Judicial Officers’ Community Services Efforts are Making a Difference

PHOENIX (July 30, 2024) – Judicial officers – the judges and court commissioners of the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County – are taking steps to strengthen connections between the Bench and the communities they serve.

Through R.O.B.E.S. (Reaching Out and Building Engagement Through Service), the Judicial Branch in Maricopa County is helping those in need and establishing valuable connections. 

“Whether it’s helping the less fortunate or strengthening ties with organizations in Maricopa County, community engagement, for those of us in the judiciary, has transformative power,” said Commissioner Elizabeth Bingert. “These experiences enrich our understanding and empathy, allowing us to bring not just legal expertise but also a deeper human insight into our courtrooms.”

Commissioner Bingert, along with Judge Joseph Kreamer, Judge Robert Brooks and Commissioner Joshua Boyle, are spearheading the R.O.B.E.S program. Since its creation more than a year ago, the program has cooked dinner for families with sick children at Phoenix Children’s Hospital through the Ronald McDonald House; collected hundreds of gifts and several thousand dollars for children aging out of the foster care system; prepared sack lunches for the Honor Flight Network (a group that sends military veterans to Washington, D.C.), and spent a Saturday with Tempe Community Action Agency at Dia de los Ninos hosting a carnival for children whose families are experiencing food or housing insecurity.

“R.O.B.E.S allows us to make a difference in our community,” Commissioner Bingert said. “Behind the robes and the rulings, we are individuals committed to justice and to the well-being of those we serve.”

“Our community service efforts are making a difference.  But we know that there’s still a great need, and we will continue looking for ways to connect with and help the people we serve,” Judge Kreamer said.