Michele Reagan is currently one of only a handful of Arizonans who have served in all 3 branches of state government. After a successful decade owning a small business in Phoenix, she was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2002 and later also served in the Arizona Senate where she chaired the Economic Development Committee. In 2014 Judge Reagan was elected to serve as Arizona’s 20th Secretary of State. Previously, Reagan was named one of the 50 most Influential Women in Arizona by AZ Business Magazine.
She succeeds her father, Judge Michael Reagan, who served as the McDowell Mountain Justice of the Peace for 15 years. As a tribute to the work he did, Michele still wears his old robe while on the Bench.
Judge Reagan is the presiding judge of the Veteran's Treatment Court (VTC) for the Northeast judicial precincts
Judge Reagan currently serves as the Legislative Chair for both the Maricopa County Bench and the Arizona JP Association
Judge Reagan also sits as a member of the county Professional Standards and Procedures (PSP) Committee.
Judge Reagan is on the Board of Directors for the AZ Assoc of Counties (AACO)
by Judge Thumma
from the Board of Supervisors
A new year also brings new bills in the Arizona statehouse which will affect court operations. Judge Michele Reagan (McDowell Mountain) is the chair of the Justice Courts’ Legislative Committee. Her unique experience in both the Senate and House, and as the Arizona Secretary of State make her a perfect point person for all proposed legislation that touch our business.
One effort worth watching: Senate Bill 1191.
If passed, this would allow any party – plaintiff, defendant, attorney, or witness – to request virtual participation in any civil court matter.
A similar law went into effect last year for eviction cases and we saw failures to appear drop significantly.
It is still far too early in the legislative session to see where this might go, but Judge Reagan will be watching it and many others for the next few months.
Media photo United States Supreme Court hearing (photo credit Evan Wylodge, 2018) (jpg)
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