Appellate specialist Thom Hudson has decades of experience with hundreds of appeals in state and federal courts on a broad range of topics, including state and federal constitutional issues, torts, contracts, insurance bad faith, Indian law, and punitive damages.

Among other things, Thom’s appellate work has helped to secure gaming rights for tribal nations in Arizona, protect voter registration rights for individuals, protect judges’ pensions rights, safeguard Arizona’s implied home warranty rights, and helped individuals collect millions of dollars in punitive damages resulting from insurance companies’ bad faith.

During his career, Thom has received the highest ranking possible from all the major ranking organizations, including Best Lawyers, SuperLawyers, and he received Chambers USA’s highest rank of Band 1.  He was inducted into the esteemed American Academy of Appellate Lawyers in 2010.

Thom has led many efforts to help improve the appellate process.  In addition to chairing the State Bar Appellate Practice Section and serving as a Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative, he co-authored the monthly column “Appellate Highlights” for the Arizona Attorney magazine for over a decade.  Thom helped found AZAPP.com, Arizona’s first appellate blog.  He facilitated numerous changes to improve the Arizona Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure, and he has written numerous articles on appellate issues for a variety of publications, including the Arizona Attorney and the Journal of Appellate Practice.

Thom now focuses exclusively on appellate consulting with trial and appellate lawyers, including regularly assisting firm clients with their most challenging appeals.

Degrees

J.D., summa cum laude, University of Arizona, 1992; Ph.D., Philosophy, University of Arizona, 1994; M.A., Philosophy University of Arizona, 1993; B.A. Philosophy, Arizona State University, 1988

Practice Focus

My practice is devoted exclusively to civil appeals and related consulting with trial attorneys with an emphasis on Arizona’s appellate courts and the Ninth Circuit.