William J O'Neil

Retired Judge William O'Neil is the former Presiding Disciplinary Judge for Arizona, where he served for eleven years. Prior to that position he served as a Superior Court Judge for twenty years and served as the Presiding Judge in Pinal County. His list of awards is long, including the Arizona Supreme Court Improving Trust and Confidence in the Court Award, the Mark Santana award for exceptional contributions to legal-related education and the Justice Michael D. Ryan Award for Judicial Excellence. Before his service on the bench, Judge O'Neil worked in private practice for 13 years. His one-person firm grew to be the largest firm in Pinal County. His practice was busy, rewarding and stressful. He understands the struggles to meet deadlines, the temptation of compromise and the danger of situational ethics. He is aware of the common frailty of being so busy, one doesn't take the time to properly process information and falters ethically. He also knows the keys to avoiding such lapses.