Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County Document Filing Requirements

WARNING

Applies to

Motion

Motions should be accompanied by a lodged Word-format electronic form of order, without the words “Proposed” or “[Proposed].”

Division 46 can handle most motions via eFile; please lodge a Word format electronic form of order. There is no need to include the word "Proposed" or "[Proposed]" on Word format forms of order; omitting it makes e-filing more efficient for the Division.

WARNING

Applies to

Motion

If you are filing a Motion and requesting expedited consideration, please include that information in the heading of your Motion.

If you are filing a Motion and requesting expedited consideration, please include that information in the heading of your Motion.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed scheduling order

If a Joint Report reflects disagreement about deadlines, include both deadlines in the proposed Scheduling Order.

If there is a disagreement about deadlines in a Joint Report, include both deadlines in the proposed Scheduling Order so the Court can readily include the deadline it affirms and readily delete the other.

WARNING

Applies to

Exhibits

Unless the Court orders otherwise, parties should submit exhibits through Case Center, usually using a link provided at the final trial management conference.

Unless otherwise ordered, parties should submit their exhibits via Case Center for which they are usually provided a link at the final trial management conference.

WARNING

Applies to

Motion

A party seeking oral argument must request it in the motion.

If you wish to have oral argument, request that in your motion.

WARNING

Applies to

Exhibits

After bates-stamping exhibits, parties should submit them according to the Clerk of Court website instructions.

After the exhibits are bates stamped, Parties should submit their exhibits according to the instructions on the Clerk of Court website at clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov.

WARNING

Applies to

Exhibits

Confer with the opposing party about stipulating to exhibits before trial.

Please confer with the opposing party regarding stipulating to exhibits prior to the trial.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Supplemental briefing

Supplemental briefing may not be filed without leave of Court.

No party should file supplemental briefing without leave of Court.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Joint statement of discovery or disclosure dispute

Do not include exhibits with the discovery or disclosure dispute summaries.

No exhibits shall be included with the summaries.

WARNING

Applies to

Document copy submitted to the division

Any document copy submitted to the division by fax, mail, or hand delivery must be file-stamped; the judge can act only on documents filed with the clerk.

When submitting to our division a copy of a document (regardless of whether you are submitting it by fax, mail, or hand-delivery), only submit a file-stamped copy (i.e., a copy that bears the Clerk of Court’s filing stamp indicating the date the document was filed). I can only act upon documents that have been filed with the Clerk of Court.

WARNING

Lawyers and self-represented litigants are expected to know and follow applicable court rules.

I expect all lawyers, regardless of their years of experience, and self-represented litigants to be familiar with, and follow, the applicable court rules. See Higgins v. Higgins, 194 Ariz. 266, 981 P.2d 134 (App. 1999) (holding that a person who represents himself “is held to the same familiarity with court procedures and the same notice of statutes, rules, and legal principles as is expected of a lawyer”).

WARNING

Applies to

Motion pertaining to a discovery dispute

Must include

certificate of conference

Discovery motions must include the Rule 37(a)(1) certification; absent certification, the judge generally will summarily deny the motion, while a certified motion generally leads to a telephonic conference.

If I receive a motion pertaining to a discovery dispute, I first will check to make sure it contains the certification required by Rule 37(a)(1), Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure. If it does not, I generally will summarily deny the motion. If the motion does contain the required certification, I generally will schedule a telephonic conference, particularly if a hearing is set in the near future.

WARNING

Applies to

Motion

An accelerated-ruling request must be noted under the motion title and briefly explained in its body, without a separate request motion or proposed order.

When asking for an accelerated ruling on a motion, do not file a separate motion asking for an accelerated ruling and do not lodge a separate form of order granting a request for accelerated ruling. Instead, simply note under the title of the motion that you are requesting an accelerated ruling and, in the body of the motion, briefly explain why an accelerated ruling is necessary.

WARNING

Applies to

Settlement notice

Must include

proposed order

Parties settling before trial should submit a signed writing identifying the settlement and events to vacate, and state when any not-yet-prepared settlement agreement and proposed order will be filed; otherwise, the court may require an appearance or conference.

If the parties settle before trial, they should not assume that the Court will vacate any upcoming hearings or other court events. The parties should submit a written document, signed by both parties (or their counsel) that, at a minimum, states that the parties have settled and what upcoming court events can be vacated as a result of the settlement. In addition, if the parties have not yet documented the terms of their settlement in a formal settlement agreement and proposed form of order, they should inform the Court of when they expect to file such agreement and lodge such order. Upon receipt of such information, I likely will vacate the upcoming court event(s) and set a deadline for submission of the settlement documents. Absent such information, I likely will either order the parties and counsel to appear in person to put the agreement on the record or hold a brief telephonic conference with counsel.

WARNING

Applies to

Exhibit

Parties should limit exhibits to relevant material, avoid combining unrelated documents, and consecutively number multi-page exhibits.

Parties should be judicious in the volume of exhibits they offer. Offer only those exhibits that are most relevant to your case, and do not make exhibits overly-voluminous. For example, if you subpoena twelve (12) months of bank statements, yet only one (1) month is necessary for Court review, just mark the one (1) month's statement as an exhibit. In addition, do not offer multiple documents as a single exhibit unless the documents have some direct relationship to one another. For example, do not combine an e-mail with a bank statement, but offering two months of bank statements for the same account is acceptable. Last, for ease of reference, if a particular exhibit has multiple pages, be sure the pages are consecutively numbered, even if this means you need to number them yourself.; otherwise, you will waste your trial time trying to direct the witness (or the Court) to the one page of the multi-page exhibit that is critical to your case.

WARNING

Applies to

Filing

Citations must be checked before filing and include pinpoint citations to specific pages of supporting authorities.

Citations should be double checked prior to filing and must include pin cites, directing the Court’s attention to specific pages of supporting authorities.

WARNING

Applies to

Motion

A single motion generally should address no more than two discrete issues.

Generally, a single motion should not address more than two discrete issues; otherwise, the motion risks confusing the reader and diluting the arguments being made.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Applies to

Motion

Motions should include any relevant certifications, financial receipts, or proof of completed probation terms.

Additionally, any certifications, financial receipts, or proof that probation terms have been completed should be attached to motions.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed questions

Provide proposed digital-questionnaire questions at the final trial management conference.

Please provide the court with proposed questions for a digital questionnaire at the final trial management conference.

WARNING

Applies to

Filing

Endorse the applicable Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office or court-appointed counsel, and other applicable agencies on all filings.

It is important the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office or Court appointed counsel and other applicable agencies, be endorsed on all fillings.

WARNING

Applies to

Motion

A motion requesting oral argument should identify that request in its caption; otherwise, the court will likely decide on the pleadings.

If you file a motion and wish to have an oral argument, please note the request in the caption, or the Court will likely rule on the pleadings.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Must include

legal argument

State exactly what order or specific relief the motion requests, preferably at its beginning or end.

Please start or end your motions by telling me EXACTLY what you would like the Court to order. Often, the Court receives motions that do not ask for specific relief and just ask for the Court to do what it thinks is appropriate. The Court is likely to deny these motions.

WARNING

Applies to

Motion

A motion requesting expedited consideration should identify that request in its heading.

If you are filing a Motion and requesting expedited consideration, please include that information in the heading of your Motion.

WARNING

Applies to

Order

Orders must not use the heading “proposed.”

Do not use the heading "proposed" in your order.

WARNING

Applies to

Motion

Include all parties’ positions in a motion when possible.

Please provide the position of all parties in your Motion if at all possible.

WARNING

Applies to

Proposed order

When applicable, a proposed order should be provided in WORD format.

Provide a proposed order, when applicable, in WORD format.

WARNING

Applies to

Motion

In addition, communicate with the other side and place their position in your Motion.

In addition, communicate with the other side and place their position in your Motion.

WARNING

Counsel may choose to stand or sit at counsel table or use the podium and may approach a witness without permission, but may not question the witness from beside the witness or directly in front of the stand without permission.

You may stand or sit at counsel table or use the podium, as you prefer. You do not have to ask permission to approach the witness, but you may not question the witness while standing next to the witness or directly in front of the witness stand without permission.

WARNING

Applies to

Exhibits

Each exhibit in the PDF should be bookmarked using its exhibit number or letter and a short description.

(2) Each Exhibit in your PDF should be bookmarked. Your exhibit bookmarks should be named by Exhibit number/letter and a short description of what it is. For example, “Exhibit A – Cited Excerpts from Plaintiff’s Deposition.”

WARNING

Applies to

Court filing

Filers using AI are expected to verify citations and legal authorities, confirm factual assertions are supported by the record, and remember AI cannot provide legal advice.

To reduce errors (and minimize the risk of sanctions), the Court expects filers using AI to: 1. Independently and carefully verify every citation and legal authority using official or reliable legal sources. Again, the party or attorney using AI is responsible for false citations. 2. Confirm all facts are true and supported by evidence in the record. 3. Remember that AI tools are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

A motion requesting expedited consideration must identify that request in its heading and state the opposing side’s position after communicating with them.

• If you are filing a Motion and requesting expedited consideration, please include that information in the heading of your Motion. In addition, communicate with the other side and place their position in your Motion.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Include all parties’ positions in a motion if possible.

• Please provide the position of all parties in your Motion if at all possible.

WARNINGCivil cases

All counsel and parties should be vigilant to ensure that no witnesses enter the courtroom, or dial-in or link-in to the courtroom while other witnesses are testifying, which is a violation of the rule.

All counsel and parties should be vigilant to ensure that no witnesses enter the courtroom, or dial-in or link-in to the courtroom while other witnesses are testifying, which is a violation of the rule.

WARNINGCivil cases

For objections based on nondisclosure or untimely disclosure, parties must be prepared to demonstrate Rule 26.1 compliance or noncompliance.

In the event evidence or testimony is objected to on the basis of non-disclosure or untimely disclosure, the parties must be prepared to demonstrate compliance or non-compliance with Rule 26.1.

WARNINGCivil cases

Objections should be short and succinct.

Objections should be short and succinct.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion in limine

Motions in limine should not be filed in bench trials without leave of Court.

Motions in Limine should not be filed in bench trials without leave of Court.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Exhibit

For admitted lengthy exhibits, the Court considers only the 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 are referenced during the hearing or trial.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Court filing

AI users are expected to confirm that all facts are true and supported by record evidence.

Confirm all facts are true and supported by evidence in the record.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Court may sanction a party for making unfounded disclosure objections.

The Court may sanction a party that makes unfounded disclosure objections as well.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Deposition

The requirement to identify relevant portions also applies to depositions submitted but not filed as exhibits.

This applies equally to depositions that have been submitted but not filed as exhibits.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Hybrid hearing request

Parties requesting a hybrid hearing must comply with Rule 8(c) and (d).

The parties will need to comply with Rule 8(c) and (d) to effectuate such a request.

WARNINGCivil cases

When Rule 615 is invoked, counsel should inform witnesses of its invocation and meaning.

When the Rule of Exclusion, Ariz. R. Evid. 615, has been invoked, all counsel should inform the witnesses of its invocation and meaning.

WARNINGCivil cases

Objections should be stated as concise legal objections, not speaking objections.

Objections should be stated only as legal objections (e.g. "hearsay") and not as speaking objections.

WARNINGCivil cases

Lawyers and parties are expected to act respectfully and professionally, and specified forms of harassment, bias, and prejudice are prohibited.

The Court expects lawyers and all parties to treat each other, opposing parties, court staff, and everyone with respect and professionalism. Harassment, bias, or prejudice on the basis of race, sex, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status, socioeconomic status, or affiliation is strictly prohibited.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Court filing

AI users are expected to independently verify every citation and legal authority using official or reliable sources and remain responsible for false citations.

Independently and carefully verify every citation and legal authority using official or reliable legal sources. Again, the party using AI is responsible for false citations.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Exhibit

The Court will not admit exhibits in bulk, even if counsel stipulate to admission.

The Court will not grant blanket admission of exhibits, even if counsel stipulate to their admission.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Deposition

The Court considers only deposition portions specifically cited during trial or hearing.

The Court will only consider those portions of a deposition to which the party has specifically referred during the trial or hearing.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion in limine

Motions in limine should be limited to matters that are extremely prejudicial and could result in a mistrial.

Motions in Limine should address only matters that are extremely prejudicial and could result in a mistrial.

WARNINGCivil cases

Cell phones must remain silent and in do-not-disturb mode.

All cell phones must remain silent and on "do not disturb" mode.

WARNINGCivil cases

Parties should have disclosure statements, emails, or other relevant documents available in the courtroom to demonstrate disclosure compliance.

This is usually done by showing disclosure statements, emails, or other relevant documents. The parties must have them available in the courtroom.