--- title: "Thomas Fink | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-fink-az-superior-santa-cruz" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Thomas Fink Superior Court in Santa Cruz County · Presiding Superior Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Superior Court in Santa Cruz County - State: Arizona - Role: Presiding Superior Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## 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.azcourts.gov/pjs) - [Official roster](https://www.azcourts.gov/pjs) - [Arizona Supreme Court official judicial roster](https://www.azcourts.gov/pjs) - [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) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-fink-az-superior-santa-cruz", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-fink-az-superior-santa-cruz", "name": "Thomas Fink | KnowJudges", "description": "Thomas Fink, Superior Court in Santa Cruz 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/thomas-fink-az-superior-santa-cruz#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-fink-az-superior-santa-cruz#judge", "name": "Thomas Fink", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-fink-az-superior-santa-cruz", "jobTitle": "Presiding Superior Court Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Superior Court in Santa Cruz County" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.azcourts.gov/pjs" ] }, { "@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": "Thomas Fink", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-fink-az-superior-santa-cruz" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - Thomas L. Fink is the Presiding Judge of Division I of the Santa Cruz County Superior Court in Arizona, a role he has held since June 2014 - Judge Fink has been a resident of Santa Cruz County since 2003 and lives in the Patagonia–Sonoita area - Appointed by former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on June 3, 2014 to fill the vacancy left by James A. Soto, Judge Fink was also named Presiding Judge of the Santa Cruz County Superior Court by Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch As Presiding Judge, he serves as the chief executive officer of the courts in Santa Cruz County, overseeing - Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona (1989–1997) - Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, managing over 40 trial attorneys ### Education - Northwestern University School of Law — J.D. (1984) - University of Michigan — B.A. (1980) ### Additional information - He also worked briefly in the Northern District of Illinois (1997–1998) and was a sole practitioner in Santa Cruz County from 2003 to 2014 - Trial attorney in the DOJ Tax Division, Washington, D.C. (1985–1989) - He has been trial counsel in over 100 felony jury trials and has argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals - Outstanding Attorney Award (Tax Division) ## 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.