Judge Monica Edelstein: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Hon. Monica Edelstein is a judge for the Maricopa County Superior Court in Arizona. She was appointed to the bench by Governor Doug Ducey in September 2020.

During her judicial tenure, Edelstein has presided in the Family Court.

Prior to joining the bench, she worked for seven years as an Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona (2013 to 2020). Her caseload included fraud and white-collar crime, public integrity, national security, narcotics, gun trafficking, and violent crime. In addition, Edelstein served as the office’s Professional Responsibility Officer, advising her office and colleagues on professional conduct matters. She was also an evaluator with the Department of Justice’s Evaluation and Review Staff. In that capacity, Edelstein was tasked with visiting U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country to provide management assistance, check on DOJ policy compliance, and educate on best practices to improve efficiency.

Before becoming a federal prosecutor, Edelstein was a trial attorney in the Criminal Tax Division of the Department of Justice (2006 to 2013) in Washington, D.C.

She received a B.A. in sociology and communications from Boston College in 2001. Edelstein went on to complete a J.D. at the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law (2004), and an LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law (2006).

After graduating from law school, she began her legal career as a law clerk to the Hon. Phillip Hall with the Arizona Court of Appeals (2004 to 2005).

In addition to her legal career, Edelstein serves in the United States Air Force as a Reserve Assistant Judge Advocate General. As such, she provides civil practice support for the Legal Office at Luke Air Force Base. Edelstein has also served as a member of the Air Force’s TRIALS Team, training other litigators serving at U.S. Air Force bases.

Her memberships have included the Federal Bar Association, the South Asian Bar Association, and the State Bar of Arizona (vice-chair of the Committee on Women and Minority Lawyers).

From a civic standpoint, Edelstein has been involved with Cactus Foothills Little League (Board of Directors), Feed My Starving Children (volunteer), Court Works (federal court mock trial competition), and Ninth Circuit Civics Competition (high school competition).

She has also sat on the University of Arizona Law College Association Board of Directors and the Xavier College Preparatory Endowment Advisory Committee and Foundation Board.