A challenger has joined the race for Justice of the Peace at Western Pinal Justice Court. 

Rancho El Dorado resident Tom Chapman announced his campaign for the seat on social media earlier this week. He is the first to challenge incumbent Patricia Glover, who took the bench in 2024 after running unopposed. 

Chapman did not respond to multiple requests for comment. 

According to his campaign website, Chapman spent more than two decades in law enforcement, including with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and the Cottonwood and Chandler Police Departments. He worked as a motor officer and background detective for command staff hiring. 

His biography also says Chapman has worked as an MRI technician for the last seven years and has lived in Maricopa since 2022.  

The Justice of the Peace is tasked with handling civil lawsuits, small claims cases, civil and criminal traffic violations, criminal misdemeanor cases, landlord-tenant disputes and orders of protection. 

Glover is seeking re-election to the seat she ran for and was ultimately appointed to after her opponent, Maricopa-area Constable Glenn Morrison of Rancho El Dorado, failed to file 380 voter signatures.  

Glover told InMaricopa her 20 years of experience in the legal field sets her apart from Chapman. 

“My understanding is he has prior experience in law enforcement, but law enforcement and the court and judicial process are very different fields,” she said. 

Her résumé includes starting working as a legal receptionist in the early aughts, then becoming a paralegal, earning her degree in legal studies, working as a certified legal document preparer and eventually working as a legal consultant.  

Glover, who lives in The Villages at Rancho El Dorado, said she is seeking re-election because of the work she and her team have done “rallying for our court.” 

“I actually really enjoy the work that we’ve done … When I was appointed, we basically did not have a judge for at least nine months,” she said. “So, I’ve enjoyed getting in there and rallying for our court.” 

That work entailed hiring more court clerks, updating court forms and ensuring litigants understand the judicial process. 

“I enjoy meeting with the litigants. I think a lot of people come into the justice court and it’s their first experience with the court system,” Glover said. “I enjoy sitting with them and explaining exactly what we’re going through, step by step.”