Title
Chief Presiding Judge Interviews, Possible Appointment and Setting of Salary
Description
Request City Council interview and appoint the Chief Presiding Judge.
THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
Report
Summary
On February 4, 2026, the City Council approved the appointment of the Interim Chief Presiding Judge for a term beginning on Friday, February 6, 2026, until a recruitment process could be completed to appoint the regular Chief Presiding Judge.
The City received eight applicants for the position that were referred to the Judicial Selection Advisory Board (JSAB). JSAB met on April 2, 2026, and interviewed all eight candidates, recommending three candidates for further consideration by the Phoenix City Council.
The three candidates are to be interviewed by the City Council in a special public meeting on May 12, 2026, in alphabetical order:
- Wilbur Hudson: Judge Wilbur Hudson has served as a City of Phoenix Municipal Court Judge since 2014. Before joining the City, he worked as an Attorney. Judge Hudson received his Juris Doctorate from Arizona State University, College of Law in Tempe, Arizona.
- Michelle Lue Sang: Judge Michelle Lue Sang has served as a Chandler Municipal Court City Magistrate since 2021. Before joining the City of Chandler, she served as the Interim Presiding Judge and associate judge at Apache Junction Municipal Court. Judge Lue Sang received her Juris Doctorate from Arizona State University, College of Law in Tempe, Arizona.
- Tina Solomon: Judge Tina Solomon has served as a City of Phoenix Municipal Court Judge since 2018. Before then, she served as the Assistant City Prosecutor at the City of Phoenix. Judge Solomon received her Juris Doctorate from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
The candidate applications are available online for review at the following link:
https://www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/court/judicial-recruitment.html
The City Council may vote to convene in executive session, which will not be open to the public, for the purpose of discussing this item pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes Sections 38-431.03(A)1 and 3.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Amber Williamson and the City Council Office.