Panel interviews Arizona Supreme Court semifinalists

A state nominating commission is spending the day interviewing nine semifinalists for an Arizona Supreme Court vacancy.

The Commission on Judicial Court Appointments will recommend at least three finalists to Gov. Jan Brewer. She’ll choose one to fill the vacancy created by former Justice Michael Ryan’s retirement.

The nine semifinalists being interviewed include eight Court of Appeals and Superior Court judges and attorney Lisa Hauser. She’s a political associate of Brewer and served as former Gov. Fife Symington’s counsel.

Hauser was the first interviewed. She said her lack of judicial experience isn’t a detriment because she has extensive experience as a government lawyer and one in private practice.