The Honorable Judge Janna Vanderpool is formally announcing her candidacy for re-election for the 2008 Division 6 Superior Court judicial seat. Judge Vanderpool has served as Superior Court Judge for the last eight years. During her first term (2001-2004), Judge Vanderpool handled a general caseload consisting of civil, criminal, domestic relations, juvenile delinquency, and dependency matters. For most of that term she handled most of the juvenile matters filed in Pinal County.
Her second term (2005-2008) has focused on a domestic relations caseload, all of the lower court appeals in Pinal County from city and justice courts, and the mental health caseload. Also during her second term she has been an organizing and supporting force for the creation of the Pinal County Mental Health Taskforce. This taskforce includes members countywide from all of the agencies and professional disciplines which come into contact with mental health patients in the courts and jails. The taskforce recently received an honorable mention from the Arizona State Supreme Court for Improving Communication and Cooperation within the Community.
Currently, in addition to furthering the plan of developing a Mental Health Court, Judge Vanderpool handles an extensive and complex criminal calendar, handling approximately half of all criminal cases filed in Pinal County. She also handles some of the criminal lower court appeals, and all mental health cases transferred from the lower courts.
Janna Vanderpool lived in Casa Grande from an early age, graduated from Casa Grande Union High School and Central Arizona College, and attended Arizona State University and the University of Arizona, obtaining her bachelor’s degree in Tucson. She also graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law. She has practiced law, both as a prosecuting attorney and as a Pinal County Superior Court judge, for nearly 20 years. Judge Vanderpool raised her family in Pinal County and now resides in the Gold Canyon area, near her parents. Her daughter is an attorney practicing in Washington, D.C.
Judge Vanderpool's affiliations past and present include: the National Association of Women Judges; the Arizona Judges Association; the Arizona State Bar Association, Public Law Section, Criminal Law Section, Juvenile Law Section, and Past President - World Peace Through Law Section; Judicial Member, Pinal County Mental Health Task Force; Pinal County Domestic Violence Coalition; Business and Professional Women; Pinal County Mock Trials Competition Judge.
Civic and educational groups regularly invite Judge Vanderpool to speak about her perspective from the bench, the current state of the courts in Pinal County, the progress of the Pinal County Mental Health Court, and many other legal and judicial matters. To make those arrangements, call the Judge’s Offices, Pinal County Superior Court, Division 6 offices at the Courthouse in Florence: (520) 866-5407.