AZ HCR2018

Raises the population threshold for merit selection of superior court judges from 250,000 to 800,000 persons, allowing counties below 800,000 to elect judges rather than use merit appointment.

Judges in counties with less than 800,000 population shall be elected by qualified electors, while judges in counties with 800,000 or more continue to be appointed through merit selection and retention voting.

Judges appointed or retained under the old merit system in counties that drop below the 800,000 threshold may complete their current terms but cannot be retained for subsequent terms and must be succeeded by elected judges.

Allows counties with populations below 800,000 to voluntarily opt into the merit selection system through voter approval, applying the same rules as larger counties.

Amends constitutional provisions governing judicial commissions, candidate declarations, and retention elections to align with the new 800,000-person population threshold for merit-based judge selection.