Judge Patrick K. Gard: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Hon. Patrick K. Gard is a judge for the Pinal County Superior Court in Arizona. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Doug Ducey on September 18, 2018.

Prior to his appointment, Gard presided as a commissioner for the Pinal County Superior Court, a position to which he was appointed by the Hon. Stephen McCarville in 2016. During that time, he held an assignment on the Family Law bench, hearing cases involving marriage dissolution, child custody and guardianship, protective orders, child support, and child parenting plans.

Before beginning his judicial career, Gard spent nine years working as a deputy county attorney with the Pinal County Attorney’s Office (2007 to 2016). During that time, he held an assignment in the Special Victims Bureau, handling a caseload that included felony prosecutions with an emphasis on domestic violence, child abuse, and sex crimes. Gard also spent five years specializing in juvenile prosecution in the Juvenile Bureau. In addition, he sat as co-chair of the Pinal County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team and on the steering committee of the Pinal County Domestic Violence Coalition.

He was also a former prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (2003 to 2007).

Gard received a B.S. in criminal justice administration from the University of Arizona in 2000. He went on to complete a J.D. at the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law in 2003.

Gard is married to the Hon. Lacey S. Gard, who also presides as a judge for the Pinal County Superior Court. The couple has two children.