Judge Lisa VandenBerg, associate presiding judge of the Probate and Mental Health Department, is retiring from Superior Court on February 23 to accept a position as the Presiding Disciplinary Judge for the Arizona Supreme Court.

During her time on the Superior Court bench, Judge VandenBerg presided over Family, Criminal and, most recently, Probate Department calendars. She was appointed as a judge in 2017 after working as a Superior Court commissioner for 13 years.

"I am excited about the future,” Judge Vandenberg said. “However, my excitement is fueled by the hope that I will carry the relationships I have formed while on this bench forward. To those that consider me a friend, after February of 2025, let's have a cheeseburger at the place of your choosing."

As a judicial officer, Judge VandenBerg held leadership roles at the court and in the legal community. She served as associate presiding judge in the Family and Probate Departments. She was also a member of the Arizona State Legislature's Committee on Mental Health and the Maricopa County Mental Health Steering committee. Judge VandenBerg made significant contributions as a liaison for the Arizona State Bar and Maricopa County Bar Associations, delivering many Continuing Legal Education presentations.

“Judge VandenBerg has provided extraordinary service to the citizens of Maricopa County,” Presiding Judge Joseph Welty said. “She has also been actively involved in state and local committees focused on the effective delivery of services to the mentally ill.  Judge VandenBerg currently runs a specialty court for probationers suffering from mental illness and drug addiction.”

Prior to joining the Court, she worked as an attorney for the Legal Division of the Arizona Corporation Commission and as a deputy county attorney in the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

Judge VandenBerg earned her Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and her Bachelor of Arts in history from Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas. Lyon College honored her with the 2023 Distinguished Alumna Award.

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