James Beene

James Patrick Beene is an American lawyer who has served a justice of the Arizona Supreme Court since 2019.

Early life and education

Beene is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he received a bachelor's degree in political science. He graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1991.

Career

After graduating law school, Beene worked as a prosecutor in the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. He also worked in the appellate section of the Arizona Attorney General's Office.

State judicial service

He spent seven years as a judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court, and then was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals on December 9, 2016.

Appointment to Arizona Supreme Court

On April 26, 2019, Governor Doug Ducey announced his appointment of Beene to be a justice of the Supreme Court of Arizona. He was appointed to the seat left vacant by the retirement of John Pelander. He was sworn in on June 3, 2019, by Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs.
Beene was retained by voters in 2022, receiving 70.53% yes votes.