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Arizona Supreme Court on the 2026 Ballot: Who Is Justice John Lopez IV, and What Has He Ruled On?
THE MOHAVE INSIDER | ARIZONA ELECTIONS 2026
Arizona voters will decide whether to retain Supreme Court Vice Chief Justice John R. Lopez IV. His record includes major rulings involving abortion laws, religious freedom, taxation and the constitutional powers of voters.
By The Mohave Insider | October 28, 2026
ARIZONA — As the November 3, 2026, general election approaches, Arizona voters are being asked to make a decision that could affect the state’s highest court for another six years.
One Arizona Supreme Court justice, John R. Lopez IV, appears on the statewide ballot for a judicial retention election.
Unlike traditional elections in which candidates compete against one another, Arizona’s judicial retention system asks voters a straightforward question: Should this justice remain in office?
The decision comes as Arizona’s courts continue to address disputes involving constitutional rights, government authority, criminal law and the interpretation of state legislation. Arizona Secretary of State
Who Is Justice John R. Lopez IV?
John R. Lopez IV
Vice Chief Justice, Arizona Supreme Court
Appointed in November 2016 by former Governor Doug Ducey, Lopez began serving on the Arizona Supreme Court in January 2017.
He previously served as Arizona’s solicitor general and spent more than 12 years in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Phoenix, where his work included financial crimes and public integrity cases. Arizona Courts
Lopez graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992 and earned his law degree from Arizona State University in 1998.
He became Vice Chief Justice in July 2024. His experience includes civil litigation, federal prosecution, appellate litigation and service on judicial committees.
His record on the Supreme Court includes both unanimous and divided decisions. Several of those decisions have attracted significant political and public attention.
A Major Ruling: Arizona’s 1864 Abortion Law
One of Lopez’s most widely discussed decisions came on April 9, 2024, in Planned Parenthood Arizona v. Mayes.
Lopez authored the Arizona Supreme Court’s 4–2 majority opinion concluding that Arizona’s territorial-era abortion prohibition had not been repealed or restricted by a more recent law imposing a 15-week abortion limit.
The majority concluded that the older statute could be enforced following the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade.
The ruling prompted significant public and political disagreement across Arizona.
Supporters of the court’s interpretation argued that judges must apply statutes as written rather than rewrite them according to personal policy preferences. Opponents argued that the decision disregarded the framework established by more recent abortion legislation and threatened access to reproductive health care. Justia Law
The decision did not remain the final word on Arizona abortion law.
In May 2024, Governor Katie Hobbs signed legislation repealing the territorial-era ban. Arizona voters subsequently approved Proposition 139 in November 2024, establishing abortion protections in the state Constitution.
Those constitutional protections took effect on November 25, 2024. Office of the Arizona Governor
Religious Freedom and Business Rights
Lopez also participated in the Arizona Supreme Court’s 2019 decision in Brush & Nib Studio v. City of Phoenix.
The case involved business owners who objected on religious grounds to creating custom wedding invitations celebrating same-sex marriages.
Lopez joined the majority ruling that Phoenix could not compel the business owners to create the particular custom expression at issue, based on protections for free speech and religious exercise under Arizona law.
The case raised questions about the boundaries between religious liberty, artistic expression and anti-discrimination protections.
The ruling specifically concerned the creation of custom expressive products, rather than establishing a general exemption from all public-accommodation laws. FindLaw
Taxation and the Power of Arizona Voters
In another significant decision, Lopez authored the court’s 2022 opinion in Arizona Free Enterprise Club v. Hobbs.
The case concerned efforts to place a referendum challenging Arizona’s flat income tax legislation on the ballot.
The court concluded that tax revenue measures intended to support existing government departments and institutions could be exempt from the referendum process under the Arizona Constitution.
The decision prevented that particular referendum from proceeding.
The case highlights a constitutional question that continues to be important to Arizona voters: Which legislative decisions can citizens challenge through a referendum, and which are exempt under the state’s Constitution? Arizona Courts
Did Justice Lopez Meet Arizona’s Judicial Performance Standards?
According to the Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review, Lopez met the state’s judicial performance standards for the 2026 election.
The commission evaluates appointed judges and justices using information about their professional conduct and performance, including legal ability, integrity, communication, judicial temperament and administrative responsibilities.
The commission’s determination is a professional performance assessment. It does not mean every commissioner, attorney or voter agrees with every decision a justice has made. jpr.azcourts.gov
What Does Voting YES or NO Mean?
On November 3, Arizona voters will have two options in the Supreme Court retention question.
Voting YES: Retains John R. Lopez IV on the Arizona Supreme Court for another six-year term.
Voting NO: Means the voter does not support retaining Lopez. If a majority votes against retention, his seat would become vacant at the end of the term, and a new justice would be selected under Arizona’s judicial appointment process.
Arizona Supreme Court justices are not elected under party labels in retention elections. Voters are deciding whether an existing justice should continue serving, not choosing between two competing candidates. The Ballot Brief
Why Does This Election Matter?
The Arizona Supreme Court is the state’s highest court. Its decisions can influence how laws are interpreted and how constitutional protections are applied throughout Arizona, including Mohave County.
Supreme Court justices hear cases that can involve election disputes, criminal justice, individual rights, public policy and the authority of state government.
A retention vote can therefore affect the composition of the court for years.
For voters evaluating Lopez, the questions may extend beyond any single ruling.
His experience, written opinions, judicial philosophy, performance evaluations and interpretations of Arizona law all provide information voters can consider.
The Mohave Insider: Stay Informed Before You Vote
Judicial retention elections sometimes receive less public attention than races for governor, Congress or local government. However, the decisions made by Arizona’s courts can have consequences throughout the state.
Whether voters agree or disagree with a justice’s decisions, understanding the legal reasoning and the effects of those rulings is an important part of making an informed choice.
The Mohave Insider encourages residents to review official judicial records, examine the decisions for themselves and participate in the November 3 general election.
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Sources and Further Reading
Editorial note: This article is an informational examination of a judicial retention election and does not constitute an endorsement for or against retention.
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