Arizona Superior Court in Pima County
Thursday, June 13, 2024 by Arizona Superior Court in Pima County
Pima County Presiding Judge Jeffrey Bergin, Associate Presiding Judge Danelle Liwski and Juvenile Court Presiding Judge Michael Butler are pleased to announce the appointments of Tracy Miller as Judge Pro Tempore, and Sandra Bensley, Daniel R. Huff, Derek Koltunovich and Dawn Walton as commissioners to the Pima County Superior Court.
Miller occupies the position left open by the retirement of Judge Pro Tem Teresa Godoy, while Huff and Walton will step into the roles left vacant by the retirement of Commissioners Lori Jones and Jack Assini, respectively.
“Pima County will be well served by the five judicial officers recently appointed to the bench,” said Presiding Judge Bergin. “All are eminently qualified with an impressive depth and breadth of experience. I am confident they will serve the bench with honor and dignity.”
Tracy Miller has over 30 years of experience in the criminal justice system, most recently with the Pima County Attorney’s Office, where she served in many roles, including as Bureau Chief of the Special Victims Bureau. In this position, she oversaw special victims’ cases, mentored, and trained prosecutors assigned to the Bureau, and prosecuted a variety of cases in the Special Victims Unit. Miller has also worked with community justice partners to implement programs and changes to support efficient and effective procedures for criminal processing.
Miller graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law.
Sandra Bensley has been an attorney for seventeen years with substantial courtroom experience in the areas of probate and criminal law. Prior to joining the Superior Court, Bensley was a partner and attorney at Waterfall, Economidis, Caldwell, Hanshaw & Villamana, P.C. She has also served as an Assistant Public Defender at the Pima County Public Defender’s Office, and as an Assistant City Prosecutor in the City of Glendale Prosecutor’s Office. Bensley is the past President of the Pima County Bar Association and formerly served on the State Bar Board of Governors.
Bensley graduated from Arizona State University with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and History and earned her Juris Doctor from the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
Daniel Huff has served as the managing partner and an attorney at The Huff Law Firm, PLLC, where he has focused his practice on family and juvenile law, adoptions, and estate planning, and served as outside counsel for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. Previously, Huff served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Arizona, where he represented the Departments of Child Safety and Economic Security in trial and appellate matters. He also held positions as a Team Lead and supervising attorney. Huff has a long history of volunteering in the community, having served on numerous community and public boards and presented legal seminars for the Court and State Bar each year.
Huff graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration—Finance, and earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Gonzaga University School of Law.
Derek Koltunovich practiced primarily at the Pima County Juvenile Court for the past 12 years, specializing in dependency and delinquency law, representing both children and parents. In addition to his extensive courtroom experience, he was also the team leader for the Juvenile Defender and Dependency Units of the Pima County Defender’s Office. In this role he provided training and support to new attorneys, handled caseload, and lead continuing legal education seminars. During his time at the Public Defender’s Office he spearheaded two innovative programs Public Defender's office; the Family Preservation Legal Clinic, and a fund that aids youth and young adults who are unable to satisfy their restitution orders. Prior to working at the Public Defender’s Office Koltunovich represented children in dependency matters at the Pima County Office of Children’s Counsel for over five years.
Koltunovich graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law.
Dawn Walton has been an attorney for 30 years, most recently in the Maricopa County Superior Court as a judicial officer in family court and presiding over cases in initial appearance court in the criminal department. Prior to her appointment to the bench in Maricopa County, Walton served as an attorney primarily in administrative roles and juvenile law in the public sector. She was the first Executive Director for the Academy of Justice of the Sandra Day O’Conor College of Law at Arizona State University, the school’s first and only criminal justice reform center. Walton also served as an Attorney Advisor for the Social Security Administration, assisting Administrative Law Judges on medical and legal aspects of cases when determining eligibility of benefits by applicants. She also represented the Department of Child Safety (DCS) in juvenile dependency matters in Superior Court and represented parents as defendants against the DCS. Walton has held several executive positions in the Arizona Black Bar, currently as Chair of the Membership Committee, and previously as President, President-Elect/Vice-President, and Secretary.
Walton graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and earned her Juris Doctor from the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.