Family of Judge Rosa Mroz shines spotlight on dangers of distracted driving
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
Honorable Rosa Mroz — a Maricopa County Judge — was killed after being hit by a car in Phoenix in February of 2022.
The driver was allegedly looking at his phone, completing a Grubhub order, when he ran the red light, killing Judge Mroz in the crosswalk. Her family is now suing Grubhub to serve justice for Judge Mroz, a dedicated community member, wife, mother, and daughter.
A trailblazer and an accomplished woman, Judge Mroz was the first Asian American woman to be appointed as a judge in Maricopa County Superior Court history and one of two Asian American judges sitting in a court of general jurisdiction in Arizona.
Judge Mroz spent 18 years on the trial court bench and was widely respected by her judicial peers. She was an active member of the local Asian American community, the Arizona Women Lawyers’ Association, and served on many justice-related commissions, task forces and committees.
In addition, the doting mother of two played an active role in her kids’ school and activities.
“Rosa herself would tell you that her love for her friends and family was her greatest accomplishment,” her husband Robert said. “Our family is completely devastated by this loss. We are sharing Rosa’s story to warn others of the dangers of distracted driving.”
Read the formal complaint on file at Superior Court HERE.
According to police reports, the driver in the case allegedly was looking at his phone trying to locate the house for his Grubhub delivery when he missed the light changing to red and struck Judge Mroz.
The Scottsdale-based, Shapiro Law Team, who represents the Mroz family alongside co-counsel Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi, states distracted driving is not uncommon. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2009 to 2016, pedestrian crash deaths rose 51% with Arizona ranking seventh out of the states in terms of the pedestrian death rate and pedestrian danger index.
“Unfortunately, distracted driving happens every day and many think they won’t be the one to crash,” said David Shapiro, attorney, and founder of Shapiro Law Team. “It only takes seconds of looking away from the road to greatly alter the future of a life and the lives of their loved ones. Our entire legal community lost an irreplaceable Officer of the Court in Judge Mroz.”
Attorney Robert Glassman echoed a similar sentiment.
“Distracted driving among food delivery app drivers is an increasing problem that continues to threaten the lives and safety of all drivers and pedestrians in the path to their destination,” he said. “Judge Mroz was an incredible wife, mother, and daughter and a pioneering public servant whose death has impacted all who knew and loved her.”
