▁position ▁he ▁held ▁for ▁a ▁little ▁over ▁a ▁year ▁and ▁a ▁half , ▁In ▁June ▁ 1 9 8 6 , ▁he ▁was ▁appointed ▁a ▁full - time ▁Judge ▁by ▁the ▁Governor . ▁He ▁served ▁on ▁the ▁court ▁for ▁ten ▁years . ▁For ▁his ▁last ▁three ▁years , ▁he ▁also ▁acted ▁as ▁an ▁Associ ate ▁C riminal ▁Pres iding ▁Judge . ▁While ▁a ▁Judge , ▁Ryan ▁pres ided ▁over ▁the ▁criminal ▁trial ▁of ▁former ▁Governor ▁E van ▁Me ch am . ▁Ryan ▁was ▁appointed ▁on ▁September ▁ 1 1 , ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁to ▁the ▁Arizona ▁Court ▁of ▁App e als ▁by ▁F ife ▁Sym ington ▁III . ▁ ▁Justice ▁Ryan ▁was ▁appointed ▁to ▁the ▁state ' s ▁highest ▁court ▁on ▁May ▁ 2 1 , ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁by ▁Governor ▁Jane ▁De e ▁H ull . ▁ ▁Awards ▁and ▁associations ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁State ▁Bar ▁of ▁Arizona ' s ▁James ▁A . ▁Wal sh ▁Out standing ▁Jur ist ▁Award ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁Arizona ▁State ▁University ▁College ▁of ▁Law ' s ▁Out standing ▁Al umn us ▁Award ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁Arizona ▁State ▁University ▁College ▁of ▁Law ' s ▁Dist ingu ished ▁Ach iev ement ▁Award ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁Sem per ▁F i ▁award , ▁Phoenix ▁Chapter , ▁First ▁Marine ▁Division ▁Association ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁Jud icial ▁Award ▁of ▁Ex cell ence ▁for ▁out standing ▁dedic ation ▁and ▁commit ment ▁to ▁impro ving ▁the ▁justice ▁system , ▁State ▁Bar ▁of