Tempe Municipal Court
Tempe misdemeanors and criminal traffic cases, from arraignment to trial. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone (480) 350-8271.
140 E. Fifth Street, Tempe, AZ 85281
Tempe record sealing and set-asides
Record Sealing and Set-Aside Lawyer in Tempe, AZ
Get the first petition right.
It might be a citation from a long night on Mill Avenue during college, a plea in Tempe Municipal Court that seemed like the quickest way out, or an arrest that was never charged at all. You moved on years ago. Then a background screen for a new job, an apartment or a nursing license brought the old Tempe case right back to the top of the page.
We can help. Nova Law Group was built by a former Maricopa County Attorney's Office felony prosecutor. We prepare every case as if it is going to trial, and we take a meticulous, aggressive approach, fighting from every angle, because the report is only one side of the story.
Talk to us before you talk to anyone else. Call (480) 405-6767. Consultations are free and confidential, and the earlier we are involved, the more we can do.
FounderRyan TaitFormer Maricopa County Attorney's Office felony prosecutorMeet Ryan →★ 5-star reviewsFormer felony prosecutorAvailable after hoursFlat fee on most criminal casesFree, confidential consultation
Record Sealing and Set-Aside Lawyer in Tempe, AZ
Which courthouse holds your Tempe case
Sealing
Petitions to seal records are filed under A.R.S. § 13-911.
Set-aside
A conviction can be set aside under A.R.S. § 13-905 after the sentence is complete.
City cases
Filed with Tempe Municipal Court, 140 E. Fifth Street.
County cases
Filed with the Clerk of the Superior Court, 175 W. Madison St., 12th Floor, Phoenix.
Arizona law offers three separate remedies. A set-aside (A.R.S. 13-905) vacates the guilty judgment and dismisses the charging document, though your history still shows the case, now annotated. Sealing (A.R.S. 13-911) closes the case records to public view. Expungement in the literal sense covers only qualifying marijuana offenses (A.R.S. 36-2862). They can be stacked: a set-aside soon after discharge, then sealing when the clock allows.
Whichever remedy you choose, it is requested from the court that handled your case. The county's justice courts say a petition must go to the specific court that adjudicated the matter, and they note that city courts, justice courts and Superior Court may each use different forms. A Tempe case normally sits in one of three places.
Tempe Municipal Court, for a city misdemeanor. The court at 140 E. Fifth Street keeps one web page for sealing and another for set-asides. Its sealing page says anyone arrested, convicted or sentenced before, on or after January 1, 2023 may petition; that a person has to apply in every court where a conviction was entered; and that each case number takes a separate petition, with the form and instructions available at the court or online. The set-aside page wants your full name as the original complaint showed it, your present address, a daytime phone, any email, your birth date, the sentence imposed and your signature, again one application per case number. A link on the court's resources page leads to marijuana expungement information.
A county justice court, for a misdemeanor investigated by state troopers or sheriff's deputies. Go by the court printed on the old paperwork; we do not guess which justice court it was.
Maricopa County Superior Court, for a Tempe felony. A felony record goes back to Superior Court, which uses forms of its own.
Cases that ended without a conviction. A case dismissed, a trial that ended in acquittal, or an arrest with no charge can each be sealed, without serving any conviction waiting period. A.R.S. 13-911(C) routes that petition to the court where charges were brought; with no charges, to whichever court held your initial appearance; and with neither, to Superior Court in your county of arrest.
Timing and money for convictions. The sealing wait runs from the court's discharge, which comes after every non-monetary term is satisfied. A class 2 or 3 felony waits ten years. Felonies in classes 4 through 6 wait five. A class 1 misdemeanor waits three years, and class 2 and 3 misdemeanors wait two. Petty offenses can go forward immediately. On top of that, all court-ordered fines, fees and restitution must already be paid on the day you petition.
How Tempe describes a set-aside. According to the city court, an application is reviewed rather than granted automatically, the State and the victim are allowed to oppose it, you may answer that opposition, and a hearing can be scheduled. When the State opposes, it mails you its response. The sealing page carries a warning too: records already published or circulated before the order may stay accessible.
The charges
Tempe record relief we handle, and who qualifies
- The Certificate of Second Chance. A set-aside order includes one for a misdemeanor, for a class 4, 5 or 6 felony after two years, and for a class 2 or 3 felony after five. If you otherwise qualify, it clears title 32 occupational licensing barriers caused by the conviction and extends A.R.S. 12-558.03 protections to employers.
- Sealing. Convictions qualify after the waiting period, and dismissals, acquittals and uncharged arrests qualify sooner. Our sealing guide (see Record Sealing) has the details. The exclusions include any dangerous offense or dangerous crime against children, a serious offense, a violent or aggravated felony, an offense whose elements include using or threateningly exhibiting a deadly weapon or knowingly causing serious physical injury, sex trafficking, and any class 2, 3, 4 or 5 felony found in chapter 14 or 35.1 of title 13.
- Old marijuana cases. It reaches old cases involving 2.5 ounces or less (with a 12.5 gram cap on concentrate), up to six plants grown for personal use where you lived, and related paraphernalia. The judge must grant it unless the prosecutor proves, by clear and convincing evidence, that you are ineligible.
- An old Tempe DUI. Relief is available, but the conviction keeps counting on any later DUI.
- Gun rights. A set-aside brings back Arizona firearm rights unless the conviction was a serious offense; federal rules call for their own review. More on Tempe weapons cases (see Tempe weapons charges).
- DV-labeled cases. A victim who asked for postconviction notice is told about a sealing petition and may be heard. Do not contact the protected person about the petition.
- Probation still running, or a petition to revoke pending? Resolve that first, because relief comes only after discharge.
Where we practice
Step by step, from records request to ruling
Pulling the paperwork
One Tempe incident can generate more than one case number, and each needs its own petition, so we start by listing every case, its court and its exact charge. The city court accepts records requests through JustFOIA, in person or by mail, lists disposition information among the records it provides, and lets the public view court records at the courthouse for free. Its lookup site, courtcaseinfo.tempe.gov, can confirm dates and status.
The police side
Tempe Police take report and video requests through JustFOIA, at the Records Section lobby at 120 E. Fifth Street on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by mail to the same address. The department's records page also links to a personal criminal history request and a background check request.
Checking eligibility
For every conviction we confirm the class, run it against the exclusion lists, pin down the discharge date and make sure the balance is zero, because money still owed bars sealing outright.
Making the argument
The sealing statute tells the judge to grant relief that is in the petitioner's best interests and consistent with public safety. A set-aside judge looks at the offense and how it happened, your record on probation, convictions before and after, what any victim says and whether restitution was paid, the time since your sentence ended, how old you were, and anything else relevant. We document each factor rather than leaving boxes checked and blank.
Responses and the DPS report
Once a sealing petition is in, the clerk forwards it to the prosecutor, who can respond and request a hearing, and the court asks DPS to report your state and federal arrest and conviction history. Mistakes in that report happen, so we read it. For a Tempe set-aside, the court's page sets out a period for opposition and a period for your reply.
After a sealing order
DPS flags the records as sealed and tells state and federal law enforcement. For most employment, housing, student aid and loan applications, the law then lets you deny any arrest, charge or conviction for that crime. The exceptions include applications that require a fingerprint clearance card, positions with police agencies, prosecutors, the courts, probation, child welfare or corrections, and any disclosure mandated by state or federal law.
Limits worth knowing
Sealing does not stop the State from relying on the old case later: a sealed conviction may still be pleaded as an element of a new offense, counted as a historical prior, used to impeach a witness, or used to raise a later sentence, DUI sentences included. Set-aside convictions can also be charged as priors. After a denial, the statute blocks a new sealing petition for three years, so preparation matters. Anyone who is not a U.S. citizen should get immigration advice before counting on any of these tools.
Record Sealing and Set-Aside Lawyer in Tempe, AZ
Where an old Tempe record lives
Most of an old Tempe case sits downtown, close to Mill Avenue and Tempe Town Lake. Tempe Municipal Court, at 140 E. Fifth Street, holds the court file and receives the petition. Next door, the police department's Records Section at 120 E. Fifth Street holds the report and any body camera video. The Prosecutor's Office that handled the city case is upstairs in the courthouse building, in Suite 301.
Freeway stops by DPS troopers on the Tempe stretches of the interstates and loops sometimes ended in a justice court instead, and a Tempe felony lives in the Superior Court record downtown. If you lived near the ASU Tempe campus back then and have since moved out of state, the petition still goes to the court that decided the case, wherever you live now.
Record Sealing and Set-Aside Lawyer in Tempe, AZ
A former prosecutor's eye on an old case
Nova Law Group was built by Ryan Tait, a former Maricopa County Attorney's Office felony prosecutor. The practice is criminal defense first. We keep caseloads deliberately low, which means the lawyers on your case have time to actually read the old reports and court records line by line. We prepare a record petition the way we prepare a contested case: documented, specific and ready for an objection. Most criminal cases are quoted as a flat fee. Consultations are free and confidential.
Former felony prosecutorBuilt by a former Maricopa County Attorney's Office felony prosecutor.
Low caseloadsTime to watch the video and read the reports line by line.
Ready for trialA case prepared for trial changes the conversation with the prosecutor.
Flat feeMost criminal cases are quoted as a flat fee. Consultations are free and confidential.
Our office
Meet us on Camelback Road
Office: 4455 E. Camelback Rd., Suite C250, Phoenix, AZ 85018. It is our only office, and Tempe clients meet with us there by appointment.
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Resources
Tempe courts and official links
Where a Tempe case is heard depends on the charge and the agency. Some offices are in Tempe and some are in Phoenix. Each card has directions and the official website, so you can check details before you go.
Clerk of the Superior Court, criminal filing counter
Where petitions in county cases are filed. South Court Tower, 12th Floor.
175 W. Madison St., 12th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003Maricopa County Superior Court, downtown
Felony cases prosecuted by the County Attorney. Confirm the building on your current notice.
Central Court Building, 201 W. Jefferson St., and South Court Tower, 175 W. Madison St., Phoenix, AZ 85003Laws cited on this page
- A.R.S. § 13-905, Setting aside judgment of convicted person on discharge; application; release from disabilities
- A.R.S. § 13-911, Sealing of arrest, conviction and sentencing records; requirements; fee; appeal; definition
- A.R.S. § 36-2862, Expungement; petition; appeal; dismissal of complaints; rules
Common questions
Tempe record sealing questions
To Tempe Municipal Court itself, at 140 E. Fifth Street. The court has its own sealing and set-aside pages, provides the forms at the courthouse or online, and wants one petition or application per case number. A case decided by a justice court or by Superior Court goes back to that court instead, since the court that adjudicated a case is the one that grants relief from it.
No. Tempe Municipal Court asks for a separate petition for each case number, on sealing and on set-asides alike, and its sealing page says a person must apply in each court where there was a conviction. If one of your cases was in a different court, that court gets its own petition. We sort the cases out first so nothing is left behind.
Generally yes, in the sense that no conviction waiting period applies. Dismissals, acquittals and arrests that never became charges are all eligible. A.R.S. 13-911(C) sends it to whichever court received the charges, or, when nothing was charged, to the court that held your initial appearance. The judge still has to find that sealing serves your interests and public safety.
Sometimes. The court's set-aside page says the State and the victim may oppose an application, that the State will send you a copy of any opposition, and that you may reply. The court reviews each application and may set a hearing. An application that already addresses the factors the court weighs, such as restitution, time since the sentence and what you have done since, leaves less room for an objection.
It does not. Even sealed, the old DUI can raise the sentence for a new one, and a set-aside leaves that rule untouched. A set-aside also keeps MVD consequences such as an ignition interlock requirement in force. Sealing still has value for most employment and rental applications, which is why many people pursue it anyway.
It may be. Old cases qualify when they involved 2.5 ounces or less of marijuana (no more than 12.5 grams of that as concentrate), six plants or fewer kept at home for personal use, or marijuana paraphernalia. Unless the prosecutor proves ineligibility by clear and convincing evidence, the judge has to grant the petition. Tempe Municipal Court's resources page links to its own marijuana expungement information.
Client reviews
Hear What Our Clients Say
From our Google reviews, plus Yelp and Avvo. These are clients’ own words, reproduced from our review profiles.
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“These guys are the best attorneys in all of Arizona. It is definitely the most professional group of lawyers… I recommend this firm!”
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“The best law firm that I have ever dealt with. The amount of passion & commitment that they dedicated for my case… truly what separated them from other law firms.”
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“We hired Mr. Tait to handle a legal affair for a member of our family. It was a complex criminal case that required over two years of work! Through the entire effort, Mr. Tait kept us informed…”
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“My family hired Ryan Tait to fight for my family member… He went over all the pros and cons. He answered all our questions and calls. He knows what he is doing.”
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“Excellent lawyers… and their honesty, and they helped me even though I do not live in Arizona.”
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Reseñas de clientes
Lo que dicen nuestros clientes
De nuestras reseñas en Google, además de Yelp y Avvo. Son las palabras de nuestros clientes, tomadas de nuestros perfiles de reseñas y traducidas del inglés.
★★★★★
“Son los mejores abogados de todo Arizona. Sin duda es el grupo de abogados más profesional… ¡Recomiendo esta firma!”
★★★★★
“Sydney fue sumamente minuciosa con cada detalle de mi caso penal… al final, eso resultó en una victoria clara y contundente para mi caso.”
★★★★★
“Lucharon incansablemente por mi caso y me ayudaron a lograr un resultado favorable. Servicio y resultados excepcionales.”
★★★★★
“La firma me brindó la representación legal más profesional posible. El Sr. Ryan Tait me explicó con paciencia… más allá de mis expectativas.”
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“La mejor firma de abogados con la que he tratado. La pasión y el compromiso que dedicaron a mi caso… es lo que realmente los distinguió de otras firmas.”
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★★★★★
“¡Representación espectacular! Sydney fue muy compasiva, diligente y profesional. No puedo recomendarla lo suficiente.”
★★★★★
“…Ryan y su equipo son amables, comprensivos y saben escuchar. Cada miembro de su equipo demostró estar bien preparado, con conocimiento y gran profesionalismo.”
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★★★★★
“Excelentes abogados… y su honestidad y eso que me ayudaron que yo no vivo en Arizona”
Los resultados anteriores no garantizan un resultado similar.
Talk to a Tempe criminal defense lawyer
If you have been arrested, charged, or contacted by a detective in Tempe, the decisions you make in the first few days matter. We defend misdemeanors in Tempe Municipal Court and the justice courts, and felonies in Maricopa County Superior Court downtown.
Free, confidential consultation: (480) 405-6767
Prefer not to call? Send us your case details and a member of our team will follow up with you.
Tempe courts
- Tempe Municipal CourtMisdemeanors and criminal traffic cases from inside Tempe. Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.140 E. Fifth St., Tempe, AZ 85281Court website Directions
- Justice courtsSome DPS and Sheriff's Office misdemeanors. Your citation names the court.Find your court
- Maricopa County Superior CourtFelonies, at the downtown criminal court complex.Central Court Building, 201 W. Jefferson St., and South Court Tower, 175 W. Madison St., Phoenix, AZ 85003Court website Directions
Our office: Nova Law Group, PLLC, 4455 E. Camelback Rd., Suite C250, Phoenix, AZ 85018. Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., by appointment. Directions
Hable con un abogado de defensa penal en Tempe
Si lo arrestaron, lo acusaron o un detective lo contactó en Tempe, las decisiones que tome en los primeros días importan. Defendemos delitos menores en la Corte Municipal de Tempe y en las cortes de justicia, y delitos graves en la Corte Superior del Condado de Maricopa en el centro de Phoenix.
Consulta gratuita y confidencial: (480) 405-6767
¿Prefiere no llamar? Envíenos los detalles de su caso y un miembro de nuestro equipo se comunicará con usted.
Cortes de Tempe
- Corte Municipal de TempeDelitos menores y casos penales de tránsito dentro de Tempe. De lunes a viernes, de 8:00 a.m. a 5:00 p.m.140 E. Fifth St., Tempe, AZ 85281Sitio de la corte Cómo llegar
- Cortes de justiciaAlgunos delitos menores del DPS y de la Oficina del Sheriff. Su citación indica la corte.Busque su corte
- Corte Superior del Condado de MaricopaDelitos graves, en el complejo penal del centro.Central Court Building, 201 W. Jefferson St., and South Court Tower, 175 W. Madison St., Phoenix, AZ 85003Sitio de la corte Cómo llegar
Nuestra oficina: Nova Law Group, PLLC, 4455 E. Camelback Rd., Suite C250, Phoenix, AZ 85018. De lunes a viernes, de 8:00 a.m. a 6:00 p.m., con cita previa. Cómo llegar
RecognitionReconocimientos
Awards and ratingsPremios y calificaciones
Awards and ratings reflect the standards of the organizations that issue them. They do not predict the outcome of any case.Los premios y las calificaciones reflejan los criterios de las organizaciones que los otorgan. No predicen el resultado de ningún caso.