SOBAMPO LAW FIRM

Francisco was born in Mesa. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and management from the University of Phoenix, a master's degree in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University, and a law degree from Phoenix School of Law. He is married to his wife, Elena, with whom he has 3 children. 

Francisco currently works as a managing attorney at Sobampo Law Firm, PLLC. He previously owned and operated 2 Real Estate companies, where he worked as a real estate broker. He also served as the president and CEO of Century One Corporation, a construction operation. 

Ballotpedia, F. Javier Sobampo

Francisco Javier Sobampo ran for Justice of the Peace in Maricopa County for the Maryvale Justice Precinct in 2018 and 2020, but he did not win either race. 

As a managing attorney at the Sobampo Law Firm, PLLC, Sobampo focuses on Family law, Civil litigation, Immigration, and Criminal defense matters.

As a Judge pro tempore for Maricopa County Justice Courts, Sobampo handles criminal matters, including misdemeanors such as DUI's, assault, criminal traffic, issuing warrants, and civil matters that are no more than $10,000, including landlord-tenant complaints, orders of protection, and injunctions against harassment.

Serves as a Judge pro tempore for Gila County Justice Courts as of 2022.

Served as an Adjunct Faculty member at Phoenix School of Law for 1 year.

- As a managing attorney at the Sobampo Law Firm, PLLC, Sobampo focuses on Family law, Civil litigation, Immigration, and Criminal defense matters.
- As a Judge pro tempore for Maricopa County Justice Courts, Sobampo handles criminal matters, including misdemeanors such as DUI's, assault, criminal traffic, issuing warrants, and civil matters that are no more than $10,000, including landlord-tenant complaints, orders of protection, and injunctions against harassment.
- Serves as a Judge pro tempore for Gila County Justice Courts as of 2022.
- Served as an Adjunct Faculty member at Phoenix School of Law for 1 year.

Legal Experience

Candidate website

Believes the scales of justice symbolize the balance between state power and individual rights. Supports a justice system that is unbiased and centered.

Believes a justice of the peace must be fully unbiased. 

Believes in determining facts based on evidence and applying the law with limited discretion to ensure impartiality and fairness.

Believes as a justice of the peace, his role is determining facts based on evidence and applying the law with minimal discretion to establish impartiality and fairness for all. 

Believes experience is important for a newly elected justice of the peace, saying if a non-lawyer is elected, they would face a significant learning curve in the first few years and might "experience considerable downtime in learning legal research and rules of procedure."

Believes judge must strive to conduct oneself with dignity and establish justice.

- Believes a justice of the peace must be fully unbiased. 
- Believes as a justice of the peace, his role is determining facts based on evidence and applying the law with minimal discretion to establish impartiality and fairness for all. 
- Believes experience is important for a newly elected justice of the peace, saying if a non-lawyer is elected, they would face a significant learning curve in the first few years and might "experience considerable downtime in learning legal research and rules of procedure."
- Believes judge must strive to conduct oneself with dignity and establish justice.

Judicial Philosophy

Believes in maximizing court resources to improve public customer service while ensuring justice quality. Supports efficient court management and reducing case backlog.

Wants to maximize court resources by making efforts to enhance public service and ensure high-quality justice is provided. 

- Wants to maximize court resources by making efforts to enhance public service and ensure high-quality justice is provided. 

Judicial Administration

As of June 27, 2024, Francisco Javier Sobampo’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Participates with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, teaching a Basics of Tax Preparation Course.

Participates with the Family Lawyer's Assistance Project, providing pro-bono representation for self-represented litigants involved in family-law-related proceedings.

- Participates with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, teaching a Basics of Tax Preparation Course.
- Participates with the Family Lawyer's Assistance Project, providing pro-bono representation for self-represented litigants involved in family-law-related proceedings.

Community Involvement

Endorsements

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Francisco Javier Sobampo

Andy is an Arizona native, born in Tucson, and a graduate of Pueblo High School and the University of Arizona. He later attended law school at Arizona State University.

Andy has previously worked as an attorney.

Andy Gastelum currently serves as the Maryvale Justice of the Peace. He has held this position for 18 years, He also held the position of a judge for the City of Tempe from 1987 to 1991. 

As a justice court judge, he oversees cases involving minor criminal offenses and low-value civil suits, administers oaths to public officials, handles requests for orders of protection against harassment, and performs marriage ceremonies.

As a city court judge, he oversaw cases involving low-value civil suits and minor criminal offenses that occurred within city limits.

As an attorney, he researched, drafted, and filed legal documents, and provided defense and counsel to clients, specializing in criminal defense and family law.

- As a justice court judge, he oversees cases involving minor criminal offenses and low-value civil suits, administers oaths to public officials, handles requests for orders of protection against harassment, and performs marriage ceremonies.
- As a city court judge, he oversaw cases involving low-value civil suits and minor criminal offenses that occurred within city limits.
- As an attorney, he researched, drafted, and filed legal documents, and provided defense and counsel to clients, specializing in criminal defense and family law.

As of June 27, 2024, Andy Gastelum’s website did not contain information on this issue.

As Justice of the Peace, he has "participated in teen court to reduce teen crime, collaborated with the County Attorney to prevent abduction of children for sex trafficking and prostitution & encouraged prevention classes for domestic violence, DUI, alcohol abuse and the sale of tobacco to minors."

- As Justice of the Peace, he has "participated in teen court to reduce teen crime, collaborated with the County Attorney to prevent abduction of children for sex trafficking and prostitution & encouraged prevention classes for domestic violence, DUI, alcohol abuse and the sale of tobacco to minors."

Supports community involvement through volunteer work, local organizations, and public service initiatives. Believes in combating child abduction, domestic violence, DUI, alcohol abuse, and tobacco sales to minors.

Believes in strong community involvement through volunteer work and local organizations. As Justice of the Peace, led initiatives like the Association for a Better Neighborhood, teen court, and prevention classes for domestic violence, DUI, and alcohol abuse.

Believes in community involvement through volunteer work, community service, and supporting local organizations. Supports being "a dedicated advocate for justice and community improvement."

Has lead the Association for a Better Neighborhood block watch program and collaborated with the City of Phoenix zoning committee.

- Has lead the Association for a Better Neighborhood block watch program and collaborated with the City of Phoenix zoning committee.

Andy Gastelum

- The justice of the peace presides over justice courts in each county. The number of justice courts in a county depends on its population. 
- A justice of the peace hears lawsuits, presides over misdemeanor cases, and hears civil and criminal traffic violations. Some examples of cases they might handle include eviction actions, DUIs (driving under the influence), and shoplifting. 
- Justices of the peace are elected in staggered elections for four-year terms. These elections are partisan. 
- Their salary depends on their judicial productivity, in other words, how many cases they see each year and equals, on average, $115,290.
- Some justices of the peace may be an attorney, but this is not a requirement for the role. 