José Luis Castillo proudly joined the Tohono O’odham Judicial Bench on the 11th of March 2026.

In his prior legal career, Judge Castillo was trial counsel representing clients facing felonies and misdemeanors. His trial experience is rooted, but not governed, by the Office of the Pima County Legal Defender and the City of Tucson Public Defender. He then served as a judge in the Pima County Consolidated Justice Courts for nearly 21 years where he gained a general reputation as a fair, considerate and respectful jurist.

Judge Castillo is father to three children (one of whom is also a Marine). He was active duty in the Marine Corps and was Honorably Discharged as a Sergeant. He is fluent in Spanish, is learning Yoeme and is committed to understand O’odham Ñi’okǐ.

He is an alumnus of the University of Arizona where he earned his JD and a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology.

Judge Castillo has been a guest lecturer at the University of Arizona, La Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Pima Community College, the Judicial College of Arizona and other venues including elementary and high schools. Aside from his creative writing (children’s books, poetry, border ghost stories, guides for judges and attorneys plus general fiction & non-fiction), Judge Castillo has taught basic legal introduction to children and young adults in Pima and Santa Cruz Counties.

Judge Castillo is at once humbled by the call to serve the Nation and simultaneously greatly honored to serve the members of the Nation.

In February 2020, David M. Osterfeld was appointed as a judge to the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Judicial Court. Over his legal career, Judge Osterfeld has served as an Assistant Tribal Attorney and Acting Tribal Attorney for the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Whiteriver, Arizona, as a Tribal Court Solicitor and Legal Services Managing Attorney for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and as private counsel to many Indian nations across the country, managing a Tribal Regulatory Workgroup practice.

Judge Osterfeld has also served as an Assistant Attorney General for Arizona, and currently serves as a Major in the United States Space Force, Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Immediately prior to his appointment to the Tohono O’odham bench, Judge Osterfeld was twice elected as the White Tank Justice of the Peace in Maricopa County, and served as Associate Presider for Maricopa County’s 26 Justice Courts. Judge Osterfeld is honored to serve the Nation and its members.

Judge Hardy joined the Tohono O’odham Judiciary in 2021. Before that, he clerked for several Fulton County (Georgia) State Court judges, served as a court-annexed mediator for the Fulton County Magistrate Court, worked in private practice with several law firms, volunteered for the New Mexico Legal Aid Native American Program, served as an arbitrator for the State Bar of Georgia, and as a Principal Attorney for the Navajo Nation Department of Justice Water Rights Unit. He graduated in 1998 from the University of Georgia School of Law.

Deputy Chief Judge Deola Juan is from the Ak Komelic community in the Chukut Kuk District. Her paternal grandparents are the late Joseph and Viola Arvicio, her maternal grandparents are the late Robert Bautista and Shirley Bautista, and her parents are Preston and Carrie Juan. She is married to Christopher G. Juan, and together they have three children: Elania, Abel, and Esai. Judge Juan graduated from Baboquivari High School, earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, and went on to receive a Master of Legal Studies from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law, with an emphasis in Juvenile and Family Law, along with a certificate in Mediation.

She began her career with the Judicial Branch in 2009 as a Community Service Monitor and later served as a Court Officer and Probation Officer. Over 12 years as a Probation Officer, Judge Juan developed a strong commitment to rehabilitation and a deep understanding of the importance of community centered justice.

In 2022, while completing her graduate studies, Judge Juan felt called to pursue a judgeship to bring a deeper understanding of her community’s needs to the bench. Since then, she has served with integrity and dedication, contributing to decisions that impact the lives of the people the Branch serves.

Judge Rene Alcoverde Jr., a registered member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, was born in Tucson, Arizona, in 1981, to Rene Alcoverde, Sr. (of Sonora, Mexico), and Viola Sanchez Alcoverde (of Sahuarita, Arizona). He lives in Tucson, Arizona, with his wife, Jessica Murillo de Alcoverde and his son, Rene Alcoverde, III.

Judge Alcoverde graduated from Sahuarita High School in 1999, from the University of Arizona in 2003, from the Pre-Law Summer Institute in 2003, and from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law in 2006. Before taking the bench with the Tohono O’odham Nation, Judge Alcoverde was a partner and co-owner of the law firm previously known as Centuori & Alcoverde, P.C., where he utilized his Arizona State, United States Federal District of Arizona, Pascua Yaqui Tribal Court, and Tohono O’odham Nation law licenses to represent clients throughout Arizona.

Judge Alcoverde’s legal experience began in law school, while working as a law clerk for Victor Schwanbeck, owner of Schwanbeck & Present, P.L.L.C. Upon receiving his law license, Judge Alcoverde continued working with Mr. Schwanbeck as an associate, independent contractor, under Mr. Schwanbeck’s tutelage. When Mr. Schwanbeck retired as an attorney, Judge Alcoverde went to work as an independent contractor at Centuori & Associates, until he became a co-owner and partner.

In December of 2016, Judge Alcoverde received a letter inviting him to apply as a Judge with the Tohono O’odham Nation. Judge Alcoverde, motivated to give back to the Tohono O’odham Nation, applied for the judgeship position and was unanimously appointed to the bench by the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council on February 28, 2017. Judge Alcoverde disassociated from his firm and took his oath of office on April 18, 2017, which is when Judge Alcoverde began serving the Tohono O’odham Nation as a judge. Judge Alcoverde’s first term expired on January 31, 2021. He was unanimously reappointed to serve a second term, which expires on January 31, 2027.