Arizona FPD Jon M. Sands Receives Ninth Circuit’s John P. Frank Award

Jon M. Sands, center, receives the John P. Frank Award presented by Scott Bales and Melinda Haag.

Arizona Federal Public Defender Jon M. Sands received the 2025 John P. Frank Award on July 21, the opening day of the 2025 Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference.

The John P. Frank Award, established in 2003 and awarded by the Ninth Circuit Advisory Board, recognizes a lawyer who has demonstrated outstanding character and integrity; dedication to the rule of law; proficiency as a trial and appellate lawyer; success in promoting collegiality among members of the bench and bar; and a lifetime of service to the federal courts of the Ninth Circuit.

Chief Judge Mary H. Murguia noted the award “is our circuit’s lawyer’s lawyer award. It was created by our circuit’s advisory board more than 20 years ago to honor members of the legal profession in the West who are not only great lawyers but who have also provided notable service to the courts of our circuit.”

Melinda Haag, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California and current chair of the Ninth Circuit Advisory Board, and Scott Bales, former chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, presented the award. “It became incredibly clear during our selection process that Jon had demonstrated throughout his professional lifetime all of the qualities we look for in connection with the John Frank Award,” Haag said. “He has clearly touched the lives of many people in this room and countless others in the District of Arizona and beyond. We received many nominations on Jon’s behalf and all of them contained long, heartfelt descriptions of his character, integrity and humanity.”

“I practiced with John Frank at the end of his career, and I have known Jon Sands since we began practicing law in Arizona some 40 years ago,” said Bales. “Like John Frank, Jon Sands has spent his career in the Ninth Circuit working to advance the rule of law and the ideal of justice for all … He is a national leader on criminal justice issues, and he is an advocate of the highest caliber whose office consistently provides its clients with outstanding criminal defense services.” Bales concluded, “All who know Jon love and admire him for his incomparable combination of brilliance, wry wit, gentle humor and engaging humility.”

After accepting the award, Sands said, “I do want to thank you all for the John P. Frank Award. I am grateful to the committee, the Ninth Circuit, my district, my nominators and for my clients. It is humbling and meaningful. I hope it reflects an acceptance of responsibility. This award affirms the importance of Sixth Amendment right to counsel; this right is exemplified by the Criminal Justice Act. This award shows the Ninth’s support for strong and zealous defense.”

The late John P. Frank was a renowned Phoenix attorney who, over the course of a 62-year career, argued more than 500 appeals before the Arizona Court of Appeals, the Arizona Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, other federal circuit courts and the U.S. Supreme Court. The award was established in 2003 by the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit at the recommendation of the Ninth Circuit Advisory Board, a group of experienced attorneys who advise on circuit governance issues.

                                                                             #    #     #