A Maricopa County Superior Court judge who served as former Gov. Jan Brewer's top legal counsel is stepping down from the bench.
Brewer appointed Joseph Sciarrotta Jr. as a judge in September 2014 but he didn't take the bench until December. He had been Brewer's general counsel since 2011 and advised her on proposed legislation, contracts and constitutional issues. He also defended her Medicaid expansion plan in court.
Sciarrotta's decision to step down wasn't formally announced and only became public when the Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments announced Tuesday it would review applications for his replacement.
Sciarrotta didn't immediately return calls to his chambers seeking information on his decision and future plans. He had been assigned to hear family court cases in Mesa.
