How Does the Arizona Municipal Court Work?

Arizona Municipal Courts are trial courts of limited jurisdiction. Some counties within the state refer to them as city courts or Magistrate courts. Magistrate courts were previously distinct from municipal courts, but now they have been merged into a unified system. This courts’ jurisdiction is limited to minor offenses, misdemeanors, violation of city ordinances, or municipal codes. Municipal Courts also share jurisdiction of traffic violations with Justice Courts and submit appeals directly to the Superior Court. The issuance of search warrants, anti-molestation injunctions, and protection orders are also part of the responsibilities of the Municipal courts.

The court bases the appointment of judges for Municipal Courts on the charter or ordinance guidelines laid out by each city. Relying on each city’s policies makes the appointment process varied from city to city. Some do not require the court judges to be attorneys; others do. Also, others appoint judges, while some, like the Yuma County court, conduct elections. The tenure of judgeship also varies by city but must be a minimum of two years.

Also, the court may reappoint or replace judges without cause. Periodic reviews are conducted twice a year in most counties to assess the incumbent judge. If the outcome shows that a Municipal Court judge has not served satisfactorily, the court can remove the party before the tenure expires. In addition to this, the city regulations decide appointments for supporting staff, such as the court clerks and administrators. Although the Municipal courts serve the cities and counties, the judges are judicial officers of the state court system. Therefore they are accountable to the state.

Information about all case proceedings in Municipal Courts are recorded in paper format or otherwise and maintained at the court clerk’s office. The minimum fee for requests for copies in the state is $17. In addition, all requests must be written and submitted in person, by mail, or by fax, depending on which options are accepted by the court. The following information is not available for public access without a court order under the Rules of the State Supreme Court:

• Criminal records that are over five years old from the date of adjudication
• Domestic Violence and DUI records over eight years from the date of completion of sentence
• Civil traffic offenses of over a year after the final adjudication, and satisfaction of fines/bails
• Information about minors involved in a case, such as the full names, addresses, education, and adoption details of the party
• Personal data of involved parties like photo IDs, identification numbers, financial statements, state registration numbers
• All case information where privacy fosters the chances of a fair trial
• All records under seal by court order

The duration of a case is mainly dependent on the type of case it is. It could range from a few days to years. Criminal cases, by default, go through a longer process than non-criminal cases. How well the involved parties and their attorneys cooperate also influences the amount of time spent on a case. However, the Arizona judiciary is committed to ensuring that all state citizens enjoy their rights to a speedy trial as per state law.

Most Arizona counties have multiple sitting locations for Municipal Courts across the state, bringing it to a total of 79 locations in all 15 counties. Below are their addresses and contact information:

Eagar Municipal Court
130 S Mountain Ave
P.O. Box 1356
Springerville, AZ 85938
Phone: 928–333–4613
Fax: 928–333–4205

Springerville Municipal Court
130 S Mountain Ave
P.O. Box 1356
Springerville, AZ 85938
Phone: 928–333–4613
Fax: 928–333–4205

St. Johns Municipal Court
Apache County Courthouse
70 W 3rd Ave S
P.O. Box 308
St. Johns, AZ 85936
Phone: (928)337–7558
Fax: (928) 337–2683

Benson Municipal Court
126 W 5th St, Ste 1
Benson, AZ 85602
Phone: (520) 586–8100
Fax: (520) 586–8117

Bisbee Municipal Court
207 N Judd Dr
Bisbee, AZ 85603
Phone: (520) 432–9540
Fax: (520) 432–5271

Douglas Municipal Court
1012 N G Ave
Douglas, AZ 85607
Phone: (520) 805–5640

Huachuca City Magistrate Court
500 N Gonzales Blvd
Huachuca City, AZ 85616
Phone: (520) 456–1080
Fax: (520) 456–2230

Sierra Vista Municipal Court
100 Colonia de Salud
Ste 108
Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
Phone: (520) 803–3800
Fax: (520) 439–9106

Tombstone Magistrate Court
402 E Fremont St
P.O. Box 339
Tombstone, AZ 85638
Phone: 520–457–3781

Willcox Municipal Court
450 S Haskell Ave
Willcox, AZ 85643
Phone: (520) 384–7000
Fax: (520) 384–7019

Flagstaff Municipal Court
15 N Beaver St
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phone: (928) 774–1401
Fax: (928) 556–1284

Fredonia Municipal Court
25 N Main St
Fredonia, AZ 86022
Phone: (928) 643–7241

Page Magistrate Court
547 Vista Ave
P.O. Box 1180
Page, AZ 86040
Phone: (928) 645–4280
Fax: (928) 645–4287

Sedona Municipal Court
102 Roadrunner Dr
Sedona, AZ 86336
Phone: (928) 282–1189
Fax: (928) 204–7151

Williams Municipal Court
700 W Railroad Ave
Williams, AZ 86046
Phone: (928) 679–7698

Globe Municipal Court
150 N Pine St
Globe, AZ 85501
Phone: (928) 425–0471

Hayden Municipal Court
P.O. Box B
Hayden, AZ 85235
Phone: 520–356–7801 ext. 1

Miami Magistrate Court
Globe Courthouse
1400 E Ash St
Globe, AZ 85501
Phone: 866–846–8296 (Toll-Free)

Payson Magistrate Court
Payson Courthouse
714 S Beeline Hwy
Ste 103, Payson, AZ 85541
Phone: (928) 474–5267
Fax: (928) 474–6214

Star Valley Magistrate Court
Payson Courthouse
714 S Beeline Hwy Ste 103
Payson, AZ 85541
Phone: (928) 474–5267
Fax: (928)474–6214

Winkelman Municipal Court
206 Giffin Ave
P.O. Box 386
Winkelman, AZ 85292
Phone: (520)356–7854

Gila Valley Consolidated (GVC) Municipal Court
702 S 8th Ave, Safford, AZ 85546
Phone: (928) 432–4090
Fax: (928) 348–3180

Clifton Magistrate Court
Clifton Town Hall Office Complex
510 N Coronado Blvd
P.O. Box 1415
Clifton, AZ 85533
Phone: 928–865–4156

Parker Magistrate Court
1314 11th St
Parker, AZ 85344
Phone: (928) 669–0011
Fax: (928) 669–5247

Quartzsite Magistrate Court
465 N Plymouth Ave
P.O. Box 583
Quartzsite, AZ 85346
Phone: (928) 927–7477
Fax: (928) 927–4332

Avondale City Court
11325 W Civic Center Dr
Avondale, AZ 85323
Phone: (623) 333–5800
Fax: (623) 333–0580

Buckeye Municipal Court
21749 W Yuma Road
Ste 101
Buckeye, AZ 85326
Phone: (623) 349–6510
Fax: (623) 349–6151

Carefree-Cave Creek Consolidated Court
37622 N Cave Creek Rd, Ste B
Cave Creek, AZ 85331
Phone: (480) 488–1689
Fax: (480) 595–9610

Chandler Municipal Court
200 E Chicago St
Chandler, AZ 85225
Phone: (480) 782–4700
Fax: (480) 782–4752

El Mirage City Court
14010 N El Mirage Road
El Mirage, AZ 85335
Phone: 623–815–2186
Fax: 623–815–3466

Fountain Hills Municipal Court
16705 E Ave of the Fountains
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268
Phone: (480) 816–5103
Fax: (480) 837–8256

Gila Bend Municipal Court
209 E Pima St
P.O. Box 648
Gila Bend, AZ 85337
Phone: (928) 683–2781

Gilbert Municipal Court
55 E Civic Center Dr
Gilbert, AZ 85296
Phone: (480) 635–7800
Fax: (480) 635–7820 (Criminal); (480) 635–7815 (Civil Traffic)

Glendale City Court
5711 W Glendale Ave
Glendale, AZ 85301
Phone: (623) 930–2400
Fax: (623) 937–8860

Goodyear Municipal Court
14455 W Van Buren St
Ste B–101
Goodyear, AZ 85338
Phone: (623) 882–7200
Fax: (623) 932–6936

Guadalupe Municipal Court
9241 S Avenida Del Yaqui
Guadalupe, AZ 85283
Phone: (480) 505–5378
Fax: (480) 505–5377

Litchfield Park Magistrate Court
214 W Wigwam Blvd
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
Phone: (623) 935–7091
Fax: (623) 535–1831

Mesa Municipal Court
250 E 1st Ave
Mesa, AZ 85210
Phone: (480) 644–2255
Fax: (480) 644–2927

Paradise Valley Municipal Court
6517 E Lincoln Dr
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
Phone: (480) 404–7000
Fax: (480) 404–7025

Peoria Municipal Court
10100 N 83rd Ave
Peoria, AZ 85345
Phone: (623) 773–7400
Fax: (623) 773–7407

Phoenix Municipal Court
300 W Washington St
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: (602) 262–6421
Fax: (602) 534–3628

Scottsdale City Court
3700 N 75th St
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone: (480) 312–2442
Fax: (480) 312–2764

Surprise City Court
16081 N Civic Center Plaza, Suite 105
Surprise, AZ 85374
Phone: (623) 222–4800
Fax: (623) 222–4801

Tempe Municipal Court
140 E 5th St
Tempe, AZ 85281
Phone: (480) 350–8271 (Main); (480) 350–8184 (Civil); (480) 350–8720 (Criminal)
Fax: (480)350–2790 (Civil); (480) 350–2789 (Criminal)

Tolleson City Court
8350 W Van Buren St
Tolleson, AZ 85353
Phone: (623) 474–4975
Fax: (623) 936–3925

Wickenburg Municipal Court
155 N Tegner St, Ste B
Wickenburg, AZ 85390
Phone: (928) 684–5451 ext. 1515
Fax: (928) 684–0749

Youngtown Municipal Court
12038 Clubhouse Square
Youngtown, AZ 85363
Phone: (623) 972–8226
Fax: (623) 933–4952

Bullhead City Municipal Court
1255 Marina Blvd
Bullhead City, AZ 86442
Phone: (928) 763–0130
Fax: (928) 763–8993

Kingman Municipal Court
219 N 4th St
Kingman, AZ 86401
Phone: (928) 753–8193

Lake Havasu Consolidated Court - Municipal
2001 College Dr
Ste 148
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
Phone: (928) 453–0705
Fax: 928–680–0193

N Canyon Consolidated Court - Municipal
2100 S Hwy 389
P.O. Box 3160
Colorado City, AZ 86021
Phone: (928) 875–8700
Fax: (928) 875–2495

Holbrook Municipal Court
121 W Buffalo St
P.O. Box 366
Holbrook, AZ 86025
Phone: (928)524–4720
Fax: (928) 524–4725

Pinetop-Lakeside Magistrate Court
1630 E White Mountain Blvd
Pinetop, AZ 85935
P.O. Box 860
Lakeside, AZ 85929
Phone: (928) 368–6200
Fax: (928) 368–8674

Show Low Municipal Court
620 E McNeil
Show Low, AZ 85901
Phone: (928) 532–6016

Winslow Municipal Court
605 E 3rd St
Winslow, AZ 86047
Phone: (928) 289–6840

Marana Municipal Court
11555 W Civic Center Dr
Marana, AZ 85653
Phone: (520) 382–2700
Fax: (520) 382–2701

Oro Valley Magistrate Court
11000 N La Canada Dr
Oro Valley, AZ 85737
Phone: (520) 229–4780
Fax: (520) 229–4789

Sahuarita Municipal Court
360 W Sahuarita Center Way
Sahuarita, AZ 85629
Phone: (520) 344–7150
Fax: (520) 344–7151

S Tucson City Court
1601 S 6th Ave
S Tucson, AZ 85713
Phone: (520) 917–1568
Fax: (520) 623–5001

Tucson City Court
103 E Alameda St
P.O. Box 27210
Tucson, AZ 85726
Phone: (520) 791–4216

Apache Junction Municipal Court
300 E Superstition Blvd
Apache Junction, AZ 85119
Phone: (480) 982–8250
Fax: (480) 982–4496

Casa Grande City Court
375 E 9th St
Casa Grande, AZ 85122
Phone: (520) 421–8675
Fax: (520) 421–8660

Coolidge Municipal Court
110 W Central Ave
Coolidge, AZ 85128
Phone: (520) 723–6031
Fax: (520) 723–6067

Eloy Municipal Court
626 N Main St
Eloy, AZ 85131
Phone: (520) 466–3913
Fax: (520) 466–0794

Florence Municipal Court
775 N Main St
P.O. Box 2670
Florence, AZ 85132
Phone: (520) 868–7514
Fax: (520) 868–7501

Kearny Magistrate Court
355 Alden Road
P.O. Box 639
Kearny, AZ 85137
Phone: (520) 363–7752
Fax: (520) 363–9523

Mammoth Municipal Court
116 Catalina
P.O. Box 130
Mammoth, AZ 85618
Phone: (520) 487–2331

Maricopa City Court
19955 N Wilson Ave
P.O. Box 201
Maricopa, AZ 85139
Phone: (520) 866–3999
Fax: (520) 866–3990

Superior Municipal Court
60 E Main St
Superior, AZ 85173
Phone: (520) 866–6950
Fax: (520) 689–2369

Nogales Municipal Court
777 N Grand Ave
Nogales, AZ 85621
Phone: (520) 285–5669

Patagonia Municipal Court
310 McKeown Ave
P.O. Box 767
Patagonia, AZ 85624
Phone: (520) 394–2958

Camp Verde Municipal Court
435 S Main St, Ste 206-A
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
Phone: (928) 567–6635
Fax: (928) 567–9049

Chino Valley Municipal Court
1988 N Road 1 W
Chino Valley, AZ 86323
Phone: (928) 636–4534
Fax: (928) 636–1902

Clarkdale Magistrate Court
10 S 6th St
Cottonwood, AZ 86326
Phone: (928) 649–7730
Fax: (928) 649–7739

Cottonwood Municipal Court
665 E Mingus Ave
Cottonwood, AZ 86326
Phone: (928) 634–7537
Fax: (928) 634–7864

Dewey-Humboldt Magistrate Court
2735 S Hwy 69
P.O. Box 492
Dewey-Humboldt, AZ 86329
Phone: (928) 632–0008
Fax: (928) 632–7987

Jerome Municipal Court
600 Clark St
P.O. Box 335
Jerome, AZ 86331
Phone: (928) 649–3250
Fax: (928) 634–5462

Prescott Consolidated Justice/City Court
Yavapai County Courthouse
120 S Cortez St
Prescott, AZ 86303
Phone: (928) 771–3300

Prescott Valley Magistrate Court
Prescott Valley Civic Center
7501 Civic Circle
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
Phone: (928) 772–8277
Fax: (928) 772–0649

Sedona Municipal Court
102 Roadrunner Dr
Sedona, AZ 86336
Phone: (928) 282–1189
Fax: (928) 204–7151

San Luis Municipal Court
767 N 1st Ave
P.O. Box 1670
San Luis, AZ 85349
Phone: (928) 341–8595
Fax: (928) 627–2335

Somerton Municipal Court
350 W Main St
Somerton, AZ 85350
Phone: (928) 627–2722

Wellton Municipal Court
10250 Dome St
Wellton, AZ 85356
Phone: (928) 785–3321

Yuma Municipal Court
1515 S 2nd Ave
Yuma, AZ 85364
Phone: (928) 373–4800
Fax: (928) 329–2876