SOBAMPO LAW FIRM

Ballotpedia, F. Javier Sobampo

Francisco was born in Mesa. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and management from the University of Phoenix, a master's degree in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University, and a law degree from Phoenix School of Law. He is married to his wife, Elena, with whom he has 3 children. 

Francisco currently works as a managing attorney at Sobampo Law Firm, PLLC. He previously owned and operated 2 Real Estate companies, where he worked as a real estate broker. He also served as the president and CEO of Century One Corporation, a construction operation. 

Francisco Javier Sobampo ran for Justice of the Peace in Maricopa County for the Maryvale Justice Precinct in 2018 and 2020, but he did not win either race. 

As a managing attorney at the Sobampo Law Firm, PLLC, Sobampo focuses on Family law, Civil litigation, Immigration, and Criminal defense matters.

As a Judge pro tempore for Maricopa County Justice Courts, Sobampo handles criminal matters, including misdemeanors such as DUI's, assault, criminal traffic, issuing warrants, and civil matters that are no more than $10,000, including landlord-tenant complaints, orders of protection, and injunctions against harassment.

Serves as a Judge pro tempore for Gila County Justice Courts as of 2022.

Served as an Adjunct Faculty member at Phoenix School of Law for 1 year.

- As a managing attorney at the Sobampo Law Firm, PLLC, Sobampo focuses on Family law, Civil litigation, Immigration, and Criminal defense matters.
- As a Judge pro tempore for Maricopa County Justice Courts, Sobampo handles criminal matters, including misdemeanors such as DUI's, assault, criminal traffic, issuing warrants, and civil matters that are no more than $10,000, including landlord-tenant complaints, orders of protection, and injunctions against harassment.
- Serves as a Judge pro tempore for Gila County Justice Courts as of 2022.
- Served as an Adjunct Faculty member at Phoenix School of Law for 1 year.

Legal Experience

Candidate website

Believes the scales of justice symbolize the balance between state power and individual rights. Supports a justice system that is unbiased and centered.

Believes a justice of the peace must be fully unbiased. 

Believes in determining facts based on evidence and applying the law with limited discretion to ensure impartiality and fairness.

Believes as a justice of the peace, his role is determining facts based on evidence and applying the law with minimal discretion to establish impartiality and fairness for all. 

Believes experience is important for a newly elected justice of the peace, saying if a non-lawyer is elected, they would face a significant learning curve in the first few years and might "experience considerable downtime in learning legal research and rules of procedure."

Believes judge must strive to conduct oneself with dignity and establish justice.

- Believes a justice of the peace must be fully unbiased. 
- Believes as a justice of the peace, his role is determining facts based on evidence and applying the law with minimal discretion to establish impartiality and fairness for all. 
- Believes experience is important for a newly elected justice of the peace, saying if a non-lawyer is elected, they would face a significant learning curve in the first few years and might "experience considerable downtime in learning legal research and rules of procedure."
- Believes judge must strive to conduct oneself with dignity and establish justice.

Judicial Philosophy

Believes in maximizing court resources to improve public customer service while ensuring justice quality. Supports efficient court management and reducing case backlog.

Wants to maximize court resources by making efforts to enhance public service and ensure high-quality justice is provided. 

- Wants to maximize court resources by making efforts to enhance public service and ensure high-quality justice is provided. 

Judicial Administration

As of June 27, 2024, Francisco Javier Sobampo’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Participates with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, teaching a Basics of Tax Preparation Course.

Participates with the Family Lawyer's Assistance Project, providing pro-bono representation for self-represented litigants involved in family-law-related proceedings.

- Participates with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, teaching a Basics of Tax Preparation Course.
- Participates with the Family Lawyer's Assistance Project, providing pro-bono representation for self-represented litigants involved in family-law-related proceedings.

Community Involvement

Endorsements

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Francisco Javier Sobampo

Francisco Javier Sobampo was born in Mesa, Arizona in 1970 and grew up in a family that valued hard work and education. He is married to Elena, with whom he has three children, and has completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management, a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, and a Juris Doctorate. Details about where he attended school, what church he attends, or additional family information are not provided.

Francisco Javier Sobampo is the managing attorney at Sobampo Law Firm, PLLC. He has completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management, a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, and a Juris Doctorate. Details about his previous jobs are not provided.

As of July 1, 2024, Francisco Javier Sobampo’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes legal experience as a practicing attorney ensures a seamless transition to the role of justice of the peace. Said, "A newly elected 'non-lawyer' faces a large learning curve," while he is "ready to do this on the first day!"

Believes Justices of the Peace should have criminal law experience due to their significant punitive authority. Said, "I am the only candidate that has this experience!"

Believes the outdated notion that justices of the peace need only be well-informed citizens, not legally educated, should be re-examined. Supports ensuring due process due to the increasing complexity of criminal law and procedure.

Believes tenants should have legal representation to ensure justice in eviction cases. Plans to “ensure that the law and rules are followed” to protect tenants' rights.

Believes a judge should embody justice, ensuring parties feel they had a fair hearing regardless of the case outcome.

The candidate's website says, "The American Bar Association defines "judicial temperament" as having compassion, decisiveness, open-mindedness, sensitivity, courtesy, patience, freedom from biased and commitment to equal justice."

Believes the office of Justice of the Peace has not evolved with societal changes. Supports requiring judges to be licensed attorneys and increasing monetary jurisdiction limits.

Believes the Maryvale Judicial Precinct deserves efficient and accessible justice with "integrity, fairness, and respect to all." Said, "prior legal experience DOES matter!"

The candidate's website says, "Justice courts hear lawsuits when the amount in dispute is $10,000 or less, including Eviction Actions and Landlord & Tenant Disputes, Collection Cases, Consumer Complaints Against Businesses, Negligence Actions, (e.g. Motor Vehicle Accidents), and Breach of Contract Case. Justice courts also hear small claims cases. In those cases, the amount in dispute is $3,500 or less. Small claims cases are much more informal than a regular courtroom proceeding and usually do not involve attorneys. There is no appeal from a small claims decision!"

Believes judges should "decide cases of local administrative code, civil cases up to $10,000, and criminal misdemeanors punishable with up to 6 months in jail" without a jury. Supports efficient court management to reduce backlog and improve case handling.

Believes effective judicial administration requires managing court backlogs and improving case management. Supports enhancing court administration to ensure timely justice.

Believes judges must treat everyone with dignity by being polite, courteous, and patient, recognizing the emotional nature of litigation and the unfamiliarity of the courtroom for most people.

Believes some judges avoid officiating same-sex marriages by claiming to have a "full calendar" or being "booked." Supports officiating same-sex wedding ceremonies.

Believes in supporting community involvement through volunteer work, community service, and local organizations. As a volunteer, assisted domestic violence victims and immigration asylees.

Believes in strong community involvement through volunteer work, community service, and participation in local organizations. Said, "A justice of the peace should serve the community he or she represents."

Believes in the importance of community involvement through volunteer work, community service, and supporting local organizations. Said, "Over 25 years of helping the community."

Believes community involvement strengthens society through volunteer work, community service, and support for local organizations. Supports initiatives that encourage active participation in community-building efforts.

- The justice of the peace presides over justice courts in each county. The number of justice courts in a county depends on its population. 
- A justice of the peace hears lawsuits, presides over misdemeanor cases, and hears civil and criminal traffic violations. Some examples of cases they might handle include eviction actions, DUIs (driving under the influence), and shoplifting. 
- Justices of the peace are elected in staggered elections for four-year terms. These elections are partisan. 
- Their salary depends on their judicial productivity, in other words, how many cases they see each year and equals, on average, $115,290.
- Some justices of the peace may be an attorney, but this is not a requirement for the role. 