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