judges; law practice prohibition; exceptions

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on enforcement mechanisms or consequences of violations, leaving these aspects uncertain.

Judges Cannot Practice Law in Arizona

This bill stops judges from practicing law in Arizona, except when they represent themselves or give free legal advice to their family members.

What This Bill Does

• It says that a judge cannot practice law in Arizona.
• A judge can still represent themselves in court if they are not represented by another lawyer (pro se).
• A judge can also give free legal advice and help draft or review documents for family members, but cannot act as their lawyer in any forum.

Who It Names or Affects

• Judges who practice law in Arizona
• Family members of judges

Terms To Know

pro se

When a person represents themselves in court without a lawyer.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if a judge violates these rules.
• It is unclear how this will be enforced or what the penalties might be for breaking the law.

Official Summary Text

SB1755 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
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COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1755

judges; law practice
prohibition; exceptions

Purpose

Prohibits a
judge from practicing law in Arizona, except if the judge is representing
themselves
pro se
.

Background

The Arizona
Supreme Court has administrative supervision over all courts in Arizona and
authority to regulate the practice of law, including admission to practice and
attorney discipline. The Arizona Constitution establishes the judicial
department and provides for judicial discipline through the Commission on
Judicial Conduct and the Arizona Supreme Court. Judges are subject to
discipline, censure, suspension or removal pursuant to constitutional
procedures, and the Arizona Supreme Court adopts rules governing attorney and
judicial conduct under its constitutional authority (
Ariz.
Const. art. 6
��
1

and
3
;

Ariz.
Const. art. 6.1 � 1
; and
A.R.S.
� 12-109
).

A judge may not
practice law, except that a judge may practice
pro s
e and may, without
compensation, give legal advice to and draft or review documents for a member
of the judge's family, but may not serve as a family member's lawyer in any
forum. Judges who are retired,

part-time or pro tempore are also exempt from the prohibition of practicing
law. Judges who are actively practicing law at the time of their election or
appointment to the bench are encouraged to become familiar with ethical
considerations immediately affecting the transition from lawyer to judge (
Ariz.
Code of Judicial Conduct R.3.10
).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund
associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.

Prohibits
a judge from practicing law in Arizona, except that:

a)

a judge may represent themselves
pro se
; and

b)

a
judge, without compensation, may give legal advice to and draft or review
documents for a family member.

2.

Prohibits a judge from serving as a family member's lawyer in any forum.

3.

Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Prepared by Senate Research

February 13, 2026

ZD/MY/ci

Current Bill Text

SB1755 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
judges; law practice prohibition; exceptions

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1755

Introduced by

Senator
Finchem

AN
ACT

amending title 12, chapter 1, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding article 5; relating to the practice of law.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 12, chapter 1, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding article 5, to read:

ARTICLE 5. PRACTICE OF LAW

START_STATUTE
12-181.

Judges prohibited from practicing law; exceptions

A judge may not practice law in this state
except that the judge may:

1. Represent himself pro se.

2. without compensation, give legal
advice to and draft or review documents for a member of the judge's family but
may not serve as the family member's lawyer in any forum.
END_STATUTE