![Western Pinal Justice of the Peace Patricia Glover speaks during a City of Maricopa Republican Club on May 23, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]](https://inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260529-spencer-teeple-republican-club-1-4-1024x683.jpg)
Mr. Chapman has no education, work experience, or qualifications to serve as a judge in our community. He is a decertified former police officer (permanently barred from serving as a peace officer in the state of Arizona) with two DUIs in the past decade. He relies on political fodder and smear campaign tactics and has violated several sections of the Arizona Code of Judicial Conduct, demonstrating his inability to execute impartial performance of the adjudicative duties of judicial office.
Judge Glover has 20+ years’ experience working in the legal profession. She holds an associate’s degree in paralegal studies, a bachelor’s degree in legal studies, and has recently been awarded an $80,000 scholarship to attend law school.
Judge Glover is a pillar of our community who has helped families navigate complex legal matters for the past two decades. She has dedicated her career to expanding access to justice. She founded Maricopa’s first legal document preparer company, offering low-cost legal services to those who cannot afford an attorney.
To maintain transparency and address misinformation, Judge Glover provides the following rebuttal to Mr. Chapman’s libelous letter to the editor:
Rather than accepting responsibility, Glover has attempted to deflect criticism by stating that the court remains open five days per week with staff present.
Mr. Chapman has an interesting relationship with the truth. Judge Glover has never deflected criticism. As set forth below, Judge Glover welcomes criticism. The original allegation made by Mr. Chapman was that the court is “not open every day.” Once it became evident to him that this lie could be easily debunked, Mr. Chapman moved the goalpost to say, “She is physically present in court only two days per week.” This is just another misrepresentation made by a man who claims to be “retired” law enforcement.
Patricia Glover has failed the last two operational reviews conducted by the Pinal County Superior Court.
Operational reviews are not conducted by the Superior Court. They are conducted by the Arizona Supreme Court, which a candidate for Justice of the Peace should know.
Only one operational review has been conducted during the period in which Judge Glover presided over the Western Pinal Justice Court. These reviews are not a pass/fail standard. They are evaluations intended to assist courts with improving their administration, case management, and financial management.
Prior to Judge Glover’s appointment, the court had been seized by the Supreme Court. Judge Glover successfully got the court unseized only three months after her appointment.
She then welcomed the Arizona Supreme Court to conduct a review so that she could properly evaluate the court’s shortcomings and areas of improvement.
The review did exactly that, and Judge Glover and court staff have been working diligently to implement changes to policies and procedures to improve court operations.
Now, Mr. Chapman wants to mischaracterize the review and mislabel Judge Glover’s ingenuity to mislead our community.
She is physically present in court only two days per week.
Judge Glover is the first and only judge to preside over the Western Pinal Justice Court who has opened the court calendar to more than two days per week. Mr. Chapman attempts to use the transition period while Judge Glover was in training to deceive the public into believing the judge is not available.
Judge Glover is available to the court Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with a break for lunch). Judge Glover is also available when she is on call (which is a 24/7 rotation between the six Pinal County Justices of the Peace). When not on the bench, Glover is still working. Much of what judges do is behind the scenes, i.e., drafting orders, reviewing pleadings, ruling on motions, and working on community outreach.
When Judge Glover is not physically present at the court (e.g., attending mandatory training), arrangements are made for a pro tem judge to cover hearings, or alternatively, Judge Glover is available telephonically for walk-ins.
We do not send anyone away from the court Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except we do close for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.).
Judge Glover has also taken the initiative to pursue additional training and build connections with judges throughout the state of Arizona to learn about programs (e.g., Veterans Court, Mental Health Court, Drug Court, etc.) that we can hopefully implement in our community in the near future.
While having staff available is required, the issue identified is leadership and the need for the elected Justice of the Peace to be physically present, available, and actively managing the court.
With this remark, Mr. Chapman not only insults Judge Glover’s leadership, but he also attacks our wonderful court staff.
Judge Glover has served in a managerial position for multiple law firms and businesses in Arizona and has extensive experience hiring and supervising staff. When a leader possesses skills to efficiently recruit, hire, and train support staff, the leader need not chain her staff to their desks and micromanage every aspect of their day-to-day operations.
The staff at the Western Pinal Justice Court is hardworking and quite frankly, overqualified and underpaid for the services they provide to our community.
Mr. Chapman’s attacks on our court are reckless, antagonistic, and ignorant at best.
Last month, Glover announced she is now attending law school full time online.
This strangely negative remark about being accepted into law school came shortly after Mr. Chapman publicly insinuated that Judge Glover should be at home taking care of her husband and children.
Judge Glover proudly announced she has been awarded an $80,000.00 scholarship to attend a part-time online law school program. It is unclear if Mr. Chapman intentionally misheard the announcement or if this is just another example of his exaggeration of truth.
Contrary to Mr. Chapman’s distortion of reality, being accepted into law school with a scholarship is a notable achievement and is representative of Judge Glover’s ongoing dedication to the legal field, a trait we should hope to see in a judicial candidate (rather than a decertified peace officer who holds a degree in a completely unrelated field).
Judge Glover’s law school classes will be completed in the evenings and weekends. It will not adversely impact Judge Glover’s ability to fulfill her obligations to the court and our community.
The citizens deserve a Justice of the Peace who shows up, works full time, and ensures the court operates efficiently.
Agreed, and that is exactly what our community has with Judge Glover. Judge Glover is the only judge who has presided over the Western Pinal Justice Court who has not had the court seized. In fact, she successfully got the court unseized only three months after taking office. She inherited issues from the prior seizures, which she and her amazing court staff have worked tirelessly to improve.
Mr. Chapman has zero qualifications to serve as Justice of the Peace. His only campaign promise is to “show up,” but showing up does not get the job done. A person can show up to the airport five days per week. That doesn’t mean we should allow them to fly the plane.
Judge Glover takes great pride in her work. Unfortunately, she inherited many issues from the court being seized (prior to her appointment), but she and court staff are making tremendous improvements.
We still have a lot of work to do and hope the community will entrust Judge Glover to get the job done.
Patricia Glover
Justice of the Peace for Western Pinal County Justice Court
20 Responses
Patricia Glover — you seem to think you’ve found some political “jackpot” here, but facts still matter.
You, your supporters, and your husband Christian have repeatedly made false claims suggesting I had a DUI while on duty. That is simply not true.
I proudly and honorably served our community for 25 years as a Police Officer and Detective, earning numerous commendations, including a Life Saving Medal.
Near the end of my career, I went through an extremely difficult personal chapter, including a painful divorce. During that time, I made a mistake. While off duty, riding my personal motorcycle, I was involved in a single-vehicle accident. I was later charged under Arizona’s DUI “impaired to the slightest degree” statute involving a reported .04 BAC.
As is standard procedure, law enforcement agencies are required to forward these matters to AZPOST for review. My attorney explained my options: spend tens of thousands of dollars fighting the administrative process, or voluntarily relinquish my certification and move forward with retirement.
I accepted responsibility for my mistake, chose the latter, and retired after 25 years of service.
What I will not accept are political attacks that distort the truth or falsely claim this happened while I was serving on duty.
Since you’ve chosen to make personal history a campaign issue, perhaps you should also be willing to address questions about your own record — including your bankruptcy history and public records involving your husband criminal charges for THEFT.
Mr. Chapman, Tom Chapman bankruptcy (unlike drinking and driving) is a legal remedy available to people who are facing financial hardships. Yes, I filed BK in 2018. Fortunately, I was only financially bankrupt and not morally bankrupt.
You, sir, need to leave non-candidates out of this. Is there no level you won’t stoop to?
Knock it off. I will not engage with you further on this. You have shown everyone exactly who you are. I do not need a political jackpot.
But I do have the 78 page police report so let’s stop pretending it was only a 0.04 BAC.
Homie, you know people can just…look it up and see the public record, no? I never heard of you till like two weeks ago and a simple 30 second search says you’re a big fat liar.
As a MAGA candidate (that alone is a HUGE negative), what does bankruptcy matter? You elected a man who filed for bankruptcy numerous times (how tf do you bankrupt a casino/steak business/university…six times?!) but you’re totally okay with that, I don’t know how or why you think that’s somehow a “burn” on her.
I’m not a supporter of either of you since you’re both Republicans, but even less of a Chapman supporter ’cause you’re soooo totally lying.
At least Glover has more understanding of the law. She’s got more experience dealing with it, has the experience of already being a JotP, is currently going to law school. Cops have an elementary level at best knowledge of law and get big mad when called out on it.
When people have legal issues, they go to judges/lawyers, they never, ever, ever, go to a cop. You’re just not qualified, man.
Gloves are off now!
Excellent response Judge Glover!
Thank you!
If Judge Glover is directly responding, why is it in the third person format? Maybe it’s just me, but it seems strange.
Was thinking the same thing…
Also, no profile or website of hers ever mentions a bachelor’s in legal studies (as of this comment, I’m sure it will get added now), it was always just the paralegal education, and suddenly it’s being mentioned.
I’m not a Chapman fan but I just simply don’t trust Glover with the sly political phrasing.
Why can’t we find an actual law school graduate/experienced candidate for this role?? Bring Riggs back.
Exactly, she didn’t proof read her ChatGPT response. If she couldn’t be bothered to check AI how are we suppose to trust she is going to give us the time of day in her court.
I do not use ChatGPT for writing. I actually enjoy writing.
Sorry, I’m used to legal writing.
Can you please clarify why an aspiring law student with a past bankruptcy doesn’t see the conflict to serve as a Justice of the Peace, a position that pays approximately $140,000 per year?
As an undecided voter, I’m trying to understand how you and your “qualifications” benefits the community. As a member of the community the message Im getting from you is “choose you because you’re not as bad as Chapman”.
FedEx drivers make 140k a year. People need to stop thinking that’s somehow an extravagant amount in the year 2026. This is the new norm and the dollar is not worth what it was 30 years ago anymore. 140k is equivalent to 80k back in 2000.
Or are you living in a world where gas is still 5 cents a gallon, milk and ice are still delivered by horse and buggy, and all of your favorite shows are broadcast on the radio?
Hello Mr. Yutel:
Great question.
LAW SCHOOL: I have wanted to go to law school for 20 years. Unfortunately, there were barriers in place for people like me (people who do not have the luxury of not working) until recent years. When COVID shut down the world, that forced law schools to reconsider their prior stance relating to online law schools. Contrary to the information Mr. Chapman continues to spread about me, I was accepted into a PART-TIME, online law school program. My classes will be in the evenings and weekends. It will take a lot of hard work, but I have a very supportive family. Law school will not negatively impact my ability to perform my duties as Justice of the Peace. To the contrary, it will improve my ability to review cases and make legal decisions that impact our community.
BANKRUPTCY: I filed bankruptcy in 2018. I went through a difficult financial time (including an employer who stopped paying me even though I was working), so I pursued legal remedies that were available to me. This was after I made multiple attempts to work out payment plans with creditors and they refused to work with me. (This is not uncommon with creditors.) At the end of the day, I have a family to support, and bankruptcy was the option that I needed to take at that time. Since then, I have reestablished my financial situation and have contributed generously to our community by sponsoring nonprofit organizations and youth/sports teams throughout the years.
CONFLICT / PAY: I’m not sure what the prior two issues have to do with this. Feel free to elaborate, and I will happily address your concerns.
QUALIFICATIONS: I hope people will vote for me because they see I am qualified to do the job. It is not because I am “not as bad as Chapman.” I have 20+ years’ experience working in the legal field. I have a very diverse legal background and I have worked with and been mentored by some of the top attorneys in the country. I have completed extensive judicial training and continue to pursue education that will improve my ability to serve our community. I am the first judge to serve our court who has opened the court calendar up. I have improved time standards, and I am working to create DIY forms to help self-represented litigants to navigate the court system. Most recently, court staff and I are working to audit old files (from prior to my appointment). We intend to schedule Order to Show Cause hearings to bring litigants into court who have failed to comply with court orders (such as payment plans, community service, anger management, etc.). When I first took over the court, we were short-staffed, so we did not have the luxury of auditing prior cases. I have worked diligently to recruit, hire, and train staff so that we finally can address some of the court’s issues. We actually make a great team (because I could not do any of this without our wonderful court staff). I have dedicated my career to helping families through legal processes. It is something I take great pride in. I hope the community will see through my opponent’s lie and smear campaign tactics and will entrust me to continue serving as Justice of the Peace.
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Same with Deputy City Manager Micah Gaudet’s oversight of public safety operations. There appears to be growing concern about leadership effectiveness and connection to the needs of police and fire personnel.
I have been informed that Mr. Gaudet may be spending work time creating AI-related videos and YouTube content that do not appear to be directly related to city business. Former employees have expressed concern that these activities may benefit his personal brand rather than the departments he oversees.
Additionally, I have noticed potential discrepancies in publicly available information regarding his professional background. His LinkedIn profile appears to reflect director-level experience, while other records suggest analyst-level positions. I believe it would be appropriate to review his qualifications, employment history, and relatively short tenures in prior roles to ensure transparency and maintain public confidence.
Many residents are questioning how someone with limited public safety experience came to oversee police and fire operations and exercise significant influence over those departments.
YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@MicahGaudet/shorts
If you look back,then city manager Ricky(the car salesman)Horst brought him in and sold him to the counsil and mayor.Being that Horst and his buddy Price seem to have a spell on these followers…not leaders he was hired.And the same questions came up then as now!Why the chief of police and fire chief need oversight by this rookie is an insult to both of them.They(police/firefighters)are both under scrutiny by the public,police standards association and fire fighters association.There are many in the city administration that don’t belong here,overpaid,pampered but it’s business as usual.And a four day work week is absurd.Four day workweeks do not work.Productivity goes down and expenses go up.All the city buildings sit there running the A/C,heat,while everyone is off.There are very few when calling on a Thursday afternoon that actually answer a call or return a call.Their weekend starts on Thursday organizing their three day weekend.It’s human nature.Give them an inch…they take a mile in any business and the city is a business.
I would content, Mr. Chapman that you chose to settle with AZ POST because you realized that the revocation of a professional license would impact your ability to do other things. It is well documented that AZ POST generally does not revoke peace officer certification for an off duty DUI, so your decision to voluntarily relinquish is suspect to me. AZ POST is a public board, so all of their documents are subject to public inspection. My recommendation to inmaricopa.com is to request Mr. Chapman’s POST record, and associated case documents which they will provide to you under Arizona’s Sunshine Laws and put this (literal he said / she said) dispute to rest.
The real problem here in my humble opinion is that our only options for a Justice of the Peace is a discredited cop (lot’s of angry cops like to run for JP and Constable jobs), and an aspiring law student. Sounds more like an episode of the First 48 instead of an election for a judge.
👏👏👏
Chapman admits to having a dui in his comment above. Sorry guy. Time to bow out
JUDGE FIGHT!!! JUDGE FIGHT!!!