NEWS RELEASE: Resignation of Judge Pro Tempore Kristyne Schaaf-Olson

Published on October 07, 2025

Superior Court in Yavapai County
Contact: Julie Malinowski, Superior Court Administrator
Phone: 928-771-3168
Email: jmalinowski@courts.az.gov

October 6, 2025

YAVAPAI COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION OF JUDGE PRO TEMPORE KRISTYNE SCHAAF-OLSON

YAVAPAI COUNTY, ARIZONA –

On Monday, October 6, 2025, the Honorable Kristyne Schaaf-Olson formally submitted her resignation to Presiding Judge John Napper, stepping down from her role as Judge Pro Tempore of the Yavapai County Superior Court. Judge Schaaf-Olson was appointed to Division Pro Tem A in October 2023, and the decision to resign was made in order to attend to personal matters. The court extends its sincere appreciation for her service and wishes her the very best in her future endeavors.

Judge Scaaf-Olson provided the following statement: “My resignation comes after careful consideration of current physical, medical, and family circumstances. The Yavapai community deserves and has judges who are steadfast in their commitment to serving Yavapai County, considering current events in my life, I believe it would be difficult to honor this commitment. I have therefore decided to resign. It has been a pleasure serving the Yavapai community.”

Presiding Judge Napper also commented, “I respect and appreciate Ms. Schaaf-Olson’s decision to resign. On behalf of the Yavapai County Superior Court, I appreciate the time that Ms. Schaaf-Olson has served our community and her willingness to remain in her position while the Court selects a new Pro Tempore.”

The resignation of Judge Schaaf-Olson creates a vacancy for the judge pro tempore position for Division Pro Tem A of the Yavapai County Superior Court. The judge pro tempore will be appointed by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court upon the request of the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court and subject to the approval of the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors, in accordance with Article VI, Section 31, of the Constitution of the State of Arizona, and A.R.S. §12-141. The judge pro tempore assignment is in the Prescott Judicial District at the Superior Court in downtown Prescott.

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