Arizona Court Records Search (Court Case Finder)

Arizona Public Court Records and Statistics

Arizona court records are possible to find online.  In fact, there are millions of records that are created each year in the court system of Arizona.  This guide will explore and explain the Arizona court system, how records are formed, and what types of court records and statistics can be found online in the state of Arizona.

Arizona courts are made up of 3 levels of courts the Limited jurisdiction courts, general jurisdiction courts, and state appellate courts.  each of these levels creates searchable records that anyone can view.

Arizona Court Statistics

Statistics are from Arizona

Arizona Courts: Arizona court flow and organization

This section outlines the Arizona court structure.  In particular the Appellate courts, juvenile courts, tax courts, superior courts, and adult probation.

The Arizona court structure is made up of three levels.  They are the Limited jurisdiction courts, general jurisdiction courts, and state appellate courts.  The legislation established the court of appeals in 1965 for Arizona.

Limited Jurisdiction Courts:  These are municipal, city or justice courts.  They hold a limited jurisdiction in a variety of cases.    These particular courts are non-record courts.  This basically means that permanent records of these proceedings are not required.

Municipal Courts

These courts and judges hear cases on misdemeanors criminal traffic cases.  Examples would be that of DUI or DWI’s, and reckless driving where no serious injuries occur.   These judges also hear civil traffic cases and can issue warrants.

Justice courts

Justice courts will hear traffic cases and also certain civil and criminal cases.  This would include harassment cases and violent cases.  They also can issue search warrants when needed.  Claims of 10,000 or less when talking about civil jurisdiction.

Justice courts will also have jurisdiction with other superior courts when a dispute and damages are between $5,000 and $10,000.  If disputes are greater than 10,000 it must be filed in eh superior court system.

General jurisdiction courts:  These are the Superior Courts of Arizona and they provide a statewide trial court.  They hear many different types of cases.  These records are permanent. 

State of Appellate courts:  These courts have the power to review trials and appeals from decisions that are brought to them.  Superior courts are the largest number of appeals that are brought to the state of appellate courts.   

If an appeal happens from the court of appeals it must file a petition for review that would suggest that the supreme court of Arizona hears it.  The Supreme Court judges would then evaluate the petitions to decide if they will review the case.  Do keep in mind that the Supreme Court is not required to hear every appeal it receives.

Arizona Court organization

At the top of the court system is the Supreme Court.  It is compromised in Arizona to have 7 justices.  A chief justice, vice chief justice, and 5 associate justices.

Court of Appeals

This court has 22 judges with a 6-year term.  Division one in Phoenix has one chief judge and 15 associate judges.  Division 2 has one chief judge and 5 associate’s judges. 

Superior courts

Superior courts have 180 judges that preside in each county.  They are subjected to a 4-year term.

Justice of the Peace Courts

They have 88 judges, 88 Precincts that are on a 4-year term.

Municipal courts

There are 154 full and part-time judges that are within the Municipal courts in Arizona.  The terms on these judges are varying. 

Arizona Statistics: Arizona court flow statistics and caselaods

The below statistics come from the Arizona courts website. You can find more information about statistics by year by searching their website.

Annual case activity in Arizona

The below data shows the annual case activity for case filings in Arizona courts from 2016 to 2017

Arizona court of appeals division one and two case loads by year