When Governor Doug Ducey appointed Angela K. Paton to the Arizona Court of Appeals back in 2021, most people just saw another name on a press release. It's easy to tune out judicial appointments. They feel like a bureaucratic formality, right? But honestly, if you live in Arizona, you’ve probably felt the ripples of the decisions made in Division One without even realizing it.
The Court of Appeals is where the "real" law often gets hammered out. Most cases never make it to the Supreme Court. They stop here.
Why Angela K. Paton matters right now
Judge Paton didn't just stumble into the bench. She’s spent a massive chunk of her life inside the machinery of the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. We’re talking years as a Special Assistant Attorney General and Ethics Counsel. Basically, she was the person other lawyers went to when they weren't sure if something was ethical or legal. That’s a heavy role.
In November 2024, she faced a retention election. You might remember seeing her name on your ballot. She won with about 66.7% of the vote. That’s over 900,000 people saying, "Yeah, she's doing a good job." Her term now runs all the way until 2031.
The Path to Division One
Most people think judges are born in robes, but Paton’s background is actually pretty grounded. She grew up in Arizona and stayed local for her education.
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- University of Arizona: Summa cum laude in History.
- Arizona State University (ASU): Law degree from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
- Chi Omega: She was actually a national leadership consultant for the fraternity.
She wasn't just a bookworm, either. During college, she worked at the Val Vista Lakes Community Association doing everything from cleaning up after weddings to taking out the trash. Honestly, there’s something refreshing about a judge who knows what it's like to work a "normal" job before handling high-stakes legal appeals.
What does she actually do all day?
It’s not like Law & Order. There are no surprise witnesses jumping out of the gallery. As a judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals, Paton reviews the work of lower courts. If a trial judge in Maricopa County or Yuma messed up a ruling, Paton and her colleagues are the ones who fix it.
She’s authored more than 60 appellate briefs throughout her career. She’s worked on everything from complex utility regulation at the Arizona Corporation Commission to criminal appeals. She also sits on the City of Phoenix Judicial Selection Advisory Board.
Common Misconceptions about Judge Paton
People often assume appellate judges are just politicians in disguise. Because she was appointed by a Republican governor, some folks expect a specific "vibe" to her rulings. But if you actually look at her judicial philosophy, she’s pretty vocal about sticking to the text.
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She has often quoted the idea that "Courts are the mere instruments of the law, and can will nothing."
Basically, she believes a judge shouldn't be making up new rules based on their feelings. They should just be following what the legislature wrote. Whether you agree with that or not, it’s a very consistent "originalist" approach that defines how she looks at a case.
The Ethics Factor
One thing that sets Angela K. Paton apart is her deep dive into legal ethics. Before the bench, she served on the Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. This is the group that decides if new law graduates are actually "good enough" people to be lawyers.
She’s seen the messy side of the profession. She's handled the cases where lawyers cut corners or lied to clients. That kind of background usually leads to a judge who is very stick-to-the-rules during oral arguments.
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What to expect through 2031
With her recent retention, Paton is a fixture of the Arizona legal landscape for the next several years. You’ll see her name on opinions involving:
- Property disputes that have dragged on for years.
- Criminal sentencing reviews where a defendant claims their rights were violated.
- State agency fights—like when a business sues the government over a regulation.
She’s also currently serving on the Phoenix Judicial Selection Advisory Board, helping pick the next generation of local judges.
Actionable steps for Arizona residents
If you're trying to keep tabs on how the court is shaping your life, don't just wait for the next election. You can actually read the decisions. The Court of Appeals, Division One, publishes their opinions online.
Search for "Paton" on the court's website to see her specific reasoning on cases. It's the best way to move past the campaign slogans and see how she actually interprets the law when the cameras aren't rolling.
Keep an eye on the 2026 judicial performance reviews as well. These reports are way more detailed than a standard news snippet and give you the "inside baseball" on how attorneys and staff feel a judge is performing.