General Information
The Phoenix Municipal Court is a court of limited jurisdiction. As a part of Arizona's Court System, it is subject to the authority of the Arizona Supreme Court. It is the largest municipal court in Arizona and is among the busiest municipal courts in the United States.
The Court tries criminal and civil traffic violations, as well as non-traffic criminal misdemeanor cases. Some of the cases the court handles are: Driving Under Intoxication; reckless driving; leaving the scene of an accident; drag racing; child restraint violations; vehicle insurance and registration violations; moving violations (speeding, running a stop sign, traffic signal, etc.); unpaid parking tickets; assault; shoplifting; prostitution; indecent exposure; and trespassing. The court also handles Orders of Protection and Injunctions Against Harassment.
Courtroom Standards
While your case proceeds through the court system, please observe the following standards:
- No weapons are permitted in the Phoenix Municipal Court Courthouse.
- Sit quietly in the courtroom whenever court is in session. The proceedings are being taped and background noise may interfere with the quality of the taped record.
- Reading newspapers in the courtroom, particularly if this causes a distraction, generally is not allowed.
- When addressing a Hearing Officer or Judge, stand a few feet back from the bench. Do not lean on the bench.
- No food, drink, or gum chewing is allowed in the courtroom.
- Smoking is prohibited by law in all areas of government buildings. When you are free to leave the courtroom, you will find smoking areas available outside the court building.
- Avoid bringing small children to court. If you must, please monitor their behavior so that they remain quiet at all times. Parents may be asked to leave the courtroom if their child becomes noisy or unruly disrupting court operations.
- Please wear suitable clothing to court. It is inappropriate to enter the court unless you are wearing a shirt and shoes. T-shirts that carry offensive slogans or pictures are not allowed. Hats should be removed before entering a courtroom.
- Under some circumstances, a defendant may be booked into jail immediately after a court appearance. In such cases, provision should be made in advance for child care.
Security Information
All persons entering the Court are subject to security screening, including the following:
- Passing through a metal detector;
- Having handbags and briefcases x-rayed;
- and, if necessary, being checked by a hand held metal detector.
Cell phones, pagers and packages of any kind are also subject to inspection.
Weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited. If weapons are brought to the Courthouse, you will be asked to remove them from the building.
Prohibited items include, without limitation, the following:
- Guns, ammunition and explosive materials;
- Swords, utility blades, knives, razor knives and razor blades;
- Pepper spray and mace;
- Illegal substances, including illegal drugs; and
- Any type of dangerous or hazardous property or material.
Food items and drinks, other than water, are also prohibited from being brought into the Court.
Courthouse Construction
The Phoenix Municipal Courthouse was opened to the public on December 27, 1999. It was designed and constructed to provide attractive, comfortable, efficient space with the flexibility to meet the City's future criminal justice needs. The Courthouse houses court employees, the Prosecutor's Office, the Office of the Public Defender.
Construction of the courthouse was authorized by the Phoenix City Council in December 1995, with a fall 1999 completion date. In conjunction with the construction of the courthouse, the project included the structural and exterior renovation of the historic Walker Building on the same site. The total project budget of approximately $77.8 million was funded with City of Phoenix Civic Improvement Corporation Excise Tax Revenue Bonds and 1988 Historic Preservation General Obligation Bonds.
Courthouse Facility Facts
- 375,000 gross square feet; 330,000 net square feet
- Nine stories plus a basement
- 161 feet tall
- Structure contains 3,700 tons (7.4 million pounds) of steel
- 38 courtrooms
- Landscaped public plaza space of one acre
- Building cost of $136 per net square foot, including tenant improvements
Architect
Daniel, Manning, Johnson and Mendenhall in association with Helmuth, Obata and Kassabaum, and The Omni Group
General Contractor
Joe E. Woods