---
title: "Margaret H. Downie | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/margaret-h-downie-6191"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Margaret H. Downie

Court of Appeals of Arizona · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Court of Appeals of Arizona
- State: Arizona
- Role: Judge
- Service status: former
- Last verified: 2026-06-30

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Judge, Court of Appeals of Arizona, 2008-present
- Margaret H. Downie is the Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Arizona Supreme Court, previously a judge on the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One (2008–2017), and a long-time Maricopa County Superior Court judge
- Earlier roles: Court commissioner, civil litigation attorney at Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, and nearly a decade as Chief Bar Counsel in the State Bar of Arizona’s discipline department
- As of now, Judge Downie serves as Presiding Disciplinary Judge for the Arizona Supreme Court

### Education

- Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., graduating magna cum laude in — J.D. (1984)
- University of Arkansas — B.A.

### Additional information

- Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One (2008–2017): Appointed by Governor Janet Napolitano in 2008, she was retained in 2012 for a six-year term and retired in 2017.
- Appointed to the court by Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano on September 23, 2008.
- Received the Distinguished Service Award from the Arizona Association of Defense Counsel (2008) Arizona Judicial Branch.
- Practitioner, 2007-2007
- Named “Judge of the Year” by the American Board of Trial Advocates, Phoenix Chapter (2006) Arizona Judicial Branch.
- overseeing formal attorney discipline, disability, and reinstatement proceedings The Federalist Society.
- She previously was Executive Director of the Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct and Staff Director of the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee The Federalist Society.
- Adjunct faculty at the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law and frequent CLE speaker Arizona Judicial Branch.
- Served on multiple Arizona Supreme Court committees, including the Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee and Court Leadership Institute of Arizona Arizona Judicial Branch.

## 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

### 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.courtlistener.com/person/6191/margaret-h-downie/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6191/margaret-h-downie/)
- [Court of Appeals of Arizona current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6191/margaret-h-downie/)
- [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)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6191/margaret-h-downie/)
- [Margaret Downie - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Margaret_Downie)
- [History of the Court](https://coa1.azcourts.gov/Court-Information/History-of-the-Court)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6191/margaret-h-downie/)
- [Margaret Downie - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Margaret_Downie)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/margaret-h-downie-6191",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/margaret-h-downie-6191",
      "name": "Margaret H. Downie | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Margaret H. Downie, Court of Appeals of Arizona. 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/margaret-h-downie-6191#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/margaret-h-downie-6191#judge",
      "name": "Margaret H. Downie",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/margaret-h-downie-6191",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Court of Appeals of Arizona"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/6191/margaret-h-downie/"
      ],
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., graduating magna cum laude in 1984"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "University of Arkansas"
        },
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Georgetown University"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@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": "Margaret H. Downie",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/margaret-h-downie-6191"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```