Pinal County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Pinal County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Pinal County.
The Right to Trial by Jury
The Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees the right to a trial by a jury. This is applicable for when the crime can carry a sentence of 6 months in jail OR a $500 fine, these are known as “Serious Crimes”. The defendant can also waive their right to a speedy and public trial.
Mandatory Appearances in Pinal County Criminal Court
At a mandatory or required court appearance in Pinal County, the defendant must appear before the court. In the event of a “Failure to Appear” the judge may issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant. Note: not all criminal hearings are mandatory, in a non-mandatory hearing an attorney may appear on your behalf without you being in court.
Pinal County Criminal Court
What happens in Pinal County at an arraignment?
In Pinal County the defendant is brought into court and informed by the judge of the charges that have been filed against them along with informing them of their rights. At this time, the defendant can plead guilty, not guilty or no contest. If the defendant pleads guilty or no contest, there will be no trial and the defendant may be sentenced immediately or at a later date. If the defendant pleads not guilty a trial date is set.
Jury Deliberation
In a jury trial in Pinal County, after both the prosecution and defense have rested, the judge will give instructions to the jury and jury deliberations will begin. The jury will convence in a private room to discuss and deliberate the innocence or guilt of the defendant. Once the jury arrives at a unimanous decision, they will inform the judge that they have reached a decision. They will return to the court and the verdict will be read aloud. If the jury cannot reach a unaminous decision, the jury is said to be deadlocked and a mistrial will be declared in the case.
If guilty, who sentences the defendant?
If the defendant is found guilty after the trial, the defendent will be sentenced. In some cases, this can occur at the same hearing the defendant is found guilty in court, in other cases a separate hearing will be required. Often the prosecution will request a particular sentence for the defendant and the judge will determine whether to enforce this sentence or impose a different sentence for the defendant.
Pinal County Prosecutor
For criminal cases in Pinal County, the prosecutor will be a representative of Pinal County. The Pinal County prosecutor reviews all evidence and ultimately decides whether to file or dismiss charges in the case. Most of the time, the prosecutor has leeway in plea negotiations and determines how the case will be prosecuted.
Burden of Proof Requirement
In a criminal case in the United States, the burden of proof always requires the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. This is a high threshold that must be met by the prosecution when presenting evidence in a case. If the prosecution fails in it’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt the judge must find the defendant not guilty. In a jury trial, the judge will inform the jury what this burden is and their obligation to find the defendant not guilty if they feel the prosecution did prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Right to Counsel
The Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the U.s. Constitution give defendants in criminal cases the right to counsel/attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed to represent you. Like other rights a defendant has, this one can be waived as well and alternatively you can choose to represent yourself.
Who can help me in Pinal County?
For general information about your case the Pinal County court clerk will be able to provide legal information about your specific criminal case. Legal information is not legal advice though, the court clerk will only be able to provide information about your case, like date/time of hearings what will occur at the hearing and what you may be required to do in the hearing. They cannot provide advice about what you should do or what the best legal options may be for your particular case. Only an attorney can provide legal advice and this is your best place for information about your specific criminal proceeding. If you cannot afford to hire a private attorney to represent you, a judge will appoint an attorney to represent you, this is most often a public defender.
Plea Agreements
A Plea Agreement, sometimes known as a Plea Bargain is an agreement between the prosecution and the defendant, where the defendant pleads guilty or no contest often in exchange for a lesser charge or lighter recommended sentence. A large majority of criminal cases end in a plea agreement. In Pinal County you can inform your attorney to negotiate with the prosecution to attempt to come to a plea agreement, but this is dependent upon the charge severity and also the prosecutors willingness to accept a plea deal.
Where will Pinal County criminal case hearings take place?
Criminal cases will take place at the criminal courts of Pinal County. See here for the location of the criminal courts in Pinal County.
Appealing a guilty verdict
A defendant may appeal a guilty verdict to an appellate court. This is not a request to have another trial, but a request for an appellate court to review the case and determine that it was handled in a correct legal manner. There are a number of outcomes in an appeal including an upholding of the conviction, a finding that errors were made resulting in a retrial or resentencing or possibly a complete disimissal of all charges.
Pinal County Criminal Court Locations
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Pinal County Superior Court
Address: 971 Jason Lopez Circle, Building A, Highway 79,PO Box 2730, Florence AZ 85132
Phone: 520-866-5400 Fax: 520-866-5401 -
Pinal County Superior Court – Apache Junction
Address: 575 North Idaho Road, Suite 109, Apache Junction AZ 85119
Phone: 520-866-5300 Fax: 520-866-7481 -
Pinal County Superior Court – Casa Grande
Address: 820 East Cottonwood Lane, Building B, Casa Grande AZ 85122
Phone: 520-866-5300 Fax: 520-866-7481 -
Apache Junction Justice Court – Precinct 7
Address: 575 North Idaho Road, Apache Junction AZ 85119
Phone: 480-982-2921 Fax: 520-866-6153 -
Casa Grande Justice Court – Precinct 2
Address: 820 East Cottonwood Lane, Casa Grande AZ 85122
Phone: 520-836-5471 Fax: 520-866-7404 -
Eloy Justice Court – Precinct 3
Address: 801 North Main Street, PO Box 586, Eloy AZ 85131
Phone: 520-866-7983 Fax: 520-466-4473 -
Florence Justice Court – Precinct 1
Address: 400 South Central Avenue, PO Box 1818, Florence AZ 85132
Phone: 520-866-7194 Fax: 520-866-7190 -
Mammoth Justice Court – Precinct 4
Address: 116 South Catalina, PO Box 777, Mammoth AZ 85618
Phone: 520-487-2262 Fax: 520-866-7839 -
Maricopa / Stanfield Justice Court – Precinct 8
Address: 19955 North Wilson Avenue, PO Box 201, Maricopa AZ 85139
Phone: 520-866-3999 Fax: 520-866-3990 -
Oracle Justice Court – Precinct 5
Address: 1470 N Justice Drive, Oracle AZ 85623
Phone: 520-896-9250 Fax: 520-866-7812 -
Superior / Kearny Justice Court – Precinct 6
Address: 60 East Main Street, Superior AZ 85173
Phone: 520-866-6950 Fax: 520-689-2369 -
Apache Junction Municipal Court
Address: 300 East Superstition Blvd, Apache Junction AZ 85119
Phone: 480-982-8250 Fax: 480-982-4496 -
Casa Grande Municipal Court
Address: 375 East 9th Street, Casa Grande AZ 85122
Phone: 520-421-8675 Fax: 520-421-8660 -
Coolidge Municipal Court
Address: 110 West Central Avenue, Coolidge AZ 85128
Phone: 520-723-6031 Fax: 520-723-6067 -
Eloy Municipal Court
Address: 626 North Main Street, Eloy AZ 85131
Phone: 520-466-3913 Fax: 520-466-0794 -
Florence Municipal Court
Address: 775 North Main Street, PO Box 2670, Florence AZ 85132
Phone: 520-868-7514 Fax: 520-868-7564 -
Kearny Magistrate Court
Address: 355 Alden Road, PO Box 639, Kearny AZ 85137
Phone: 520-363-7752 Fax: 520-363-9523 -
Mammoth Municipal Court
Address: 116 Catalina, PO Box 130, Mammoth, AZ 85618
Phone: 520-487-2331 Fax: 520-487-2152 -
Maricopa Municipal Court
Address: 19955 North Wilson Avenue, PO Box 201, Maricopa AZ 85139
Phone: 520-866-3999 Fax: 520-866-3990 -
Superior Municipal Court
Address: 60 East Main Street, Superior AZ 85173
Phone: 520-689-5091 Fax: 520-689-2369