Scottsdale Selects New Presiding City Judge

SCOTTSDALE, AZ —The City of Scottsdale has announced that it has selected Marianne T. Bayardi as the city's next presiding judge.

Bayardi still must be approved by the city council, which is expected to consider the appointment on Feb. 22.

If approved, Bayardi will replace Judge Joseph Olcavage, who will retire on March 4 after 42 years of service in Scottsdale.

"I am honored to be selected and excited to join the Scottsdale City Court, it has a great reputation for being a court that is innovative and always seeking to leverage technology and other means to best serve the community," Bayardi said. "I am looking forward to working with the judges, staff and stakeholders in expanding upon that reputation."

Bayardi has over 30 years of legal experience and currently serves as the assistant chief presiding judge of the Phoenix Municipal Court, one of the ten busiest municipal courts in the U.S. She has held that position since 2019.

Before that, Bayardi spent 12 years as an associate judge of the Phoenix Municipal Court, presiding over misdemeanor cases, civil traffic hearings and protective order hearings.

Bayardi also has worked in the Office of the Arizona Attorney General, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office and the Arizona Office of Administrative Hearings.

A graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law, Bayardi currently is a member of several legal, community and educational organizations in Arizona, according to the city of Scottsdale.

"We are pleased to extend this offer to Judge Bayardi, whose commitment to building the best possible justice system in Arizona has been well demonstrated over the course of her distinguished career," Scottsdale Mayor David D. Ortega said. "I am confident that Judge Bayardi's expertise and experience will be an invaluable contribution to our community."