Arizona Superior Court in Pima County
Tuesday, April 6, 2021 by Superior Court
Teresa D. Underwood is the newly appointed Court Administrator of Pima County Consolidated Justice Court (PCCJC). “We’re excited to have Ms. Underwood join us as PCCJC administrator,” said Pima County Presiding Judge Kyle Bryson. “She brings a wealth of experience and will be a dynamic administrative leader for this important court.”
A former Chief Executive/Clerk of Court of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Underwood oversaw the day-to-day administrative operations and non-judicial functions for the Howard M. Metzenbaum U.S. Courthouse in Cleveland.
Underwood joined the bankruptcy court as a Supervisor in 2003, was promoted to Operations Manager in 2004 and Chief of Staff in 2013. She became its Chief Executive in 2017.
Upon her mid-April start date, Underwood will oversee administration and the non-judicial operations of PCCJC, which houses eight elected justices of the peace, representing the majority of the ten Pima County precincts. Ajo and Green Valley each have their own court facility.
PCCJC has jurisdiction over small claims cases, landlord and tenant concerns, misdemeanor criminal offenses, and civil and criminal traffic offenses, including DUIs.
Ronald Overholt, Pima County Superior Court Administrator, noted, “Ms. Underwood brings almost two decades of experience with the courts in Northern Ohio to Pima County. She will be a great addition to our courts’ executive team.”
Underwood earned her Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Public Administration from Cleveland State University. She was a member of the Board of Governors of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Clerks and a Faculty Coach/Mentor for the New Supervisors’ Development Program at the Federal Judicial Center, the research and education agency of the judicial branch of the U.S. government.