ARIZONA

Former Arizona Justice Andrew Gould reflects on career, plans to run for a new office

Lauren Castle
Arizona Republic
Retired Arizona Supreme Court Justice Andrew Gould stands for a portrait outside of the Arizona Supreme Court building in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 23, 2021.

Justice Andrew Gould retired from the Arizona Supreme Court in April to enter the political arena. He's running for Arizona attorney general to continue his focus on public service, he said.

Gould's mother, a legal secretary for 30 years, introduced him to the legal profession during his childhood. His "humble" upbringing led him to attend law school and move to Arizona.

"My whole purpose of going to law school was to be a public servant," he told The Arizona Republic. "I wanted to serve people."

He worked at private law firms, prosecutorial agencies and trial and appeals courts before being appointed to the Arizona Supreme Court by Gov. Doug Ducey in 2016. 

Now, the retired justice said, he is ready to serve Arizona as its top prosecutor. Gould, a Republican, plans to make a formal announcement of his candidacy in the fall. 

The Arizona Attorney General's Office is the chief legal office for the state. It provides legal advice and representation to many of the state's agencies, including the Department of Corrections and Department of Child Safety. 

The office handles a variety of cases including appeals, criminal, civil, family and governmental matters.

"I fought for the rights for the people in this state for almost 30 years as a prosecutor and a judge," Gould, 57, said. "I have a lot of experience in criminal justice and a whole host of law in this state. I know the legal issues that face the people in this state, and I have the experience to do the job." 

Remembering his roots 

The sacrifices of Gould's family is one of the greatest impacts of his legal career. He attended middle school and high school in Richardson, Texas. 

Gould attended the University of Montana for his undergraduate work. He said his parents were proud when he had the opportunity to attend Northwestern University's School of Law on a scholarship. 

"You always have to remember your roots," he said. "You can't forget where you came from." 

After graduating from law school, Gould moved to Arizona with his sister and parents. A good deed by his father has never left his memory. 

Gould didn't have a desk in his family's apartment when studying for the bar exam. One day, his father found a desk near the garbage bin outside. His father placed it on cinderblocks and told Gould to never forget the moment. 

"My family sacrificed for me," the retired justice said. "It's been the lens through which I have viewed my entire legal career. It is about serving the people, helping people with their problems."

Long legal career in Arizona

Gould spent time working for private law firms in Phoenix. However, Gould said he really wanted to be a prosecutor.

He ultimately left the private sector and spent years as a prosecutor in Maricopa and Yuma counties. 

Gould stayed in Yuma County and later became the presiding judge for the Superior Court there. He said his experience in living and raising a family in the area helped him understand issues border communities face. 

The Arizona Attorney General's Office deals with many issues involving the U.S.-Mexico border. Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has recently taken steps against the Biden Administration's deportation policies. 

Gould was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals by Gov. Jan Brewer in 2011.

In 2016, retired Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Fields told The Republic Gould's appointment to the Arizona Supreme Court was a good choice, referring to his experience as a judge. 

"He's a smart lawyer," Fields said. 

Many people made an impact on Gould during his time on the bench, including retired Arizona Court of Appeals judge Phillip Hall, recently named presiding disciplinary judge Margaret Downie and his former colleagues on the Arizona Supreme Court. 

When Gould's retirement was announced, Ducey said in a statement the justice worked to ensure justice for victims and uphold the Constitution. 

“Gould’s integrity, wide range of professional experience, and commitment to helping Arizonans made him an excellent fit for the Arizona Supreme Court," Ducey said. "He served our state well, and I am grateful for his nearly five years on the Arizona Supreme Court as well as his more than 20 years of service to the State of Arizona.”

Lessons learned from the courts

According to Gould, the justice system can take additional steps to help the public. He said the system needs to do a better job at making itself easier for the public to understand and use. Courts have complex rules, they can be congested and some trial judges have heavy caseloads. 

"The average person can't afford a lawyer, and the system is too complex for them to represent themselves," Gould said. 

The Arizona Supreme Court has taken steps to help litigants who can't afford an attorney when appearing in court, such as setting up a task force to look into simplifying the rules. 

All judges and lawyers have to understand one particular thing about the members of the public who become involved in the court system, according to Gould. 

"(They) are real human beings that need to be treated with respect," he said.

During his time as a judge for the Yuma County Superior Court, Gould oversaw its drug court. People with substance abuse problems who qualify for the specialty court receive treatment, have status hearings and appear in front of a judge regularly to discuss their progress. 

"I saw a lot of people who thought the justice system was against them," he said. "The first time in drug court, they realized that it wasn't." 

Gould said he has received letters from past participants on how the specialty court has changed their lives. He said the justice system can promote good by how it treats people in the process. 

Criminal justice reform has been advocated for across Arizona and the nation. Probation is one of the things that comes to Gould's mind. 

"It is a very important issue because most people that come into the criminal justice system are placed into probation," he said. "One thing that should not be overlooked is making sure we fund probation and that we use the best practices to get successful outcomes." 

Concerns over democracy have also caught the country's attention over the past year and recent months.

Gould said the legal system plays the important role of giving people confidence in the democratic process. 

"We can all agree or disagree on how it best does that, but it is the job of the justice system and government to ensure that people believe in the integrity of elections," he said. "Because if people don't believe in the integrity of elections, then it places the democratic process in jeopardy." 

Even as a judge, Gould made time for community service. He has volunteered in the community as an adult Bible study teacher, baseball and football coach, and a finals judge for the We the People competitive advocacy program. 

"It gave me life experiences and judgement that made me a better person and a better judge," he said.

According to Gould, judges need to remember it is important to be members in the community and not be isolated. Community service can be enriching to anyone's life. 

He said he loved speaking to students at San Luis High School in Yuma County and volunteering in youth sports. He said sports can be a positive influence for children by keeping them out of trouble and teaching them life lessons. 

"There is no substitute for being involved in the community, meeting people, talking to them and learning from them," Gould said. 

The race for Arizona attorney general 

Being the attorney general wasn't always Gould's ultimate goal. He said being a lawyer and judge allowed him to influence smaller communities in the state in a positive way.

The justice started looking into the office when he thinking about plans after retirement. 

"In some ways, it is the most important statewide office in Arizona," Gould said. "It has the primary function, in my view, of protecting the rights and liberties of the citizens of Arizona." 

Working in public service is always about the people, Gould said, and he would commit to working for all of the citizens of Arizona as the attorney general. 

Tiffany Shedd, another Republican, already has announced her candidacy in the attorney general race.

Shedd, an Eloy cotton farmer, lost a congressional race against Democrat Tom O'Halleran last year

Have thoughts about Arizona's legal system? Reach criminal justice reporter Lauren Castle at Lauren.Castle@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Lauren_Castle

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