Maricopa County has 27 justice court precincts, and the single most useful thing to know about them is this: the precinct named on your paperwork is not the same as the building you report to. Twenty-seven precincts operate out of just seven locations, and several precincts share the same address.
If your citation says Encanto and you go looking for an Encanto courthouse, you will not find one. You are going to 620 W. Jackson Street in downtown Phoenix, alongside four other precincts.
What Justice Courts Handle
Justice courts cover geographic precincts rather than city boundaries, which generally means conduct occurring outside a city’s limits or in unincorporated areas. They hear misdemeanors and petty offenses, civil claims up to $10,000, and share jurisdiction with the superior court over landlord and tenant disputes between $5,000 and $10,000. They also handle orders of protection and injunctions against harassment.
They play one role in felony cases that surprises people. A felony can begin in justice court, where a judge holds a preliminary hearing and decides whether probable cause exists. If it does, the judge requires the defendant to answer the charges in Maricopa County Superior Court. If it does not, the judge can dismiss the charges outright.
That hearing is one of the few early points where a judge examines the state’s evidence before trial, and it is worth treating as an opportunity rather than a formality.
Where Each Precinct Actually Sits
Find your precinct below to get the address you actually need. Confirm it against your own paperwork before every appearance.
620 W. Jackson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003 — (602) 372-6300
Arcadia Biltmore · El Centro · Encanto · South Mountain · West McDowell
10420 W. Van Buren Street, Avondale, AZ 85323
Agua Fria — (602) 372-8001
Canyon Trails — (602) 372-8004
Country Meadows — (602) 372-8000
Maryvale — (602) 372-8002
White Tank — (602) 372-8003
18380 N. 40th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85032
Desert Ridge — (602) 372-7100
Dreamy Draw — (602) 372-7000
McDowell Mountain — (602) 372-7000
Moon Valley — (602) 372-7000
14264 W. Tierra Buena Lane, Surprise, AZ 85374 — (602) 372-2000
Arrowhead · Hassayampa · Manistee · North Valley
222 E. Javelina Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85210
East Mesa, Suite C — (602) 506-8117
Highland, Suite A — (602) 372-8300
North Mesa, Suite B — (602) 372-4900
West Mesa, Suite D — (602) 506-8100
Note the suite letters. Four precincts share this building and they are not interchangeable.
201 E. Chicago Street, Chandler, AZ 85225 — (602) 372-3400
Kyrene · San Marcos · San Tan · University Lakes
209 E. Pima Street, Gila Bend, AZ 85337 — (602) 506-1589
Ironwood
Justice Court or City Court?
People routinely turn up at the wrong one. The distinction is straightforward: if the conduct occurred inside a city’s limits and the citing agency was that city’s police department, the case is likely in that city’s municipal court. If it occurred outside city limits, in an unincorporated area, or was cited by the Sheriff’s Office or DPS, it is likely in a justice court.
Your citation names the court. Read it rather than assuming, particularly along city boundaries and on freeway stops, where the answer is often counterintuitive.
Practical Notes
Missing a setting produces a warrant. For traffic matters it can also mean a licence suspension through MVD, which continues to run whether or not you know about it.
The prosecutor varies. Depending on the charge, it may be the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office or a municipal prosecutor. That affects plea policy and diversion eligibility.
Appeals go to Maricopa County Superior Court, not the court of appeals.
Talk to Nova Law Group
Nova Law Group appears in Maricopa County justice courts and in courts throughout Arizona’s fifteen counties.
Call (480) 405-6767 for a free, confidential consultation.
Related: Arizona Courts · Maricopa County Superior Court · Misdemeanor Defense · Traffic and MVD