Maricopa County Justice Courts

Maricopa County Justice Courts are the county’s limited-jurisdiction courts. The courts’ own filing page says they do not hear felonies or civil claims over $10,000. They do hear general civil suits and evictions at or under $10,000, small claims at or under $5,000, civil traffic, criminal traffic, other misdemeanors such as shoplifting, theft, assault, and interfering with the judicial process, protective orders, and marijuana expungements.

There are 26 precincts. A 27th, Canyon Trails, is scheduled to open January 1, 2027. Most of them share a building with several other precincts. The phone on the door is not always unique. The court name on the bottom of the citation is.

This is general information, not legal advice. A defense lawyer is the right person for the charge itself.

Which court, before you drive

The filing page is blunt about venue. Civil and criminal traffic is heard in the precinct where the violation happened. Evictions are filed where the tenant lives. Protective orders may be filed in any Arizona court. Other civil cases generally follow where the dispute happened, with statutory exceptions.

The same page tells people to look up an address on the Maricopa County Interactive Elections Map. As of the note dated January 6, 2026, the courts warned that the map search was failing for some users, and that searchers should select the 2023–2025 boundaries rather than the 2026 or 2027 justice precincts. If the map fails, use the instructions linked from that filing page, or read the court name already printed on the citation.

The traffic page adds a rule of thumb that saves a wasted trip: city police generally cite into the municipal court, and state, county, or some tribal officers cite into justice court. The page says this varies by officer. The bottom of the ticket names the court, the address, and the date and time. If a box marks the charge criminal, the person has to see a judge. A civil citation can often be paid without a hearing. Ignoring either one can mean a default, extra assessments, a license suspension, or a warrant on a criminal citation.

Virtual appearance is available for a criminal or civil arraignment or initial appearance. The traffic page says to email the specific court, from the locations directory, one to three days before the date. Staff send login instructions. Walking in still means checking in at the window about 15 minutes early so the person is not marked absent.

Juveniles under 18 who receive a criminal citation must appear with a parent or guardian.

Hours, and two addresses that are not courts

Every justice court window is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Two addresses in the directory are explicitly not public courthouses. Do not file papers, pick up documents, or plan a wedding at either one.

• Justice Court Administration, 222 N. Central Avenue #210, Phoenix, AZ 85004, (602) 506-8530. The judge directory lists administration hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, which is shorter than the court windows.
• Inmate Video Appearance Center, 2670 S. 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85009, (602) 372-0250. The justice courts directory says this center is not a public courthouse for filing papers. The same street address is Intake, Transfer, and Release. That is a different door: the Sheriff’s Office holds Initial Appearance Court there for people in county custody, and Superior Court says ITR replaced central intake at the 4th Avenue Jail. Do not use the video-center phone to post a bond. The bond window is still the 4th Avenue Jail Bond and Fine Room.

Where the precincts sit

Phones below are the ones published on the locations directory. Several precincts share a number because they share a building. Ask for the precinct printed on the citation.

The county’s new-precinct page, using data current as of January 1, 2025, is a community chart, not a substitute for the citation. On it, Manistee includes parts of Phoenix, Glendale, and Peoria, which matches the Manistee judge’s page. Arrowhead includes Glendale, Peoria, and Sun City. Country Meadows includes Glendale, west Phoenix, and Avondale. Agua Fria includes Tolleson, Avondale, and the west Valley. White Tank includes Buckeye and Goodyear. Maryvale is west Phoenix. Hassayampa includes Surprise, Sun City West, and Wickenburg.

Canyon Trails opens January 1, 2027 in the Avondale building and is planned to split White Tank along Interstate 10. Until then, White Tank is the published Goodyear and Buckeye court in that building. City courts are a different system: Glendale, Peoria, and Avondale and Goodyear.

Case search, jail, and the bond

Justice court case history is at the courts’ case search. The page says it is not the official record and that retention rules can limit what is still online. Call the precinct for the official file.

Someone in sheriff’s custody is on the MCSO inmate search, which can name a court, a bond, and a hold. Booking and Initial Appearance Court are at Intake, Transfer, and Release, 2670 S. 28th Drive. Superior Court says that building replaced central intake at the 4th Avenue Jail. A Maricopa County criminal bond is posted in person at the 4th Avenue Jail Bond and Fine Room, 201 S. 4th Avenue, not at the justice court counter in Surprise or Avondale and not at the ITR lobby. The court says that bond is not paid by phone or by a payment app, and that release processing may take up to 24 hours. Release is back through ITR. See the Superior Court guide and the 4th Avenue guide.

A bond set by the justice court on its own case is a separate obligation. Call the precinct number on the citation before you pay the wrong clerk. A surety bond is arranged with a licensed bail agent. The Bail Barn quotes a premium of 10% of the bail amount, with a $150 minimum. That estimate is the premium only. Additional fees may apply. Call (623) 428-2276 for the exact total.

What to have ready

Photograph the bottom of the citation so the precinct name is readable, and bring a photo ID. For a virtual arraignment, email that court one to three days ahead and use the login they send. A missed criminal appearance can become a warrant.

If the inmate search and the citation name different courts, write down both before any money moves. A paid city bond does not clear a county hold. The Bail Barn covers the service area at any hour. The justice court window does not.