Court records of Maricopa County, Arizona, are maintained by the Clerk of the Superior Court and the Justice Courts offices and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the clerk's office. MaricopaCourt.us will help you navigate the public information about the county's court cases. Additionally, you can use the Superior Court public access portal, Justice Courts case search, and the statewide Arizona Judicial Branch search.
Maricopa Court System Overview
Arizona has a unified general jurisdiction court system at the county level — the Superior Court. In Maricopa County, this court is one of the largest in the country: it serves over four million residents and handles hundreds of thousands of cases annually. The Presiding Judge is Pamela Gates, and the Clerk of the Court is Joseph W. Malka. Besides the Superior Court, the county has 26 Justice Courts (courts of limited jurisdiction) and numerous municipal courts. The Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County also includes Adult Probation and Juvenile Probation.
Courts Serving Maricopa
Residents of the county have access to several levels of courts — from local Justice Courts to federal courts.
Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County
Maricopa County Justice Courts
The county has 26 Justice Courts, each serving a specific precinct. A full list and contact information are available on the Justice Courts website.
Phoenix Municipal Court (and other municipal courts)
Each incorporated city in the county (Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, etc.) has its own municipal court to handle city violations and misdemeanors.
U.S. District Court — District of Arizona
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — District of Arizona
What Types of Cases Maricopa Courts Hear
The county courts handle a wide range of cases. The Superior Court has general jurisdiction, while the Justice Courts and municipal courts have limited jurisdiction.
- Criminal felonies and misdemeanors
- Civil lawsuits (including small claims)
- Family law: divorce, custody, child support, paternity
- Probation and juvenile justice
- Probate cases, guardianship, conservatorship
- Traffic violations and DUI
- Infractions and protection orders
District Court Cases in Maricopa
In the Arizona system, the term "district court" is not used at the state level — its equivalent is the Superior Court. This court handles:
- All felonies after a preliminary hearing in the Justice Court
- Civil cases without a limit on the claim amount
- Appeals from Justice Courts and municipal courts
- Post-conviction relief motions
The Criminal Department of the Superior Court handles cases from the defendant's first appearance to sentencing. Cases are assigned to judges through an automated system. If you are interested in warrant information, visit the Warrant Information page.
Magistrate Court Cases in Maricopa
In Arizona, the role of magistrate courts is fulfilled by the Justice Courts. They handle:
- Misdemeanors and infractions
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Civil claims up to $10,000
- Small claims up to $3,500
- Traffic violations
- DUI hearings
- Protection orders against domestic violence
Each Justice Court is linked to a specific precinct. Due to the high volume of cases in Maricopa, some courts specialize in certain types — for example, courts in downtown Phoenix handle a significant portion of traffic and criminal cases. Justice Courts records can be searched through the online search, but keep in mind that they are subject to Arizona Supreme Court retention rules.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Maricopa
Family Law. Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and protection orders fall under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court. Forms for filing claims are available on the Family Court Forms page, and information about family cases can be accessed through public access to family cases.
Probate Cases. Probate (the process of settling an estate), guardianship, and conservatorship also fall under the jurisdiction of the Superior Court. The court appoints specific judges for these cases.
Juvenile Justice. Cases involving minors — from offenses to Child Protective Services cases — are handled by the Juvenile Division of the Superior Court. Juvenile case records are confidential according to Arizona law. The Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County also coordinates Juvenile Probation.
How Cases Move Through the Maricopa Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with the filing of a complaint or indictment, a civil case with a complaint, and a family case with a petition.
- Judge Assignment. An automated system assigns the case to a specific judge.
- Initial Hearing. In criminal cases — arraignment, in civil cases — scheduling conference.
- Pretrial Phase. Parties exchange evidence (discovery), file motions; in criminal cases, plea negotiations may occur.
- Trial. Court trial, settlement, plea, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment. Sentencing, appeal to the Arizona Court of Appeals, or enforcement of the court's decision.
Hearing dates and case status can be checked through the public access to court information system.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Maricopa
The administration of the Superior Court is managed by the Presiding Judge along with the Court Administrator. Local Rules are published on the Superior Court Maricopa County website and regulate document filing procedures, deadlines, and eFiling.
According to the Arizona Public Records Law (A.R.S. § 39-121 et seq.), most court records are public. Exceptions include:
- Juvenile cases
- Sealed or confidential cases
- Certain records in family cases where the court has restricted access
Hearings are generally open to the public. Some sessions are held remotely — information about virtual hearings can be found on the court portal or by inquiring with the relevant department.
To request public records of the county in general, use the Maricopa County Public Records portal.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Maricopa
- Superior Court Case Search — Public Access to Court Information allows searching for criminal, civil, and family cases by party name or case number.
- Justice Courts Case Search — Case Search Justice Courts covers misdemeanors, small claims, and traffic violations.
- Statewide Search — Public Access Case Lookup by the Arizona Judicial Branch combines data from courts across the state.
- County Criminal Information — the Criminal page contains links to case searches, inmate information, and hearing dates.
- Integrated Criminal Justice System — ICJIS links data between the Sheriff's Office, Superior Court, and other agencies.
- Criminal History Check — the Arizona Department of Public Safety maintains a central repository; requests are submitted through the DPS Records Request portal. Access to criminal records is restricted to authorized persons.
- Family Court Forms — Family Court Forms for filing divorce, custody, child support, and other family cases.
- Vital Records — birth, death, and marriage certificates are issued by the Arizona Department of Health Services — Vital Records.
- Statewide Court Portal — the Arizona Judicial Branch contains news, rules, and information about judicial vacancies.
- Property Records — the Maricopa County Assessor's Office and Parcel Viewer help find property data and assessments.
If you need help navigating the county's court records, start with MaricopaCourt.us — the resource collects links to key portals and search tools.