Maricopa County Superior Court: Criminal Case Guide for Phoenix & Scottsdale Defendants

Maricopa County Superior Court is the felony trial court for all of Maricopa County, Arizona, including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and Peoria. Criminal cases are heard primarily at the Central Court Building (201 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85003) and the South Court Tower (175 W. Madison St., Phoenix, AZ 85003), with regional facilities in Mesa, Surprise, and northeast Phoenix. 

The court handles felony charges, probation violations, and warrants, as well as appeals from the Phoenix Municipal Court, Scottsdale City Court, and other limited-jurisdiction courts. If you have a felony case here, the stakes include prison time, so speaking with a defense lawyer before your first appearance matters.

What Is Maricopa County Superior Court?

Maricopa County Superior Court is Arizona’s general-jurisdiction trial court for the state’s largest county, covering roughly 4.5 million residents across the greater Phoenix metro area. Unlike city courts such as Phoenix Municipal Court or Scottsdale City Court, which are limited to misdemeanors and city ordinance violations, Superior Court is where the State of Arizona prosecutes all felony offenses from drug possession and DUI with prior felony convictions to aggravated assault, burglary, and violent crimes. It also serves as the appellate court for cases that begin in municipal or justice courts.

If you were arrested for a felony anywhere in Maricopa County, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Paradise Valley, or Peoria,  your case will eventually be filed in Superior Court, even if your initial appearance happened at a local jail or city court.

Criminal Court Locations

Maricopa County Superior Court operates multiple facilities. Which one handles your case depends on where you were arrested and, in some instances, where your Justice of the Peace initial appearance took place.

General Information Center: (602) 506-3204

Because case assignments can shift between buildings, always confirm your specific courtroom and floor using the case lookup tools below or by calling the information line before you drive downtown.

What Does Maricopa County Superior Court Handle?

Superior Court’s criminal division handles:

• Felony charges of all classes (Class 1 through Class 6), including drug offenses, theft, burglary, aggravated DUI, weapons charges, sexual offenses, and violent crimes
• Probation violations for defendants sentenced to felony probation
• Warrants issued in connection with felony cases, including bench warrants for failures to appear
• Post-conviction relief petitions and appeals from Phoenix Municipal Court, Scottsdale City Court, and other Maricopa County justice/municipal courts

Superior Court does not handle misdemeanor traffic tickets, city ordinance violations, or most simple misdemeanors; those stay in the city or justice court where they were filed unless they get appealed or a related felony charge is added.

How to Look Up Your Case or Court Date

Maricopa County Superior Court’s Public Access system lets you search for case information online:

1. Go to the court’s Case Search tool at superiorcourt.maricopa.gov.
2. Search by case number, party name, or citation number.
3. Review the case docket for your next hearing date, assigned judge, and courtroom location.
4. If you cannot locate your case or have questions about a warrant, call the Information Center at (602) 506-3204.

If you were arrested and are unsure whether your case has been transferred from a city court (like Phoenix or Scottsdale) to Superior Court, this is one of the most common points of confusion — and one reason to loop in a defense attorney early, since missing a court date you didn’t know about can trigger a warrant.

What Happens at Your Initial Appearance and Arraignment?

Initial Appearance. After a felony arrest, you’ll typically have an initial appearance within 24 hours (often at a Maricopa County jail facility or before a Justice of the Peace) during which a judicial officer sets conditions of release, addresses bond, and confirms that you understand the charges.

Arraignment. Once the case is formally filed in Superior Court, you’ll be arraigned — read the charges and asked to enter a plea (typically “not guilty” at this stage while your attorney reviews the evidence). The arraignment also sets the schedule for pretrial conferences, disclosure deadlines, and potential trial dates.

Pretrial proceedings. Felony cases in Superior Court move through case management conferences, plea negotiations, and disclosure of evidence before reaching trial or resolution. Arizona’s Rule 15 disclosure requirements require both sides to exchange evidence, which allows a defense lawyer to identify weaknesses in the state’s case, challenge unlawful searches, or negotiate a reduced charge.

Consequences of a Felony Conviction

A felony conviction in Maricopa County Superior Court carries consequences well beyond the immediate sentence:

• Prison time under Arizona’s sentencing statutes (A.R.S. Title 13), which vary by offense class and criminal history
• Mandatory fines and surcharges
• Loss of civil rights, including firearm rights
• A permanent felony record that affects employment, housing, and professional licensing
• Immigration consequences for non-citizens
• Probation terms that, if violated, can result in prison

Because felony sentencing in Arizona often involves aggravating and mitigating factors, and because plea agreements can significantly change the outcome, how your case is handled in the early stages, before you’re arraigned, can shape everything that follows.

How a Defense Lawyer Helps at Maricopa County Superior Court

Felony cases move fast, and the paperwork is unforgiving. An experienced criminal defense attorney who regularly appears in Maricopa County Superior Court can:

• Review the police report, booking documents, and probable cause statement for constitutional or procedural problems
• Attend the arraignment on your behalf in many circumstances and protect your right to remain silent
• Negotiate with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for reduced charges or diversion where eligible
• Challenge illegally obtained evidence through motions to suppress
• Prepare a trial defense if no acceptable resolution is reached
• Explain how a felony charge intersects with related matters, such as an order of protection or a probation violation

Facing a felony case at Maricopa County Superior Court? Call Attorney Josh at (480) 386-1824 for a free consultation. The Law Office of Joshua A. Lopez, LLC represents clients throughout Scottsdale, Phoenix, and all of Maricopa County, including Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe, Paradise Valley, and Peoria.

If you were arrested in Scottsdale or Phoenix specifically, your case may have started at Scottsdale City Court or Phoenix Municipal Court before being transferred here Attorney Josh appears in all three courts and can explain exactly where your case stands.

What to Bring and What to Expect

• Photo ID. Bring a government-issued ID to enter the courthouse and check in for your hearing.
• Security screening. All Maricopa County court facilities use metal detectors and X-ray screening similar to airport security. Leave weapons, pocketknives, and prohibited items at home or in your vehicle.
• Parking. Public parking garages and metered street parking are available near the Central Court Building and South Court Tower in downtown Phoenix; arrive early, as downtown parking fills up on weekday mornings.
• Paperwork. Bring any citation, release paperwork, or notice you received from law enforcement or the court.
• Arrive early. Courthouse security lines can take 15–30 minutes during peak morning hours.

If you have a hearing coming up at Maricopa County Superior Court, don’t go alone; call Attorney Josh at (480) 386-1824 for a free consultation before your court date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Maricopa County Superior Court’s criminal division located?

Criminal cases are primarily handled at the Central Court Building, 201 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85003, and the South Court Tower, 175 W. Madison St., Phoenix, AZ 85003, with additional regional locations in Mesa (Southeast Facility, 222 E. Javelina Ave.), Surprise (Northwest Regional Center), and northeast Phoenix.

What types of criminal cases does Maricopa County Superior Court handle?

The Superior Court handles felony charges of all classes, probation violations for felony probation, felony-related warrants, and appeals from limited-jurisdiction courts, such as the Phoenix Municipal Court and the Scottsdale City Court. Misdemeanors typically stay in city or justice courts.

How do I find my court date at Maricopa County Superior Court?

Use the Case Search tool on the court’s Public Access website at superiorcourt.maricopa.gov to search by case number or party name. You can also call the Information Center at (602) 506-3204 for help locating your case or confirming a hearing date.

What happens at a felony arraignment in Maricopa County?

At arraignment, the judge formally reads the charges, and you enter a plea, usually “not guilty,” while your attorney reviews the evidence. The court also sets deadlines for disclosure and future hearings, including pretrial conferences and, if needed, a trial date.

Can a misdemeanor case end up in Maricopa County Superior Court?

Generally, no. Misdemeanors are handled in city courts like Phoenix Municipal Court or Scottsdale City Court, or in justice courts. However, a case can move to Superior Court if a felony charge is added, if it involves a felony probation violation, or on appeal.

Do I need a lawyer for my first appearance at Superior Court?

You are not legally required to have a lawyer, but felony charges carry serious, permanent consequences, and early legal representation can affect release conditions, plea negotiations, and case strategy from the very first hearing.