Michael D. Ryan
Encyclopedia
Michael D. Ryan is an associate justice on the Arizona Supreme Court
, a position he has held since July 1, 2002. He is also a veteran of the Vietnam War.
Ryan has announced that he will be stepping down from the court effective August 6, 2010.
in 1967. Ten years later, he earned his J.D.
from Arizona State University Law School.
After leaving the County Attorney's Office, Ryan served as a full-time Judge pro tempore for the Maricopa County Superior Court, a position he held for a little over a year and a half, In June 1986, he was appointed a full-time Judge by the Governor. He served on the court for ten years. For his last three years, he also acted as an Associate Criminal Presiding Judge. Ryan was appointed on September 11, 1996 to the Arizona Court of Appeals
by Fife Symington III.
Justice Ryan was appointed to the state's highest court on May 21, 2002 by Governor Jane Dee Hull.
Arizona Supreme Court
The Arizona Supreme Court is the state supreme court of the U.S. state of Arizona. It consists of a Chief Justice, a Vice Chief Justice, and three associate justices. Each justice is appointed by the governor of Arizona from a list recommended by a bipartisan commission. Justices stand for...
, a position he has held since July 1, 2002. He is also a veteran of the Vietnam War.
Ryan has announced that he will be stepping down from the court effective August 6, 2010.
Education
Justice Ryan received his B.A. from St. John's University, in MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
in 1967. Ten years later, he earned his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Arizona State University Law School.
Military experience
After graduating from college, Ryan enrolled in the United States Marine Corps. While in the service, he served as a platoon commander and achieved a rank of First Lieutenant. As a result of wounds sustained in battle, Ryan received a Medical Retirement in February 1969. Accordingly, he was awarded two Purple Heart medals, in addition to a Bronze Star for actions in combat.Professional career
After his discharge from the USMC, Ryan took a job in the Maricopa Country Attorney's Office, as Deputy County Attorney. There he served in the Major Felony Bureau and held the position of co-coordinator of the county's sex crimes unit. He stayed at Maricopa Country Attorney's Office for eight years, starting in October 1977 and ending in October 1985.After leaving the County Attorney's Office, Ryan served as a full-time Judge pro tempore for the Maricopa County Superior Court, a position he held for a little over a year and a half, In June 1986, he was appointed a full-time Judge by the Governor. He served on the court for ten years. For his last three years, he also acted as an Associate Criminal Presiding Judge. Ryan was appointed on September 11, 1996 to the Arizona Court of Appeals
Arizona Court of Appeals
The Arizona Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court for the State of Arizona. It is divided into two divisions, with a total of twenty-two judges on the court: sixteen in Division One, based in Phoenix, and six in Division Two, based in Tucson....
by Fife Symington III.
Justice Ryan was appointed to the state's highest court on May 21, 2002 by Governor Jane Dee Hull.
Awards and associations
- 2005 State Bar of Arizona's James A. Walsh Outstanding Jurist Award
- 2003 Arizona State University College of Law’s Outstanding Alumnus Award
- 2003 Arizona State University College of Law’s Distinguished Achievement Award
- 2001 Semper Fi award, Phoenix Chapter, First Marine Division Association
- 2001 Judicial Award of Excellence for outstanding dedication and commitment to improving the justice system, State Bar of Arizona, Public Lawyers Section
- 2001 Honorable Henry S. Stevens Judge of the Year Award for outstanding service to improve the legal system, legal profession and professionalism of the bench and bar, Maricopa County Bar Association
- 1999-2000 Board of Directors’ Member of the Year, Maricopa County Bar Association