Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

A telephonic or email request will not suffice to set a discovery-dispute hearing.

The Court will not set a discovery dispute hearing based on a telephonic or email request.

CRITICAL

Written communications to the Division must copy all other counsel or unrepresented parties.

For any written communication, including an email, you must copy all other counsel or unrepresented parties on any written communication to the Division.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

For an emergency hearing on a restraining order or preliminary injunction, email the documents to the specified address.

If you file for a restraining order or preliminary injunction and need an emergency hearing, you must email your documents to civilemergencies@jbazmc.maricopa.gov.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Written communications to the Division must use its email address, copy all other counsel or unrepresented parties, and must not be directed to the judge personally.

If you need to communicate with us, please use the email address nwj03@jbazmc.maricopa.gov. 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. Please do not attempt to contact me directly, even if you copy other counsel on the email.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Division communications must be emailed to both assistants, copy all other counsel or unrepresented parties, and must not be sent directly to Judge Fox.

Judge Fox's Judicial Assistant and Courtroom Assistant cover for each other when one is not available. As such, if you need to communicate with our Division, please contact both the Judicial Assistant and the Courtroom Assistant using the above email addresses, and please be sure to include all other counsel or unrepresented parties on the email. Emails that do not comply with this requirement will not be read and will be deleted. Please do not contact Judge Fox directly, even if you copy other counsel on the email.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Requests to appear in person in a presumptively remote proceeding must be emailed to Division staff at least seven days beforehand, copying counsel and self-represented parties; untimely requests may be summarily denied.

If you intend to request to appear in-person for what is a presumptively remote proceeding, please make such request via email to Division staff, copying all counsel and any self-represented parties, at least seven days in advance of the proceeding. Requests to appear in-person for remote proceedings submitted untimely are subject to summary denial.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Emails to the Division about a pending case must copy all other parties or counsel, and the Division will not engage in ex parte communications; the stated email-copy direction excludes requests for temporary orders without notice.

If you use any Division email address to communicate about a case pending before Judge Thorson, please copy all other parties or their counsel on the email. This especially includes communications about emergency filings (OTHER than temporary orders being sought without notice; for those, filers should follow Rule 48(b), Ariz. R. Fam. L.P.). The Division will not engage in ex parte communications and can assess emergency filings (again, other than temporary orders being sought without notice) much faster if the other side is included on email communication, and even better, if the other side's position has been sought in advance and is also included.

CRITICAL

Counsel and parties must notify the Court of any extension to file a response or reply concerning a pending motion.

Counsel and parties shall notify the Court of any extensions to file a response or reply regarding a pending Motion.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

For hearings requiring exhibits, email them to Division staff or deliver a hard copy at least 10 business days beforehand.

If a hearing requires any exhibits, please either email the exhibits to staff at Kiara.carr@jbazmc.maricopa.gov, or deliver a hard copy to the Division at least 10 business days in advance.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

If you file a time-sensitive motion, please immediately email the division a copy and note the opposing party/counsel's position.

If you file a time-sensitive motion, please immediately email the division a copy and note the opposing party/counsel's position.

CRITICAL

Do not message witnesses while they are testifying or side-chat any party in a virtual proceeding, and advise clients and witnesses of this prohibition.

In any event, DO NOT use Court Connect or any other text or electronic platform to chat or message a witness while they are testifying or to side-chat any party in a virtual proceeding. Chat-logs are public and permanent, and virtual court proceedings operate with the same formality and prohibitions as in-person proceedings. Please advise clients and witnesses of the same.

CRITICAL

Do not use Court Connect or another electronic platform to chat with Judge Julian, whether on or off the record.

Please also do not use Court Connect or any other electronic platform to 'chat' Judge Julian, whether we are on the record or off the record at the time.

CRITICAL

Written communications to the Division must copy all other counsel or unrepresented parties; noncompliant communications will be discarded, and Judge Zabor must not be contacted directly.

For any written communication to the Division, including an email, you must copy all other counsel or unrepresented parties. Written communications that do not comply with this requirement are considered ex-parte and will be discarded with no action taken. Please do not attempt to contact Judge Zabor directly.

CRITICAL

The Court will not set a discovery dispute hearing based on a telephone or email request.

The Court will not set a discovery dispute hearing based on a telephonic or email request.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Emails to the Judge’s Division or chambers must copy opposing counsel and self-represented parties.

All emails to the Judge’s Division/chambers must copy opposing counsel and self represented parties.

CRITICAL

Do not message a testifying witness or side-chat a party during a virtual proceeding; advise clients and witnesses that the same courtroom formalities and prohibitions apply.

In any event, do not use Court Connect, GoToMeeting, or any other text or electronic platform to chat or message a witness while they are testifying or to side-chat any party in a virtual proceeding. Chat-logs are public and permanent, and virtual court proceedings operate with the same formality and prohibitions as in-person proceedings. Please advise clients and witnesses of the same.

CRITICAL

Do not email Judge Cushner directly about a case or use an electronic platform to chat with the Judge, whether on or off the record.

Please do not email Judge Cushner directly about a case, even if you copy all counsel on the email. Please also do not use Court Connect, GoToMeeting, or any other electronic platform to ‘chat’ Judge Cushner, whether we are on the record or off the record at the time.

CRITICALCivil cases

Contact

Email to chambers

Do not email the judge directly about a case, even when all counsel are copied.

Do not email the judge directly regarding a case, even if you copy all counsel on the email.

CRITICALCivil cases

Requests for accommodations such as a court reporter or language interpreter must be made through the judicial assistant several days before the hearing.

Party accommodations, such as a court reporter, or language interpreter, must be requested through my judicial assistant several days in advance of a hearing.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

At filing, copies must be emailed to the division and provided to the other party.

Copies must be emailed to this division and provided to the other party at the time of filing.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

Written communications to the Court, including email, must copy the opposing party unless an exception permits ex parte communication.

No Ex Parte Communication: Any written communication with the Court, such as email, must copy the opposing party unless a specific exception allowing for ex parte communication applies.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

For an actual emergency or a hearing within the next several days, email the Division the pleading, proof of filing, and any Form of Order.

If you are filing a pleading that involves an issue that is an actual emergency or where there is a hearing in your case within the next several days, you must also email a copy of that pleading (with proof of filing), and including any Form of Order, to the Division to ensure that it is seen on time.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Contact

Email

Email filed motions and sentencing memoranda to the judicial assistant so the court receives them promptly.

Make sure to email filed motions and sentencing memos to my JA so we get them in a timely manner.

WARNING

Communications with staff should be limited to general, procedural aspects of your case, such as calendaring issues, lodging proposed forms of order in advance of a hearing, submitting proposed exhibits in advance of a trial, and checking on the status of a pleading.

Communications with staff should be limited to general, procedural aspects of your case, such as calendaring issues, lodging proposed forms of order in advance of a hearing, submitting proposed exhibits in advance of a trial, and checking on the status of a pleading.

WARNING

Contact

Email

If any other parties are involved in your case, you should copy them on any email communications you have with staff.

If any other parties are involved in your case, you should copy them on any email communications you have with staff.

WARNING

Do not discuss case substance with court staff or request legal advice from them.

Please note that you may not discuss the substance of your case with court staff or ask them for legal advice.

WARNING

If you expect to be late to a hearing, contact the Judicial Assistant and the other parties attending.

If you anticipate being unable to appear for a hearing on time, then contact my Judicial Assistant and any other parties who may be attending the hearing.

WARNING

Advise the Court as far in advance as possible of any accommodation needed for a trial or evidentiary hearing.

If an attorney, party, or witness require any accommodations (e.g., an interpreter), please advise the Court with as much advanced notice as possible prior to the scheduled trial or evidentiary hearing.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Please e-mail a settlement conference memorandum or anything else you want me to review prior to the settlement conference.

Please e-mail a settlement conference memorandum or anything else you want me to review prior to the settlement conference.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

After a trial is assigned to the Division, attorneys may email the Court about trial-related matters, but must simultaneously send the email to all opposing counsel.

Once a trial is assigned to this Division, the attorneys are free to directly e-mail the Court with issues, jury instructions, verdict forms, trial memos, caselaw, etc. Any such e-mail shall also be simultaneously sent to all opposing counsel.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Do not contact the judge directly, even when other counsel are copied on the email.

Please do not attempt to contact me directly, even if you copy other counsel on the email.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

If contacting the Court during a deposition is absolutely necessary, 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.

WARNING

The Division will not act on written communications until all attorneys and litigants are copied.

Written communications that do not comply with this requirement will not be acted upon until all attorneys and/or litigants are copied.

WARNING

Do not contact Court Staff for legal advice or to clarify or explain court rulings.

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.

WARNING

Counsel and litigants should call or email the division when running late.

Counsel and litigants should call/email the division if they are running late.

WARNING

Attorneys are expected to give advance notice of trial scheduling changes, and trial is expected to proceed as scheduled.

Commissioner Henderson expects trial to proceed as scheduled and expects attorneys to provide advance notice of any scheduling changes.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

The judge does not email parties or attorneys, but staff may email them for scheduling, electronic submission formats, expedited document review, urgent situations, or minute entries.

I do not communicate by email with parties or attorneys. My staff may communicate with parties (if self-represented) or with attorneys and their staff by email for scheduling purposes or if an electronic format of a submission is needed, to expedite review of certain documents, or in urgent situations or to send minute entries.

WARNING

Notify the court when the parties agree to extend a response or reply deadline.

If you have agreed to extend deadlines for filing a response or reply, please notify the court so that the court does not rule on the motion thinking that no response or reply will be filed.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Respond promptly to staff scheduling emails, even if only to acknowledge them and estimate when a substantive response will follow.

If one of my staff members contacts you by email for scheduling, please respond promptly, even if it is just to acknowledge the email and estimate when you will be able to respond substantively.

WARNING

Contact

Email to chambers

Any order lodged within 72 hours before a hearing should be emailed to my division.

Any order lodged within 72 hours before a hearing should be emailed to my division.

WARNING

Notify the court as soon as possible if a settled case has pending motions or an upcoming oral argument or evidentiary hearing.

If you settled a case that has pending motions or has an upcoming oral argument or evidentiary hearing, please notify the court as soon as possible.

WARNING

Contact

Phone to chambers

Anyone arriving in person is directed to call Division Staff to report their presence.

Signs will be posted on the exterior courtroom doors to direct anyone who arrives in person to call Division Staff to advise that they are present.

WARNING

Contact

Phone to chambers

If you or your client is late, please call or have your office call and let us know what to expect.

If you or your client is late, please call or have your office call and let us know what to expect.

WARNING

If the specified delivery methods are infeasible by the hearing date, promptly call or email the division and provide a copy of the order.

If these methods are infeasible by the hearing date, promptly call or email the division with a copy of the order.

WARNING

If you have not received a meeting invitation, please email or call the division directly- prior to the hearing time.

If you have not received a meeting invitation, please email or call the division directly- prior to the hearing time.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Trials are expected to proceed as scheduled, and attorneys should give advance notice if they anticipate a trial will not proceed as scheduled.

Judge O’Donnell-Smith expects trials to proceed as scheduled and expects attorneys to provide advance notice if they anticipate that the trial will not go forward as scheduled.

WARNINGCriminal cases

If the parties agree to extend filing deadlines, they should inform the Division so it can track the briefs.

But, if the parties agree to extend filing deadlines, please let the Division know so we can track the briefs.