Dooley • Marilyn J. Horan • Robert Summerhays • Brett Kavanaugh • David Porter • Liles Burke • Michael Juneau • Peter Phipps • Lance Walker • Richard Sullivan • Eli Richardson • Ryan Nelson • Chad F. Kenney, Sr. • Susan Brnovich • William M. Ray, II • Jeremy Kernodle • Thomas Kleeh • J.P. Hanlon • Mark Norris • Jonathan Kobes • Michael Brown • David Counts | ||
| 2019 |
Eric Miller • Chad Readler • Eric Murphy • Neomi Rao • Paul Matey • Allison Jones Rushing • Bridget S. Bade • Roy Altman • Patrick Wyrick • Holly Brady • David Morales • Andrew Brasher • J. Campbell Barker • Rodolfo Ruiz • Daniel Domenico • Michael Truncale • Michael Park • Joseph Bianco • Raúl Arias-Marxuach • Daniel Collins • Joshua Wolson • Wendy Vitter • Kenneth Kiyul Lee • Kenneth Bell • Stephen Clark • Howard Nielson • Rodney Smith • Jean-Paul Boulee • Sarah Daggett Morrison • Rossie Alston • Pamela A. Barker • Corey Maze • Greg Guidry • Matthew Kacsmaryk • Allen Winsor • Carl Nichols • James Cain, Jr. • Tom Barber • J. Nicholas Ranjan • Clifton L. Corker • Peter Phipps • Daniel Bress • Damon Leichty • Wendy W. Berger • Peter Welte • Michael Liburdi • William Shaw Stickman • Mark Pittman • Karin J. Immergut • Jason Pulliam • Brantley Starr • Brian Buescher • James Wesley Hendrix • Timothy Reif • Martha Pacold • Sean Jordan • Mary Rowland • John M. Younge • Jeff Brown • Ada Brown • Steven Grimberg • Stephanie A. Gallagher • Steven Seeger • Stephanie Haines • Mary McElroy • David J. Novak • Frank W. Volk • Charles Eskridge • Rachel Kovner • Justin Walker • T. Kent Wetherell • Danielle Hunsaker • Lee Rudofsky • Jennifer Philpott Wilson • William Nardini • Steven Menashi • Robert J. Luck • Eric Komitee • Douglas Cole • John Sinatra • Sarah Pitlyk • Barbara Lagoa • Richard Myers II • Sherri Lydon • Patrick Bumatay • R. Austin Huffaker • Miller Baker • Anuraag Singhal • Karen Marston • Jodi Dishman • Mary Kay Vyskocil • Matthew McFarland • John Gallagher • Bernard Jones • Kea Riggs • Robert J. Colville • Stephanie Dawkins Davis • Gary R. Brown • David Barlow • Lewis Liman | ||
| 2020 |
Lawrence VanDyke • Daniel Traynor • John Kness • Joshua Kindred • Philip Halpern • Silvia Carreno-Coll • Scott Rash • John Heil • Anna Manasco • John L. Badalamenti • Drew Tipton • Andrew Brasher • Cory Wilson • Scott Hardy • David Joseph • Matthew Schelp • John Cronan • Justin Walker • Brett H. Ludwig • Christy Wiegand • Thomas Cullen • Diane Gujarati • Stanley Blumenfeld • Mark Scarsi • John Holcomb • Stephen P. McGlynn • Todd Robinson • Hala Jarbou • David Dugan • Iain D. Johnston • Franklin U. Valderrama • John Hinderaker • Roderick Young • Michael Newman • Aileen Cannon • James Knepp • Kathryn Kimball Mizelle • Benjamin Beaton • Kristi Johnson • Toby Crouse • Philip Calabrese • Taylor McNeel • Thomas Kirsch • Stephen Vaden • Katherine Crytzer • Fernando Aenlle-Rocha • Charles Atchley • Joseph Dawson | ||
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Arizona • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Arizona
State courts:
Arizona Supreme Court • Arizona Court of Appeals • Arizona Superior Court • Arizona Justice Courts • Arizona Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Arizona • Arizona judicial elections • Judicial selection in Arizona
