Ernest Calderón

Ernest Calderón, a native of Morenci, Arizona and a sixth generation native of what was New Mexico Territory, has practiced law for over 29 years in Arizona’s state courts, Arizona’s U.S. District Court along with the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals.  He is an “AV Preeminent” rated lawyer by Martindale & Hubbell and is a member of the prestigious American Law Institute. He practices in the areas of education law, mediation law, employment law counseling & investigations, appellate law, commercial litigation, administrative law, public procurement law, construction law and professional licensing law. Ernest is a founding fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.  He served two terms on the Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments and as a Delegate in the American Bar Association House of Delegates.  He has served as a judge pro tempore of the Arizona Superior Court and the Arizona Court of Appeals as well as serving as a Special Master and arbitrator.  Ernest is a past president of the State Bar of Arizona and is president emeritus of the Arizona Board of Regents.  Mr. Calderón started his career as a law clerk to Senior United States District Judge Walter E. Craig.

Amongst Ernest’s reported cases are: Florez v. Sargent, 185 Ariz. 521, 917 P.2d 250 (1996); R.L. Augustine Construction v. Peoria Unified School District No. 11, 188 Ariz. 368, 936 P.2d 554 (1997); Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission v. Fields, 206 Ariz. 130, 75 P.3d 1088 (Ariz. App 2003); and Gallo v. United States District Court, District of Arizona, 349 F.3d 1169 (2003).

Practice Areas:

• Education law
• Alternative Dispute Resolution law
• Employment law counseling & Investigations
• Appellate law
• Commercial litigation
• Administrative law
• Construction law
• Public procurement law
• Professional licensing law

Courts of Admission:

• Arizona Supreme Court
• United States District Court, District of Arizona
• United States Court of Appeals in and for the Ninth Circuit
• United States Court of Appeals in and for the District of Columbia Circuit
• United States Supreme Court

Education & Honors:

• Executive Course, Northwestern University (2009)
• Juris Doctorate, University of Arizona College of Law (1982)
• Bachelor of Science, Northern Arizona University (1979)

• 1977 Harry S Truman Scholar (Arizona’s first)
• Past President of the State Bar of Arizona
• President Emeritus of the Arizona Board of Regents
• Latino Lawyer of the Year 2002 named by the National Hispanic Bar Association
• Judge Learned Hand Award named by the American Jewish Committee
• Dan O’Meara Award named by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
• Metropolitan Phoenix Man of the Year named by Valley Leadership
• Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem
• Profile of Success Recipient named by Valle del Sol
• Community Advocacy Award named by Chicanos Por La Causa
• Leader of Distinction named by Anti-Defamation League
• Voted “Best of the Bar” by the Phoenix Business Journal
• Voted one of “10 Leading Business Lawyers” by the Phoenix Business Journal
• Selected one of Arizona’s Top Attorneys by AZ Attorney Magazine
• Selected numerous times as a Southwest Super Lawyer (by Super Lawyers)
• Selected as a Sustaining Member of Arizona’s Finest Lawyers
• Other Awards from Arizona’s philanthropic community and Arizona’s universities
• Order of Certas
• Order of Veritas

Biographical Honors and Awards:

• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
• The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society

Affiliations:

• Member, Diversity Law Institute
• Member, The Trial Law Institute

Professional Associations:

• American Law Institute, Elected Member
• State Bar of Arizona &
  • Past Section Council Member, Labor & Employment Section
  • Labor & Employment Section of State Bar of Arizona
• American Bar Association &
  • Past Delegate to the House of Delegates
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Charter Fellow, Litigation Counsel of American
• Sustaining Fellow, Arizona’s Preeminent Lawyers
• Los Abogados, Hispanic Bar Association
• St. Thomas More, Catholic Lawyers Bar Association

Community Involvement:

• Board Member, Northern Arizona University Foundation
• Member of Council of Board Chairs, Association of Governing Boards of Colleges & Universities
• Member, City of Phoenix Mayor’s Ethics Task Force
• Board Member, Cancer Treatment Centers of America Western Hospital and EPCOR Arizona
• Trustee, Tax Free Trusts of Arizona, Colorado & Utah
• Adjunct Faculty, Arizona State University
• Adjunct Faculty, Northern Arizona University
• Past President, Grand Canyon Council of the Boy Scouts of America
• Past Cubmaster, Pack #148 Ss. Simon & Jude Parish
• Past Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop #262, St. Helen’s Parish
• Past Chairperson, Catholic Community Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
• Past Chairperson, Valley Leadership
• Past Chairman, Maricopa County Association of Governments Task Force to End Homelessness
• Past Member, Finance Council of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
• Past Board Member, Arizona Community Foundation
• Past Board Member, American Red Cross, Arizona Affiliate
• Past Board Member, Valley of the Sun United Way
• Past Board Member, American Diabetes Association, Arizona Affiliate
• Past Board Member, Central Arizona Shelter Services
• Past Transition Team Member for Two New Gubernatorial Transitions (Janet Napolitano & Janice K. Brewer)
• Past President of the Arizona Board of Dental Examiners
• Past Participant, George C. Marshall Public Service Conference
• Member, Arizona Town Hall (Panel Chairperson Twice, Reporter Twice, Participant since 1977)
• Served Six of Arizona’s Governors by Appointment