Peoria appoints John Tatz as new judge | News

The Peoria City Council recently selected John Tatz to serve as the city’s new municipal court presiding judge. The appointment comes as George Anagnost announced his retirement from the position following a 29-year career with the city.

“I am grateful to put my public service experience to work in my hometown,” Tatz said. “I thank the Peoria City Council for the trust they have bestowed upon me and look forward to joining the team.”

Tatz has served as the Mesa presiding judge since 2020, overseeing all operations in a high-volume court that incurs over 100,000 filings annually.

He was involved in planning and implementing a domestic violence court in Mesa and oversees the city’s community court and veterans court.

Tatz served as a Mesa city magistrate from 2016–20 and has previous experience with Peoria as the city’s assistant city prosecutor from November 1999 to August 2001. He also has 16 years of experience as a sole practitioner in Peoria, Phoenix and Glendale.  

Tatz will begin service to Peoria on April 15.

The municipal court handles criminal misdemeanors, traffic violations, city code violations, injunctions prohibiting harassment and orders of protection in Peoria.

“We are grateful to have Judge Tatz back in Peoria,” Mayor Jason Beck said. “His experience in overseeing a high-volume court, while maintaining excellent jurisprudential temperament, will serve our city well.”