Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Pro Tempore Kristyne Schaaf-Olson has resigned following a late-night incident earlier this month in which she was cited for public urination near Prescott’s Courthouse Plaza. The episode, captured on police body camera footage, has sparked widespread public scrutiny and raised questions about judicial conduct and accountability.
Around 1:30 a.m. on October 4, Prescott police officers responded to reports of a woman urinating in public near Courthouse Plaza. According to police reports and bodycam footage, officers found Schaaf-Olson showing visible signs of intoxication — slurred speech, poor balance, and confusion. When asked what she was doing, she repeatedly told officers she was “waiting… Uber.”
At one point, Schaaf-Olson identified herself to officers: “I want to let you know, my name is Judge Kristine Olson.” Officers noted that she struggled to spell her name and sign the citation issued for disorderly conduct. One officer can be heard on video saying, “I have no idea. She’s useless. She can’t even spell her name.”
Schaaf-Olson’s husband, Jason Olson, was also cited at the scene for resisting arrest, interfering with a crime scene investigation, and obstruction of government operations. Bodycam footage shows him attempting to lead his wife away, insisting “it wasn’t her,” after officers alleged she had been “puking and urinating, exposing herself to several people.”
Jason Olson, the Town of Chino Valley’s Facilities and Parks Manager, was transported to the Yavapai County Jail. The Town has not commented on his employment status following the incident.
Schaaf-Olson was cited under Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-2904 for public urination, a Class 1 misdemeanor—the most serious misdemeanor in Arizona. The charge carries penalties of up to six months in jail, a $2,500 fine, and up to three years’ probation.
An officer at the scene told her, “This is your citation. It’s a misdemeanor for urinating or defecating in public… You’re gonna have to sign it, promising to appear in court in about a month. Your husband’s gonna be transported to the Yavapai County Jail.”
Just two days after the incident, on October 6, Schaaf-Olson submitted her resignation to Presiding Judge John Napper. She agreed to continue working through October 31 to ensure coverage of her cases.
In her resignation letter, Schaaf-Olson cited “physical, medical, and family circumstances,” adding:
“The Yavapai community deserves and has judges who are steadfast in their commitment to serving Yavapai County. Considering current events in my life, I believe it would be difficult to honor this commitment. I have therefore decided to resign.”
Initially, court administrators described her departure as being for “personal matters,” omitting mention of the incident. The Yavapai County Superior Court later confirmed that Schaaf-Olson “accepted full responsibility” for her actions.
The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct confirmed that Schaaf-Olson self-reported the citation shortly after it occurred.
“Earlier this month, Judge Schaaf-Olson self-reported to the Commission on Judicial Conduct that she received the citation for public urination and indicated that she would be resigning her judicial position,” the Commission said in a statement.
The Commission has opened an investigation, which remains pending and confidential under Rule 9. Under Arizona law, sanctions can range from a public reprimand to suspension or removal from office.
Appointed in October 2023 by Presiding Judge Napper, Schaaf-Olson had been serving as Judge Pro Tempore for Division A to help alleviate case backlogs. Before her appointment, she practiced law in Prescott for over a decade, specializing in personal injury, product liability, wrongful death, and civil appeals.
Schaaf-Olson co-founded Schaaf-Olson Law Firm, PLLC, and previously worked at Murphy, Schmitt, Hathaway, Wilson & Becke, P.L.L.C. She holds law licenses in Arizona, Nevada, and the Navajo Nation.
When announcing her appointment in 2023, Judge Napper praised her as “an outstanding attorney and dedicated member of her community.”
The Yavapai County Superior Court is currently accepting applications for a new judge pro tempore through October 22, 2025. The appointment will be made by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court upon recommendation by the Presiding Judge and approval from the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors.
The release of the bodycam footage and subsequent media coverage have drawn significant public attention, igniting discussions about judicial ethics, accountability, and professional responsibility.
While public urination might typically be considered a minor offense, the case highlights how such conduct can have serious professional consequences for individuals in positions of public trust.
Schaaf-Olson’s resignation marks a swift and public fall from grace for a once-respected Yavapai County legal community member.
