Five years after becoming Sedona’s magistrate judge, Elizabeth Yancey submitted her resignation.
It’s time for her to be closer to her family, she said.
“My family, like a lot of people, takes priority, and at this point in my life, that’s become even more in the forefront for me,” Yancey said.
Her last day with the city will be the end of December.
Yancey served in the Maricopa County Superior Court for 14 years before moving to Sedona in December 2004.
The magistrate judge, city attorney and city manager are the only three positions at the city of Sedona that are hired and fired by Sedona City Council.
Last November, council renewed Yancey’s contract, which originally expired Dec. 31, 2008, for six months. Since council didn’t act within 90 days before the agreement was set to expire on June 30, it automatically extended for another six months, bringing it to expire again Thursday, Dec. 31.
According to the contract, all extensions after that would be for one-year periods, unless either party gives 90-day notice that they do not wish to extend for an additional year, which Yancey submitted the second week in August.
“It really is a privilege to be able to serve any community, but especially this one,” she said.
According to Yancey, the best thing about being Sedona’s judge is working with city staff.
“The level of integrity and dedication and hard work is unbelievable,” Yancey said. “We’re very fortunate to have the staff we have here.”
In the Sedona Municipal Court, Yancey hears misdemeanors, like city code violations. All felonies that occur within city limits are tried in county superior courts.
Most cases filed in the Sedona Municipal Court are civil traffic offenses, according to the judge, who sees a lot of speeding, failure to stop, unsafe lane changes, driving without an Arizona license and all types of equipment violations.
According to the law, civil traffic offenses are less serious than a misdemeanor and those found “responsible” don’t get a criminal record, she said.
Yancey will stay until December, primarily to give the city time to find her replacement, she said.
Alison Ecklund can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 125, or e-mail
aecklund@larsonnewspapers.com
