Published on December 14, 2022
Beginning Tuesday, January 3 the City of Maricopa will open a stand-alone municipal court.
In September, City Council approved the creation of a dedicated municipal court with the goals of improved efficiencies and effectiveness with a City Council appointed Municipal Judge who can dedicate their time and expertise to adjudicate city ordinances and codes. The court will provide services for misdemeanors, civil traffic, protective orders, and DUI’s as well as any city ordinance violations while standing as a separate, independent branch of the city government.
The Pinal County Justice Court in Maricopa will continue to operate and maintain jurisdiction over county matters, including evictions, small claims and civil violations. Residents are advised to reference their citations for the location of court hearings.
The Mayor and Council approved a contract with Judge Stephen McCarville to lead the transition to a separate court and serve as the Interim Presiding Judge during the first year of operations. Hon. McCarville was previously elected as a Pinal County Superior Court Judge with his first term beginning January 2001. He served until June 2021, and was the Presiding Judge of the Pinal County Superior Court from 2015-2021.He is a member of the Pinal County Bar Association, Arizona Bar Association, and American Bar Association.
The permanent court facility just east of City Hall is anticipated to be complete in early 2024. Design of the facility if underway. The building cost will not require any new taxes or funds to complete. Ongoing administration fees will be primarily funded by the collection of court fees.