Danalyn Savage

Position Running For: Yavapai County Superior Court Division 5

Political Party: No Affiliation/Independent

  • Judges serve the entire county, no matter the person’s status or affiliations. According to the Judicial Code of Conduct, judges are not permitted to discuss political opinions or anything that would interfere with the integrity and independence of the bench. It is important as the third branch of the government to stay out of the politics, in order do the job with integrity. A Judge makes decisions based on the law and the facts. To show favoritism toward one group or another does not uphold the oath we take. I take the integrity of my role very seriously.

  • I was appointed as Superior Court Judge in December 2023. Judges in rural counties, after appointment, get to run in the next general election to be voted on by the people of the County. All Judges in Yavapai County are ultimately elected. I was appointed in December 2023 and am now running to be elected in November 2024, all while doing my duties as a Superior Court Judge in Yavapai County.

  • I do not serve on any judicial boards currently. Judges are permitted to serve on boards and in groups that help improve and/or further the efficacy of the judicial branch of the State. My focus this year has been on my work as a judge, my campaign as a candidate, and my community service as a middle-school cross-country coach in addition to our church’s work in the community.

  • Our family has lived here for 8 years. We moved to Yavapai County as a family in 2016, after my husband was hired as the Lead Pastor of Cornerstone Church in Prescott. My husband and I met and had three kids together in Phoenix, where I had lived since I left law school in Virginia in 2005. After growing up in a small town in Western New York, I’ve enjoyed the return to a smaller community.

  • My husband tells our church that if serving is below you, then leading is beyond you. I’m seeking to learn all I can, so I can be the best servant to the community. My current assignment includes criminal law which I am familiar with, but some also civil law, which I did not practice. It is fun to learn a new area of the law, and I’m excited to grow as I continue to hear additional cases. I hope to be a catalyst for people to learn more about the judges in Yavapai County, and how the judicial system works.

  • I felt a sense of calling - that I was the right person for this role and I could serve the community well. I knew that if appointed, I would need to run in the next election in order to keep my position. But, when I considered my almost 17-year-career as a prosecutor in two counties, along with my ability to learn quickly, process information, be efficient, and care about the people who come into my courtroom, I wanted to serve our county in this way.

  • I’m proud of my work as a coach. In 2022, a teacher at my kid’s school asked me to help with the cross-country team practices. However, in 2023, the team had no coach, and I wanted to see it continue. So, I volunteered and took the coaching classes. We had 14 runners in 2023. 20 joined in 2024. My athletes are energetic and eager to run. To be able to provide a place for kids to learn to love running AND watch them grow as humans is amazing! The joy it brings to my life is irreplaceable.

  • Judicial integrity and independence - I take my oath of office and the Code of Conduct seriously. My position is based upon trust, which is a weight I feel daily.

    Service to the community as a life calling - This role is not a stepping stone. I’ve been in public service my entire career, and this work is not about me.

    Bringing humility and humanity to the bench - there is no place for ego or pride here. Each person in the courtroom from the victim to the defendant has dignity and value. My rulings are firm and fair, while respecting all involved.

  • I would love to see a change in how the community engages the Court. Most people do not come to court unless they have reason to be there. Yet, court is open to the public. I would love to see more people coming to watch, asking us questions about what we do, and inviting us to come and talk about what we do from day-to-day. There would be less mystery if we found a way to help regular people engage in watching and learning about the judicial process.

  • In five years, I would love to see an increase in public education on how the judicial system in our county functions, including more engagement with Judges from the general public.

    I am also hopeful I can connect with some of the tribal judges to talk about people who are getting services in both Courts to see if we can work together despite being separate Courts (Federal and State).

  • More than anything, I encourage people to make an informed decision about their vote. I’ve met people who’ve been surprised when they get to know me out in the community, as they had heard rumors or incorrect information about me. While I encourage everyone to make an informed decision, I know not everyone will like me. That’s okay - I’m not seeking to be popular. I want people to know it’s an honor to serve in this role, and I’m working hard every day on the bench to make our community safer and stronger.

Candidate Bio: To survive lake-effect snow near the Great Lakes, you need to be hearty. To survive life in a small town where everyone knows who you are, you need to stay humble. My childhood taught me the value of both virtues. Growing up in a village of 2,000 people outside Buffalo, New York, I spent my summers roofing houses and doing yard work. I played the flute and saxophone in the band, was active in my church’s youth group, and spent hundreds of hours in a basketball gym.


I went on to play college basketball. I also traveled to Central America and India, where I played basketball with mission organizations during college and law school.

After moving to Arizona in 2005, I passed the bar exam and began my career as a prosecutor in 2007. In that capacity, I served Maricopa County for over nine years and Yavapai County for over seven years. In 2021, I was named the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys Advisory Council Juvenile Prosecutor of the Year. In December 2023, I was appointed as a Judge to Yavapai Superior Court Division 5.


When I’m not serving the community on the bench, I love supporting my husband in his work as a local pastor. In his sermons, he often says, “If serving is below you, then leading is beyond you.” I try to practice this everyday.


We are the proud parents of three children who we’re raising to become servant-leaders. I also coach a middle school cross-country team and enjoy gardening to feed my family and friends.

Since my appointment, I’ve sought to bring humility to the bench and honor the humanity of every person in my courtroom. In my extensive career as a prosecutor, I worked hard to earn a reputation for fairness, firmness, integrity, excellence, and respect among defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges in two counties.

As a judge, I’m committed to making the hard decisions and ensuring justice. I took an oath to follow the laws of the State of Arizona and the United States Constitution. I work unwaveringly to uphold that oath each day when I take the bench.

Endorsed By:

As a Judge I do not have endorsements. While they are permitted on a very restricted basis, they are not advisable. Judges are tasked with maintaining the integrity and independence of the bench. Endorsements muddy the waters and blur the lines. The Judicial Code of Conduct and the ethics opinions from the code direct on what can and can’t be done in campaigns. for example, endorsements by law enforcement are strictly prohibited.

https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/137/rules/Arizona%20Code%20of%20Judicial%20Conduct.pdf

Endorsing:

As with taking endorsements, endorsing anyone while a Judge is prohibited. This would make it impossible for a Judge to maintain the integrity of the bench and disqualify a Judge from hearing cases in the community.