--- title: "Katherine Cooper | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/katherine-cooper-maricopa-292" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Katherine Cooper Superior Court in Maricopa County · Superior Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Superior Court in Maricopa County - State: Arizona - Role: Superior Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - 2011–Present: Judge, Maricopa County Superior Court - 2007–2011: Assistant City Attorney, Scottsdale City Attorney’s Office - 2001–2007: Partner, Schneider & Onofry, Phoenix - 1987–1997: Partner, Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, Phoenix - Katherine (Kay) M. Cooper is a judge on the Maricopa County Superior Court in Arizona, currently assigned to the Juvenile Court at the Durango Facility The Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County ### Education - University of Virginia — B.A. (1984) ### Additional information - Current assignment: Juvenile Court, Durango Facility (since June 2024) - Term: Appointed in 2011 by Governor Jan Brewer; retained in 2018 and 2022; term ends January 4, 2027. - 2022 retention election: Won with 71.1% of the vote - Previous assignments: Civil Court (Phoenix, 2021), Criminal Court (Phoenix, 2019), Family Court (Phoenix, 2015), Civil Court (Phoenix, 2011) - 2018 retention election: Won with 69.7% of the vote - Known for high-profile rulings, including a 2015 order requiring Arizona to repay $317 million to public schools and a decision legalizing cannabis concentrates for authorized medical marijuana users Phoenix New Times. - 1997–2001: Director of lay ministries, Historic First Church - Before joining the judiciary, Cooper practiced civil litigation, including tort/personal injury, medical malpractice, insurance coverage, and municipal law. - She also served in legal and nonprofit leadership roles. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### judge protocol directory Scope: courtwide Maricopa County publishes judge and judicial-officer protocol links from its official judicial-officer directory; check the assigned officer's protocol page before hearings or trial presentation planning. Evidence excerpt: Protocol [Maricopa County Superior Court Judicial Officers](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/index.asp?title=0) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### digital evidence portal Scope: statewide Arizona's digital-evidence portal supports invited parties in participating courts to upload, review, manage, and share case exhibits for virtual or in-person hearings. Evidence excerpt: The digital evidence portal provides convenient 24/7 online access to upload, review, and manage exhibits in a case to which a party has been invited. [Arizona Digital Evidence](https://www.azcourts.gov/digitalevidence) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote hearing local orders Scope: statewide Arizona requires each Superior, Justice, and Municipal Court to issue a local remote-hearing administrative order. The applicable county or court order controls scheduling and technology requirements. Evidence excerpt: The Arizona Supreme Court also mandated that each Superior, Justice, and Municipal Court issue a local administrative order based on these recommendations, with modifications as necessary due to technology or staffing limitations. [Local Administrative Orders Regarding Virtual Hearings](https://www.azcourts.gov/courtservices/Court-Services-Home/Local-Administrative-Orders-Regarding-Virtual-Hearings) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote appearances and evidence Scope: statewide Arizona remote appearances depend on the assigned judge and court. Parties should provide the court with evidence, documents, photos, or proof needed for the remote hearing using the court's directions. Evidence excerpt: Depending on the judge and court, hearings can be scheduled as in person or remote appearances. [Remote Court Appearances](https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Resources/Remote-Court-Appearances) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=292&jdgUSID=10400) - [Official roster](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=292&jdgUSID=10400) - [Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County official judicial roster](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=292&jdgUSID=10400) - [Maricopa County Superior Court Judicial Officers](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/index.asp?title=0) - [Arizona Digital Evidence](https://www.azcourts.gov/digitalevidence) - [Local Administrative Orders Regarding Virtual Hearings](https://www.azcourts.gov/courtservices/Court-Services-Home/Local-Administrative-Orders-Regarding-Virtual-Hearings) - [Remote Court Appearances](https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Resources/Remote-Court-Appearances) - [Official biography source for Katherine Cooper](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=292&jdgUSID=10400) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/katherine-cooper-maricopa-292", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/katherine-cooper-maricopa-292", "name": "Katherine Cooper | KnowJudges", "description": "Katherine Cooper, Superior Court in Maricopa County. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/katherine-cooper-maricopa-292#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/katherine-cooper-maricopa-292#judge", "name": "Katherine Cooper", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/katherine-cooper-maricopa-292", "jobTitle": "Superior Court Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Superior Court in Maricopa County" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=292&jdgUSID=10400" ], "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Virginia" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Arizona", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/arizona" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Katherine Cooper", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/katherine-cooper-maricopa-292" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Local Administrative Orders Regarding Virtual Hearings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7bfe9b727b74710561b957ad) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.azcourts.gov/courtservices/Court-Services-Home/Local-Administrative-Orders-Regarding-Virtual-Hearings). Collected 2026-07-26.