Gov. Doug Ducey has appointed Judge Christopher O'Neil to the Pinal County Superior Court, filling the vacancy left by Judge Karl Eppich who was appointed to the Division Two Arizona Court of Appeals. 

O'Neil, who has served as the Presiding Judge for the Casa Grande Municipal Court for four years, previously served as a staff attorney for the Pinal County Superior Court. While serving as staff attorney, he assisted the presiding judge with management of the civil caseload and worked on research and writing projects. In addition, O'Neil drafted rulings for substantive motions in civil litigation cases and decisions on lower court criminal appeals.

“Chris has proven himself as a judge by implementing improvements in the Casa Grande Municipal Court,” Ducey said in a press release. “His innovative thinking and leadership skills will serve the citizens of Pinal County well.”

O'Neil's legal background also includes serving as justice of the peace pro tempore and hearing criminal and traffic cases throughout Pinal County justice courts. 

He earned his law degree from the University of Arizona and served as the executive note editor for the Arizona Law Review and was involved in moot court trial advocacy programs while a law student. O' Neil graduated magna cum laude from Arizona State University where he earned his bachelor of arts in English literature.