Michael S. Catlett

An Arizona native, Michael S. Catlett was appointed to Division One of the Arizona Court of Appeals by Governor Doug Ducey in 2022. From 2020 to 2023, Judge Catlett worked at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office as Deputy Solicitor General and Chief Counsel of Special Litigation, representing the State of Arizona and the Arizona Attorney General in trial and appellate courts.

Michael S. Catlett

After graduating from law school, Judge Catlett served a one-year clerkship (2006-2007) with the Hon. Paul J. Kelly, Jr., United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Judge Catlett received his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in finance from Arizona State University. Judge Catlett received his law degree summa cum laude and order of the coif from the University of Arizona College of Law, where he was Editor-In-Chief of the Arizona Law Review.

Judge Catlett received his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in finance from Arizona State University. Judge Catlett received his law degree summa cum laude and order of the coif from the University of Arizona College of Law, where he was Editor-In-Chief of the Arizona Law Review. Judge Catlett has been a member of the Arizona State Bar’s Civil Practice and Procedure Committee and is an author of a chapter in the Arizona Attorneys’ Fee Manual.

Judges - Court of Appeals, Division One

Michael Catlett earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Arizona State University and a law degree from the University of Arizona College of Law.

An Arizona native, Michael S. Catlett was appointed to Division One of the Arizona Court of Appeals by Governor Doug Ducey in 2022. From 2020 to 2023, Judge Catlett worked at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office as Deputy Solicitor General and Chief Counsel of Special Litigation, representing the State of Arizona and the Arizona Attorney General in trial and appellate courts. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Judge Catlett was a complex commercial and appellate litigator in private practice.

From 2020 to 2023, Judge Catlett worked at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office as Deputy Solicitor General and Chief Counsel of Special Litigation, representing the State of Arizona and the Arizona Attorney General in trial and appellate courts. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Judge Catlett was a complex commercial and appellate litigator in private practice with the law firms of Quarles & Brady LLP (Associate 2010-2014, Partner 2014-2020) and Osborn Maledon, P.A. (Associate 2007-2010). After graduating from law school, Judge Catlett served a one-year clerkship (2006-2007) with the Hon. Paul J. Kelly, Jr., United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Judge Catlett was a complex commercial and appellate litigator in private practice with the law firms of Quarles & Brady LLP (Associate 2010-2014, Partner 2014-2020) and Osborn Maledon, P.A. (Associate 2007-2010). After graduating from law school, Judge Catlett served a one-year clerkship (2006-2007) with the Hon. Paul J. Kelly, Jr., United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Judge Catlett has been a member of the Arizona State Bar’s Civil Practice and Procedure Committee and is an author of a chapter in the Arizona Attorneys’ Fee Manual. Judge Catlett has also been a professor of practice at the University of Arizona College of Law, co-teaching a course on Government Liability.

Michael Catlett previously worked as a deputy solicitor general and chief counsel of special litigation at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Before that, he was a commercial and appellate litigator at Quarles & Brady LLP and Osborn Maledon, P.A., and served as a law clerk for Judge Paul J. Kelly Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He has also been a professor of practice at the University of Arizona College of Law.

Michael S. Catlett was appointed to Division One of the Arizona Court of Appeals by Governor Doug Ducey in 2022.

2026 Arizona General Election

As of October 12, 2026, Michael Catlett did not have a website or any information online.

Ethics & Conduct

Article

As a state court of appeals judge, ensures the law has been applied correctly in state criminal and civil cases and exercises the authority to correct procedural errors or misinterpretations of fact or law by lower courts.

- As a state court of appeals judge, ensures the law has been applied correctly in state criminal and civil cases and exercises the authority to correct procedural errors or misinterpretations of fact or law by lower courts.

Legal Experience

Michael S. Catlett — Judge, Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One ...

Meets the Arizona Judicial Peformance Review (JPR) standards.

- Meets the Arizona Judicial Peformance Review (JPR) standards.

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Judge Catlett has also been a professor of practice at the University of Arizona College of Law, co-teaching a course on Government Liability. Judge Catlett has donated his time to provide pro bono legal services through the Federal Court Pro Se Litigant Clinic and the Ninth Circuit’s Pro Bono program and has volunteered as a youth basketball coach.

Volunteered to provide free legal services through the Federal Court Pro Se Litigant Clinic and the Ninth Circuit’s Pro Bono program.

- Volunteered to provide free legal services through the Federal Court Pro Se Litigant Clinic and the Ninth Circuit’s Pro Bono program.

Community Involvement

Michael Catlett

Advocates limiting special actions when an appeal provides an adequate remedy.

As of October 12, 2026, Michael Catlett’s website did not contain information on this issue.

The Arizona Constitution governs the judicial department’s jurisdiction and authority. See State ex rel. Brnovich v. City of Tucson, 242 Ariz. 588, 594-95 (2017) (“Our state constitution identifies the various components of this Court's subject matter jurisdiction.”); see also A.R.S. § 12-102 (“The supreme court shall discharge the duties imposed and exercise the jurisdiction conferred by the constitution and by law.”). No court, by rule or otherwise, can expand its jurisdiction or authority beyond that set forth in the Constitution.

Microsoft Word - MCatlett Comment R-23-0055

Isaac Brickman

Walter Ley

I join with others in commending the Supreme Court for appointing the Task Force to review and update the Rules of Procedure of Special Actions. I commend the Task Force for their hard work in drafting the Proposed Rules, which were in dire need of an update. I write to raise concern only about the Proposed Rules’ failure to state that a special action is not available where there is an adequate remedy by way of appeal.

Each of those writs is equitable in nature. Thus, authority to issue them does not exist where there is an adequate remedy at law, including by way of appeal. See City of Bisbee v. Ariz. Ins. Agency, 14 Ariz. 313, 314 (1912) (“As a general rule, the equity side of the court may not be invoked when the complainant has a plain, speedy, and adequate remedy at law.”).

- The Court of Appeals Judge reviews proceedings that occurred in the trial courts for errors of law or legal procedure. They decide if the trial court correctly applied the law to the case.
- The Court of Appeals Judge deals with a majority of cases appealed from the Superior and District courts in civil and criminal cases.
- They are the only intermediate appellate court in the state, meaning they are the only court that sits between lower courts and the state Supreme Court.
- The court decides the cases that come before it in panels of three judges.
- 22 judges are elected in non-partisan elections. 
- They are paid an annual salary of $73,543.

Judge who hears appeals on decisions made by lower courts in Arizona.