Appointed by Governor Symington in 2003, Judge Patterson served eight years on the Arizona Court of Appeals. His work at First Things First is one way he continues his distinguished career of public service.

Judge Patterson now practices law in the Phoenix community after having retired from the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division I, on June 30, 2003, after eight years of service. He also served as the Acting Presiding Judge for the Glendale City Court from September 2001 to October 2002; and as Chief Counsel of the Human Services Division for the Office of the Arizona Attorney General from 1991 until his Court of Appeals appointment.

Before his tenure with the Attorney General’s Office, Judge Patterson served 11 years as a Maricopa County Superior Court Judge. During part of his time, he acted as Presiding Judge of the Criminal Department. A trial attorney with the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office from 1975 to 1980, Judge Patterson practiced law as a partner with a local firm and with the Phoenix Urban League and the Maricopa County Legal Aid Society from 1971 to 1975. His professional associations include membership in the National Bar Association and its Judicial Council, and the Arizona, Maricopa County and the H.B. Daniels Bar Associations. He also served on the National Association of Attorneys Generals’ Civil Rights Committee. Judge Patterson is Chairman of the Arizona Juvenile Justice commission, and serves on a number of local committees, including: the Tempe Community Council, the City of Phoenix Ad Hoc Use of Force Task Force, Minority Advisory Committee – Arizona State University, the Board of Directors of the Valley of the Sun YMCA and the Valley of the Sun United Way. Other community activities include having served on the Board of Directors of the Maricopa County Branch of the NAACP, the Maricopa County Chapter of the Red Cross and Southminister Social Service Agency.

After serving five years with the United States Air Force, Judge Patterson earned his law degree from Arizona State University in 1971. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Hampton University (Virginia) in 1963.

Judge Patterson is married and has two children.