Governor Doug Ducey has appointed Michael Valenzuela to the Maricopa County Superior Court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Teresa A. Sanders.
Valenzuela has worked as an Assistant Attorney General in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office Criminal Appeals Section since 2016. In this role, he represented the State of Arizona reviewing appellate arguments from convicted defendants. As sole counsel in the majority of these matters, Michael reviewed the trial court record, researched legal theories, and composed written and oral arguments in support of the defendant’s convictions and sentences. Michael also served on an interoffice committee tasked with reviewing and editing Attorney General Opinions prior to their release to the public.
Valenzuela also represented the State in federal habeas corpus litigation, reviewing criminal defendants’ arguments, and defending the state courts’ resolution of criminal convictions and sentencing.
Valenzuela received his Bachelor’s and his law degree from the University of Arizona, becoming the first lawyer in his family.
Valenzuela has dedicated himself to public service – a value he learned from his dad, who worked as a firefighter for the City of Mesa for 33 years.