Moon Valley justice of the peace election 2024: Candidates Mireya Arroyo, Michael Irish

Christina Avery , Arizona Republic

Updated August 30, 2024 at 5:23 AM·7 min read

ARIZONA ELECTION 2024

In the Moon Valley Justice Court precinct, Democrat Mireya Arroyo is competing against Republican Michael Irish to be the justice of the peace.

Arroyo, a human resources professional, specializes in navigating insurance claims and military leave, as well as retirement planning and first-responder assistance within the public sector, according to her campaign website. She beat the incumbent, Deborah Begay, in the Democratic primary.

Irish, a business and real estate attorney, founded his own practice, iLaw, PLLC, in 2018.

Maricopa County has 26 justice courts, each with one justice of the peace. Candidates do not need to be attorneys or have specific education. Among their duties, justices of the peace have oversight of cases about traffic infractions and evictions, civil suits up to $10,000 and protective orders.

The Arizona Republic asked the candidates to answer questions about their approach to the office if elected. Here's what they had to say, in alphabetical order. Responses have been edited for clarity and abridged.

Why do you want this job?

Mireya Arroyo: I am running for this position because our Moon Valley Court needs critical change. Our community has been one of the hardest hit by the homelessness crisis. As many of you know, the Justice Court handles evictions, and currently, people being evicted are left without access to essential resources provided by local nonprofits and state agencies. My goal is to change that. I want to ensure that those going through the eviction process are given the resources and tools they need to avoid ending up on the street, keeping our community safe for everyone. Voters should also know that I personally went through the eviction process early in the pandemic. As a single mom with two boys, I lost my job and faced the fear, embarrassment and confusion of not understanding why nothing was being done to help us. Thankfully, I managed to recover, but many others did not. I want this position to ensure our community has a champion who not only follows the law but does so with compassion. This is our community, and we need to take care of it.

Michael Irish: As the only candidate from Moon Valley, and being an MV resident my entire life (minus 4 years at the University of Arizona), no candidate is more familiar with or better suited to represent the community. I have always been fair and impartial, and able to make decisions from a neutral point of view.

Practicing law since 2011, I have represented clients in both the Justice and Superior Courts of Arizona. These cases give me additional experience that the other candidates simply do not have, and cannot obtain before this election. After 13 years, I've come to the point in my career where I am ready to sit behind the bench, with an open mind, consistent with what the judiciary requires.

Why do you think you are the most qualified candidate for this position?

Arroyo: The court handles a variety of cases, including marriages, small claims under $10K, evictions, traffic violations, and more. Currently, the majority of justices in the county are not attorneys; they come from diverse backgrounds, such as teaching, law enforcement, real estate and even rodeo. This judicial position is designed to be closest to the community, which is why it doesn't require a law degree, unlike the Superior Court.

I want to emphasize that I have been in human resources for the past 20 years, working closely with legal departments throughout my career. My role involves much more than managing onboarding paperwork or ensuring timely payments. It's about implementing new policies and state statutes correctly within our departments, interpreting laws, and adjusting our practices to comply with legal requirements.

Having personally gone through the eviction process, I understand the importance of making rulings with compassion while adhering to the law. My experience working closely with legal teams has equipped me with the knowledge needed to ensure compliance with state laws, policy changes and court interpretations.

I believe I am highly qualified for this position, bringing a unique perspective as a mom, someone who has faced eviction, and someone experienced in navigating the legal confines of state statutes. I am committed to serving our community with integrity, transparency and dedication.

Irish: I am the most qualified candidate as I am the only licensed attorney running for this judicial position. In all other Arizona courts, a judge is required to be a licensed attorney, residing in Arizona for the previous five years of practice and 30-plus years of age.

Despite the Justice Court being at the lowest level (the main requirements of a candidate are 18-plus years of age and the ability to read and write English), these additional qualifications should not be overlooked. The last thing a party wants is an attorney in court making arguments in front of a non-lawyer judge who doesn't understand the argument itself and/or the court rules/procedure, and based on that lack of legal education, training or experience, makes a decision inconsistent with the law.

Practicing law is extremely complex, thus why lawyers are regulated. Law school is a three-year endeavor, followed by multiple licensing exams and after passing, being vetted and approved by the state bar, which cannot be replicated in six weeks of training given to justices of the peace.

I am the only candidate that meets the above qualifications.

What qualities do you think make a strong foundation for a Justice Court?

Arroyo: The qualities essential for all justices to build a strong foundation for the court are integrity, transparency and a genuine desire to serve. I firmly believe that local positions are the most crucial to our communities. We need individuals in these roles dedicated to being an integral part of the community, not just showing up every four years for votes.

I've personally knocked on over 20,000 doors, connecting with residents and understanding their concerns. Those who have pledged their support know that I’ve experienced the eviction process, built a fence around my yard after a couple of break-in attempts, and am running because I truly care about our community.

Irish: Whether it is a Justice, Superior, Appeals or the State Supreme Court, all courts of law should represent the judiciary in the same capacity with fairness, impartiality, neutrality, while having the proper legal training, experience, and education.

What do you think of the eviction process in Maricopa County?

Arroyo: I believe we need reforms that ensure all parties involved get what they deserve, especially in protecting those facing eviction from ending up on the streets. My concern is heightened by the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, which decided that the U.S. Constitution does not protect people from cruel and unusual punishment for sleeping outside. This could lead to a situation where those evicted from their homes could be arrested shortly after they leave.

Families, veterans, and single moms like myself could be arrested for having nowhere to go and sleeping in public spaces. This will only perpetuate a cycle of poverty and criminalize those in our community who need support, not punishment.

I believe we can work with the courts to ensure our taxpayer dollars, already allocated to help the homeless, are targeted toward those facing eviction. By doing so, we can provide shelters, Section 8 housing, or even motel stays for the night. This approach will keep people off the streets, prevent unnecessary arrests, and maintain the safety and stability of our communities, particularly for the children affected by these circumstances.

This is what matters, and this is what I will fight for.

Irish: The court’s job is to enforce the law as written, not legislate from the bench. As stated within the Arizona Revised Statutes, and as provided by the Arizona State Legislature, eviction is a process typically stemming from a breach of contract (lease). The court should analyze and interpret the rules on a case-by-case basis and based on the facts and evidence, make a ruling consistent with what the Legislature intended.