Celeste Robertson
President & Prosecutor
Celeste Robertson co-founded the Center for Rural Arizona Justice in 2024. Having been born and raised in the small town community of St. Johns, Celeste developed a commitment to rural Arizona from a young age. From the time she left home to attend college, Celeste knew she wanted to return to rural Arizona and dedicate her career to serving communities that are often forgotten.
Celeste attended Arizona State University where she earned dual bachelor's degrees in economics and business law. Following her undergraduate studies, Celeste went on to attend the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at ASU. Celeste returned home each summer to intern at the Apache County Attorney's Office. Celeste was awarded several accolades while in law school, including CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Arizona Criminal Law and Victims in Criminal Procedure, the 2018 Aspiring Prosecutor Scholarship from the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys Advisory Council, as well as the 2019 Arizona State Bar Criminal Justice Section Future Practitioner Award. At graduation, Celeste was also recognized by the American Board of Trial Advocates with the Trial Advocacy Award.
Upon graduating from law school, Celeste joined the Apache County Attorney's Office as a prosecutor. During her tenure with Apache County, Celeste prosecuted hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases, ranging from DUI and domestic violence offenses to sex crimes and homicides. Celeste served as the Chief Deputy County Attorney from 2022-2024 where she oversaw criminal prosecutions and managed a staff of attorneys and victim's advocates. In recognition of her work as a prosecutor and commitment to public service, Celeste was awarded the 2022 Rising Star Award from the Public Lawyers Section of the Arizona State Bar.
Celeste started the Center for Rural Arizona Justice because she saw an opportunity to utilize her prosecution experience to serve the broader needs of rural communities across the state. Celeste is committed to helping where needed to administer justice in rural communities.
