The Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments will continue the process this afternoon (June 29) to determine the next Arizona Supreme Court justice.

The commission will interview eight candidates to find a replacement for retiring Chief Justice Ruth McGregor. The candidates were chosen in early June. The commission selected them from an original pool of 17 applicants.

Cari Gerchick, a spokeswoman for the Arizona Supreme Court, said it is likely that the commission will submit the names of three nominated applicants to Gov. Jan Brewer by this evening.

As sitting governor, Brewer is charged with selecting the next justice from the list submitted by the commission. Brewer, who was sworn into office in January, has yet to appoint an Arizona Supreme Court justice.

Two justices, Scott Bales and Andrew Hurwitz, were appointed by Brewer’s predecessor, Janet Napolitano. McGregor and Vice Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch were appointed to the court by Governor Jane Hull, and Governor Fife Symington had appointed Michael Ryan.

Applicants being interviewed by the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments include:

Division One Court of Appeals Presiding Judge Ann Scott Timmer
Division Two Court of Appeals Presiding Judge Philip G. Espinosa
Appellate Judge John C. Gemmill
Appellate Judge Diane M. Johnsen
Appellate Judge A. John Pelander
Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Robert M. Brutinel
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Norman J. Davis
Cochise County Superior Court Judge Wallace R. Hoggatt