The Town of Fountain Hills received more than 20 applications for its position of presiding judge for the Municipal Court, and now the selection process will begin.

At its Feb. 6 regular session the Town Council directed staff to narrow the selection to three or four and the council will conduct interviews of the finalists.

Town Manager Ken Buchanan recommended the council conduct the interviews and make the final decision.

While it is in Town Code that the presiding judge is one of the positions hired directly by the council there is no specified interview process.

Town Attorney Andrew McGuire said some cities have an appointed judicial commission and others use staff or appoint an interview panel, which Fountain Hills has done in the past.

Mayor Linda Kavanagh said she supports the recommendation of Buchanan, and others concurred.

“I believe I would like to have the opportunity to interview three or four finalists,” Councilman Dennis Brown said.

Councilman Henry Leger asked that the court administrator be permitted to participate in the interview process.

“I would like any advantage we can get,” Leger said.

Buchanan said the council would have staff resources from both the court administrator and human resources administrator.

The presiding judge position has been vacant since the resignation of Judge Mitchell Eisenberg last October. The court has used temporary replacement judges since that time.

The new position will be a part-time job as presiding judge.