Judge Christian Bell
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Adjournments
- A written motion or stipulation is required to schedule, reschedule, or vacate hearings.
- Requests for additional trial time on the day of trial are generally denied unless parties acted in good faith and used allotted time appropriately.
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Page & Word Limits2 rules
Motions, responses, and related pleadings must comply with the Rules' page length, font type, and other requirements.
Motions, responses, and related pleadings shall comply with the page length, font type, and other requirements of the Rules.
Motion
Motions for leave to exceed page limits must state specific reasons; generic statements may result in denial.
If you file a motion for leave to exceed the page length of a pleading, you will need to provide specific reasons. A generic statement that you need more pages may result in denial of your motion.
Motion
Document Filing Requirements9 rules
RMC and Pre-Trial/Pre-Hearing Statements are required and must address prior settlements, disputed issues, and current positions.
RMC and Pre-Trial/Pre-Hearing Statements are required, because they are important to the Court. Your statements need to inform the Court of any prior settlements, the issues still in dispute, and the current positions being taken by the parties.
Document Type
Pretrial Order
Motions and stipulations must be filed with proposed orders or the Court may reject them.
Motions or stipulations shall be filed with proposed orders. If a proposed order is applicable to the motion, and it is not submitted with the motion, the Court reserves the right to reject your motion until it is accompanied by a proposed form of order.
Document Type
Motion
Recording or photographing court hearings without prior Court approval may result in Court security involvement and/or contempt proceedings.
Anyone who records or photographs court hearings without prior approval from the Court may be subject to involvement with Court security and/or contempt proceedings.
Document Type
Motion
Redirect examination is limited to issues raised during cross-examination pursuant to Rule 611(a).
Pursuant to Rule 611(a) of the Rules of Evidence, the Court limits redirect examination of a witness to issues that were raised during cross-examination of that witness.
Document Type
Motion
The Court will not grant blanket admission of exhibits; each relevant exhibit must be separately offered.
The Court will not grant blanket admission of all exhibits, even if you stipulate to their admission. You will need to separately offer any exhibits that are relevant to your case.
Document Type
Exhibits
For lengthier exhibits, the Court will only consider the specific portions referenced during the hearing or trial.
If the Court admits lengthier exhibits, such as bank statements, medical records, etc., the Court will only consider those specific portions of the exhibits that you reference during the hearing or trial.
Document Type
Exhibits
Individuals under 18 are not allowed in the courtroom except when the minor is scheduled to be interviewed by the Court or their presence is required.
Individuals under the age of 18 are not allowed in the courtroom except in event that the minor is scheduled to be interviewed by the Court in chambers or the minor's presence is required for the court proceeding.
Document Type
Motion
Hand-filed pleadings require a conformed copy placed in the Division's mailbox or emailed to the Division.
If you hand-file a pleading, make sure the Court receives a conformed copy. Otherwise, we may not know that you have filed a motion, and this will contribute to a delay in ruling on your pleading. Please place a conformed copy of your motion in the Division’s mailbox or email a conformed copy to the Division.
Document Type
Motion
Trial objections must be stated as legal objections only, not speaking objections; unduly long speaking objections may result in time assessed.
Objections should be stated only as legal objections (e.g. "hearsay, Rule 403") and not as speaking objections. If the Court needs clarification of an objection, it will ask. If the Court deems the speaking objection to be unduly long, it may assess time against the objecting party.
Document Type
Motion
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Non-emergency pleadings will not be accepted by email; only properly filed pleadings will be ruled upon except in true emergencies.
The Court will not accept non-emergency pleadings by email. Except in true emergency situations, the Court will rule only on properly filed pleadings.
Page 1 | Specific Comments or Advice for Litigants
All exhibits must be submitted through Case Center; each party must register at digitalevidence.azcourts.gov.
All exhibits must be submitted through Case Center (formally Case Lines). Each party must register with Case Center at: digitalevidence.azcourts.gov.
Page 1 | Joint Pre-Trial Memo and/or Conference; Exhibits and Objections
Trials, Evidentiary Hearings, and Temporary Orders Hearings are conducted in-person but may be virtual depending on circumstances.
The Court conducts Trials, Evidentiary Hearings and Temporary Orders Hearings in-person but may also conduct hearings through Court Connect depending on the circumstances and requests of the parties.
Page 1 | Other Pre-trial Practice Guidelines or Comments
RMCs, Status Conferences, and Oral Arguments are conducted virtually via Court Connect (Microsoft Teams) unless there is a valid objection.
Pursuant to Rule 8(b), the Court conducts virtual hearings through Court Connect (Microsoft Teams) for RMCs, Status Conferences, and Oral Arguments unless there is a valid objection.
Page 1 | Other Pre-trial Practice Guidelines or Comments
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Requests for a Court Reporter must be filed at least 10 days before the hearing, with the deposit paid no later than two judicial days before.
if a party prefers the presence of a Court Reporter in addition to the FTR, a Request for Court Reporter must be filed not less than 10 days before the hearing, and the party must pay the Court Reporter's deposit (usually the cost of the first day) no later than two judicial days before the hearing.
Page 1 | Other Courtroom Policies and Recommendations
Requests for interpreters for persons with limited English proficiency must be made ten days in advance of the hearing.
Requests for an interpreter for persons with limited English proficiency must be made ten (10) days in advance of the hearing.
Page 1 | Other Courtroom Policies and Recommendations
Requests for disability accommodations must be made five days before the hearing.
Requests for reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities must be made five (5) days before your hearing.
Page 1 | Other Courtroom Policies and Recommendations
Court hearings, conferences, and trials are held 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m., with the Court unavailable from 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
The Court conducts hearings, conferences, and trials between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The Court is unavailable from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for lunch.
Page 1 | Trial Schedule
Filing Bundling Requirements
All motions must be filed separately and designated; combined pleadings will not be accepted.
All motions are to be filed separately and designated as such. No pleadings filed in combination with another will be accepted.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
All motions, responses, replies, and court-requested filings must be submitted individually.
The Division requires that all motions, responses, replies, and other Court-requested filings in your case must be submitted individually.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Motions may not be combined with responsive pleadings.
Do not combine any motion with a responsive pleading.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
The Court will not schedule a Trial or Evidentiary Hearing until the parties have participated in mediation pursuant to Rule 91(d), ARFLP.
the Court will not schedule a Trial or Evidentiary Hearing until the parties have participated in some form of mediation, pursuant to Rule 91(d), ARFLP.
Page 1 | Other Pre-trial Practice Guidelines or Comments
All discovery, including resolution of all discovery disputes, must be completed before a Trial or Evidentiary Hearing is set.
In all cases, a further prerequisite to setting a Trial or Evidentiary Hearing is that all discovery shall be completed. Completion of discovery includes resolution of all discovery disputes.
Page 1 | Other Pre-trial Practice Guidelines or Comments
Counsel must meet and confer in good faith to resolve discovery disputes before bringing them to Court and must demonstrate compliance.
Counsel must try in good faith to resolve discovery disputes before bringing it to the Court, pursuant to Rule 9(c). Consider Rules 47(f) and 76(b) as well. It is not enough to say you tried; the Court takes very seriously your duty to meet and confer and will expect you to demonstrate that you have done so.
Page 1 | Discovery or Disclosure Disputes and/or Sanctions
Substantive evidentiary hearings and oral arguments not set during a hearing require a brief virtual status conference to schedule.
In regard to any substantive evidentiary hearings or oral arguments that are not set during a hearing, the Court will set a brief, virtual status conference to schedule a date and time for the substantive hearing.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Motions to Strike are strongly discouraged; parties should make their point in responsive pleadings.
Motions to Strike: Motions to Strike are strongly discouraged and often are not even countenanced by the Rules. Make your point in your responsive pleading.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A written motion or stipulation is required to schedule, reschedule, or vacate hearings.
The Court requires a written motion or stipulation to schedule, reschedule, or vacate hearings. The Court will not schedule, reschedule, or vacate hearings without the filing of a motion.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Requests for additional trial time on the day of trial are generally denied unless parties acted in good faith and used allotted time appropriately.
Generally, the Court will deny a request for additional trial time on the day of trial unless the parties have acted in good faith, made appropriate use of the time allotted, and still require additional time to present evidence to the Court.
Page 1 | Other Pre-trial Practice Guidelines or Comments
Chambers Communication Rules
Discovery dispute hearings will not be set based on telephonic or email requests.
The Court will not set a discovery dispute hearing based on a telephonic or email request.
Page 1 | Discovery or Disclosure Disputes and/or Sanctions
Do not contact the judge directly, even with other counsel copied.
Please do not attempt to contact me directly, even if you copy other counsel on the email.
Page 1 | Specific Comments or Advice for Litigants
To contact the Court during a deposition, parties must first notify Court Staff and email a brief summary of the dispute.
If the parties find it absolutely necessary to contact the Court during a deposition, the parties will first need to notify Court Staff of the dispute and email a brief summary of the dispute.
Page 1 | Discovery or Disclosure Disputes and/or Sanctions
All counsel and unrepresented parties must be copied on any written communication to the Division or it will not be acted upon.
For any written communication, including an email, you must copy all other counsel or unrepresented parties on any written communication to the Division. Written communications that do not comply with this requirement will not be acted upon until all attorneys and/or litigants are copied.
Page 1 | Specific Comments or Advice for Litigants
Parties must notify the Court immediately and email a stipulated notice of settlement so upcoming hearings can be vacated.
If you settle your case, please notify the Court immediately and send Court Staff an email with your stipulated notice of settlement, so the Court can vacate any upcoming hearings.
Page 1 | Other Pre-trial Practice Guidelines or Comments
Court staff cannot provide legal advice or explain rulings; do not contact them with legal questions.
Please note: Court Staff is not permitted to give legal advice, clarify, or explain rulings issued by the Court. Please do not contact Court Staff to ask legal questions.
Page 1 | Specific Comments or Advice for Litigants
The Division can be contacted by phone at 602-506-0875 or by email at DRJ18@JBAZMC.Maricopa.gov.
Judge Bell’s Division can be contacted by phone at 602–506–0875. The Division’s email address is: DRJ18@JBAZMC.Maricopa.gov
Page 1 | Specific Comments or Advice for Litigants