Below you will find an outline of Arizona's court system. It explains the three types of courts and the qualifications for our judges.
1) Limited Jurisdiction Courts
a) Municipal Courts
i) Concurrent jurisdiction w/ Justice of the Peace Courts over breach of AZ law
ii) Criminal jurisdiction is limited to misdemeanors
iii) Qualifications of judges vary
(1) Some municipalities require them to be attorneys
iv) Judges are appointed by the city council in most cases
b) Justice of the Peace Courts
i) Judges are elected for 4-year terms
(1) Must be at least eighteen years old
(2) Resident of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:State>
(3) Elector in precinct of election
(4) Read and write English
ii) Constable required
iii) Civil jurisdiction can not exceed the sum of $10,000
(1) Jurisdiction of forcible entry & detainer cannot exceed $5,000 in damages
(2) Has exclusive rights to matters less than $500
(3) Concurrent jurisdiction with Superior Court for matter greater than or equal to $500, but less than $5,000
iv) Criminal jurisdiction is limited to misdemeanors
(1) Petty theft
(2) Breaches of peace
(3) Criminal offenses punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment in county jail of 6 months
(4) Assault or battery to have been committed upon a public officer
(5) Preliminary examinations of felonies
2) General Jurisdiction Courts
a) Superior Court
i) One judge for each county is appointed by the Supreme Court to serve a four-year term
(1) Must be at least 30 years old
(2) Good moral characters
(3) Resident of Arizona for five years preceding taking their office
(4) Admitted to the practice of law
ii) Additional judges are added for every 30,000 inhabitants
iii) Cannot hear minor offenses or violations of city codes and ordinances
iv) Original jurisdiction in many matters
(1) Matters of probate
(2) Action to prevent nuisance
(3) Insolvency
(4) Forcible entry and detainer
(5) Criminal cases involving felony and misdemeanors not previously provided for
(6) Divorces and annulments
(7) Naturalization
(8) Equity cases that involve the title or procession of real property, and the legality of any tax, toll, assessment, or municipal ordinance
(9) Cases which exclusive jurisdiction is not vested by law in other courts
v) Can act as an appellate court from decisions made in limited jurisdiction courts
3) Appellate Courts
a) Court of Appeals
i) Two divisions of judges elected for six-year terms
(1) Must be at least 30 years old
(2) Resident of Arizona for 5 years prior to taking office
(3) Good moral character
(4) Admitted to the practice of law in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:State>
ii) Looks into all matters appealed from the Superior Court, except for when a sentence of death of life imprisonment has been made
iii) Division 1 -
(1) Look into appeals from decisions of the Industrial Commission and unemployment compensation rulings of the Department of Economic Security
b) Supreme Court
i) Five justices elected by their members each serve a six-year term
(1) Good moral character
(2) Resident of Arizona for 10 years prior to taking office
(3) Admitted to the practice of law in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:State>
ii) Includes issuance of writs, appellate jurisdiction, and makes rule relative to matters in the court
iii) Has original jurisdiction with disputes involving state officials and disputes between counties
iv) Watches over the State Bar of Arizona and oversees the new attorneys to practicing law
v) Gives final decisions regarding disciplinary actions against <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:State> judges that are filed by Commission on Judicial Qualifications
*Graphic from Big Box of Art CD
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