NCJ Number
54992
Date Published
1977
Length
87 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT, ONE IN A SERIES CONTAINING PROFILES OF NONFEDERAL COURT SYSTEMS, DESCRIBES THE ORGANIZATION OF STATE COURTS IN ARIZONA.
Abstract
THE ARIZONA COURT SYSTEM CONSISTS OF FOUR TIERS: A SUPREME COURT; A COURT OF APPEALS; A COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION, THE SUPERIOR COURT; AND TWO COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION, JUSTICE AND POLICE COURTS. THE HIGHEST APPELLATE COURT IN THE STATE IS THE SUPREME COURT. JUSTICE COURTS HAVE JURISDICTION OVER MISDEMEANORS AND CRIMINAL OFFENSES PUNISHABLE BY A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $300 OR A SENTENCE NOT EXCEEDING 6 MONTHS OR BOTH. POLICE COURTS, REFERRED TO AS MUNICIPAL COURTS, HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER ALL CASES ARISING UNDER MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES AND CONCURRENT JURISDICTION WITH JUSTICE COURTS OVER STATE LAW VIOLATIONS COMMITTED WITHIN CITY LIMITS. PROCEDURES PERTAINING TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED: THE QUALIFICATIONS, SELECTION, AND TERMS OF THE JUDICIARY; THE DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL OF JUDGES; COMPENSATION; RETIREMENT AGE AND ACTIVE SERVICE; CONTINUING EDUCATION, AND THE USE OF PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS. THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT HAS ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISION OVER ALL STATE COURTS AND IS ELECTED BY HIS PEERS TO SERVE A 5-YEAR TERM. A STATE JUDICIAL COUNCIL HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED BY STATUTE OR COURT RULES; POLICYMAKING AUTHORITY IS EXERCISED BY THE SUPREME COURT. A CENTRALLY MANAGED NONJUDICIAL SYSTEM DOES NOT EXIST. THE DETAILED PROFILE OF THE COURT SYSTEM CONCERNS THE COURT OF LAST RESORT, THE INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT, THE TRIAL COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION, THE TRIAL COURT OF LIMITED JURISDICTION, JUDGES, PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS, NONJUDICIAL PERSONNEL, JUDICIAL POLICYMAKING AND ADVISORY BODIES, COURT ADMINISTRATION, COURT FINANCING, COURT RECORDS AND STATISTICS, AND COURT REFORM. SOURCES OF INFORMATION USED TO PREPARE THE PROFILE ARE LISTED. ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS OF THE COURT SYSTEM ARE INCLUDED. DATA ON SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE ARIZONA COURT SYSTEM AND AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION STANDARDS RELATING TO COURT ORGANIZATION ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)