2024 Arizona General Election

Nonpartisan

2024 Arizona Primary Election

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NC Voter Coalition (demo)

North Carolina

Ballotpedia, Blake King

Blake is from Minnesota. He holds a bachelor's degree from St. Cloud State University and a master's degree in administrative leadership from the University of Oklahoma. He lives in Gilbert with his wife and their 5 daughters. He is Catholic. 

LinkedIn

Blake works as a lieutenant with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office. He previously worked as a police officer with the Chandler Police Department. 

Blake D. King's campaign for Justice of the Peace in Maricopa County for the San Tan Justice Precinct is his first run for public office. 

As of June 27, 2024, Blake D. King’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Legal Experience

Said his top concern are judges and prosecutors throughout the U.S. being politically motivated

Does not have faith in the election process, saying he wants "our elections squared away."

Prioritizes domestic policy over intervening in international affairs.

Said legal philosophy is "Fair, balanced, and non-political.", and promises to " judge cases based on what the LAW says and how I interpret it."

Believes "We have lost God in our lives, which has, in turn, affected every aspect of society."

Supports full parental control over their child's schooling.

- Said his top concern are judges and prosecutors throughout the U.S. being politically motivated
- Does not have faith in the election process, saying he wants "our elections squared away."
- Opposes abortion.
- Opposes gun control.
- Prioritizes domestic policy over intervening in international affairs.
- Said legal philosophy is "Fair, balanced, and non-political.", and promises to " judge cases based on what the LAW says and how I interpret it."
- Believes "We have lost God in our lives, which has, in turn, affected every aspect of society."
- Supports full parental control over their child's schooling.

Judicial Philosophy

Believes judges must hold people accountable for their actions, saying far too many judges "make terrible decisions because they lack the backbone to hold people accountable. "

Believes current JP judges are "abusing and overspending the budget for pro tempor judges... they use tax payer money to pay for fill judges."

Promises to be responsible with taxpayer dollars.

Supports upholding financial transparency in any government position.

Supports the U.S. Constitution and promises to abide by his oath to uphold the Constitution.

- Believes judges must hold people accountable for their actions, saying far too many judges "make terrible decisions because they lack the backbone to hold people accountable. "
- Believes current JP judges are "abusing and overspending the budget for pro tempor judges... they use tax payer money to pay for fill judges."
- Promises to be responsible with taxpayer dollars.
- Supports upholding financial transparency in any government position.
- Supports the U.S. Constitution and promises to abide by his oath to uphold the Constitution.

Judicial Administration

Supports treating people equally regardless of background, ethnicity, and gender.

Opposes emotions serving a role in deciding if a law has been broken.

Believes empathy is an important quality for judges, but it "should be reserved for how to handle the situation."

- Supports treating people equally regardless of background, ethnicity, and gender.
- Opposes emotions serving a role in deciding if a law has been broken.
- Believes empathy is an important quality for judges, but it "should be reserved for how to handle the situation."

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

Endorsed by former Justice of the Peace Blake King, sheriff Mark Lamb, and traffic unit deputy Frank Sloup.

- Endorsed by former Justice of the Peace Blake King, sheriff Mark Lamb, and traffic unit deputy Frank Sloup.

Endorsements

Facebook

Blake D. King

Sherwood was raised in the Phoenix metro area and received a bachelor's degree from Texas Christian University. He is married with 3 children.

Sherwood has previously worked as a magistrate and a civil traffic hearing officer in the Paradise Valley Civil Court. He has also worked in commercial real estate.

Sherwood Johnston currently serves as the Justice of the Peace for the San Tan Justice Court Precinct. He was appointed in 2023. Prior to this role, he served as a Constable for the San Marcos Justice Court Precinct. 

Candidate website

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 magistrate court judge, he held preliminary hearings in minor criminal cases, oversaw civil suits and the recovery of personal property, and issued search and arrest warrants.

Believes in the importance of continuous legal education, as evidenced by extensive DUI/Extreme DUI training from 1998 to 2022. Supports ongoing professional development to maintain and enhance legal expertise.

- 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 magistrate court judge, he held preliminary hearings in minor criminal cases, oversaw civil suits and the recovery of personal property, and issued search and arrest warrants.
- Believes in the importance of continuous legal education, as evidenced by extensive DUI/Extreme DUI training from 1998 to 2022. Supports ongoing professional development to maintain and enhance legal expertise.

Your Valley

Believes judges should "rule in accordance with the law." Opposes judicial activism and supports judicial restraint in constitutional interpretation.

Believes in being "a Judge of the people, not a politician," emphasizing judicial restraint and impartiality over political influence.

Said, "When people arrive, they don’t know what to expect, they are nervous, and they think the judge is going to hard to deal with. I get to show them that judges are people too."

- Believes judges should "rule in accordance with the law." Opposes judicial activism and supports judicial restraint in constitutional interpretation.
- Believes in being "a Judge of the people, not a politician," emphasizing judicial restraint and impartiality over political influence.
- Said, "When people arrive, they don’t know what to expect, they are nervous, and they think the judge is going to hard to deal with. I get to show them that judges are people too."

Believes in improving the Justice Court system through better case management and reducing backlog. Plans to enhance court administration and overall judicial efficiency.

Believes that being a justice of the peace in Arizona requires being a registered voter, residing in the precinct, and understanding English, but not necessarily being an attorney.

- Believes in improving the Justice Court system through better case management and reducing backlog. Plans to enhance court administration and overall judicial efficiency.
- Believes that being a justice of the peace in Arizona requires being a registered voter, residing in the precinct, and understanding English, but not necessarily being an attorney.

The candidate's website states, "A Judge who will be fair, impartial, swift and just."

- The candidate's website states, "A Judge who will be fair, impartial, swift and just."

Supports community involvement through events like the Veteran's Stand Down, which provides essential services to veterans. Believes in recognizing leaders who contribute to such initiatives.

Supports community involvement through events like the Veteran's Stand Down, which provides essential services to veterans.

Believes in strong community involvement through volunteer work, community service, and participation in local organizations. As a volunteer, coached girls' basketball at the Boy’s & Girl’s Club of Scottsdale from 1996-1999.

Volunteered and coached girls' basketball at the Boy’s & Girl’s Club of Scottsdale from 1996-1999.

Serves as the President of the Arizona Magistrates Association and on the Board of the Arizona Justice of the Peace Association.

Mentors new judges and serves on the Judicial College of Arizona’s Judicial Conference Planning Committee.

- Supports community involvement through events like the Veteran's Stand Down, which provides essential services to veterans.
- Volunteered and coached girls' basketball at the Boy’s & Girl’s Club of Scottsdale from 1996-1999.
- Serves as the President of the Arizona Magistrates Association and on the Board of the Arizona Justice of the Peace Association.
- Mentors new judges and serves on the Judicial College of Arizona’s Judicial Conference Planning Committee.

Endorsed by individuals in legal professions such as the Former Maricopa County Presiding Justice of the Peace, Keith Russell, the Maricopa County Presiding Constable, Nathan Wallace, and the Constable of the San Tan Justice Court Precinct, Steve Allen.

- Endorsed by individuals in legal professions such as the Former Maricopa County Presiding Justice of the Peace, Keith Russell, the Maricopa County Presiding Constable, Nathan Wallace, and the Constable of the San Tan Justice Court Precinct, Steve Allen.

Twitter

Sherwood Johnston

- 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. 

Local judge who hears lawsuits, misdemeanors, and civil cases. 

Maricopa Justice of the Peace, San Tan Justice Precinct, Republican Primary

Candidates (2)