Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County Document Format Requirements

WARNING

For lengthy documents, include only cited excerpts; the Court prefers condensed transcripts over full-size transcripts attached to motions or fact statements.

Please only include cited excerpts from lengthy documents (i.e., deposition transcripts). This Court prefers condensed transcripts to be attached to motions or fact statements rather than the full-size transcripts.

WARNING

Format

DOCX

Lodge proposed orders as separate Word documents in eFile, related to the accompanying filing; the word “Proposed” is unnecessary.

Proposed orders of any kind should be lodged in eFile as separate Word documents related to the filing they accompany; there is no need to include the word “Proposed” on the Word format order.

WARNING

Motions must be double-spaced.

Please double space your motions.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applicable proposed orders must be submitted in Word format.

E-file all pleadings and lodge a proposed order, when applicable, in Word.

WARNING

Filings must be self-contained and may not incorporate other separate filings by reference for consideration.

No Incorporation by Reference: All filings shall be fully self-contained and shall not “incorporate by reference” other separate filings for review and consideration as part of the pending filing. See, e.g. DeSilva v. DiLeonardi, 181 F.3d 865, 866-67 (7th Cir. 1999) ("adoption by reference amounts to a self-help increase in the length of the … brief. Even when a litigant has unused space…, incorporation is a pointless imposition on the court's time. A brief must make all arguments accessible to the judges, rather than ask them to play archaeologist with the record").

WARNING

Citation to Case Law: This Division adheres to ARCAP Rule 13(f) regarding citation to case law and encourages counsel to save space by omitting parallel citations – citation to the volume and page number(s) of the official Arizona reporter, only, is sufficient. Citation of non-Arizona case law must be to the volume and page number of applicable regional or federal reporters. If a case is not available in an official Arizona reporter in an applicable regional or federal reporter, a party may provide a citation to an electronic database or another source, but should also provide a copy of, or working link to, the case.

Citation to Case Law: This Division adheres to ARCAP Rule 13(f) regarding citation to case law and encourages counsel to save space by omitting parallel citations – citation to the volume and page number(s) of the official Arizona reporter, only, is sufficient. Citation of non-Arizona case law must be to the volume and page number of applicable regional or federal reporters. If a case is not available in an official Arizona reporter in an applicable regional or federal reporter, a party may provide a citation to an electronic database or another source, but should also provide a copy of, or working link to, the case.

WARNING

Motions should be double-spaced, and handwriting should be avoided if possible.

Motion Practice: Please double space your motions and avoid handwriting them if possible.

WARNING

Forms of Orders should be submitted in WORD format rather than PDF or another document type.

Forms of Orders should be submitted in WORD format, instead of pdf or other document type.

WARNING

Orders must be in final form and must not use strikethrough formatting.

Do not use strikethrough format for the Orders - they should be in final form.

WARNING

Do not use the heading “proposed” in an order.

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

WARNING

When applicable, proposed orders must be provided in Word format.

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

INFO

The Court prefers proposed jury instructions and verdict forms in Word format and permits them to be emailed directly to the Court.

The Court prefers to receive proposed jury instructions and verdict forms in Word format. These may be directly e-mailed to the Court. In this way, the Court is more easily and quickly able to make modifications prior to printing same for the jurors.

INFO

Most pretrial matters will be held virtually through Court Connect.

Most pretrial matters will be conducted virtually, through the Court Connect platform.

INFO

The court appreciates electronic copies of critical exhibits and prefers PDF format.

The Court appreciates elctronic copies of exhibits (.pdf preferred), if there are critical exhibits in the case.

INFO

Participants should use videoconferencing whenever possible.

Participants should use video conferencing whenever possible.

INFOCivil cases

Format

DOCX

Submit proposed orders in MS Word whenever possible to facilitate editing.

Fully drafted proposed forms of order must be submitted with all motions and petitions. Whenever possible please submit proposed forms of order in MS Word to allow for easier editing.

INFO

Exhibits should be presented on screen, but parties may use their own device, TrialPad, Trial Director, PDFs, or hard copies with the Elmo, provided electronic displays match the Case Center-marked document; parties must bring their own hard copies.

Exhibits can and should be presented "on the screen," though you may bring your own device and need not use Case Center for presentation purposes. You may use TrialPad or Trial Director or present PDFs if that is your preferred method so long as the display reflects the identical document as marked in Case Center. You may also use hard copies with the Elmo, but the clerk does not provide hard copies for you so ensure you have brought all the exhibits you wish to use as hard copies with you to trial if you wish to use the elmo instead of plugging your device into the court's system.

INFO

Include only cited excerpts from lengthy documents; the Court prefers condensed transcripts over full-size transcripts attached to motions or fact statements.

Please only include cited excerpts from lengthy documents (i.e., deposition transcripts). This Court prefers condensed transcripts to be attached to motions or fact statements rather than the full-size transcripts.

INFOCivil cases

The Court permits hybrid hearings with some participants in person and others participating virtually.

The Court has the capability of conducting a "hybrid" hearing, such that some participants can be in the courtroom, and others can be participating virtually.

INFOCivil cases

The Court prefers video appearances.

However, video appearance is the preference of the Court.

INFOCivil cases

The Court provides extended Wi-Fi access for jury trials.

The Court will provide extended Wi-Fi access for all jury trials.