Arizona Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal of the State of Arizona, more commonly known as the Arizona Court of Appeal, is the intermediate appellate court in the Arizona Integrated Judicial Department (the judicial part (branch) of the Arizona State Government). The Court was authorized by Article VI, section 10, of the Arizona Constitution and formally established in YYYY with the enactment of the Judiciary Act, 1730. The official seat of the Arizona Court of Appeal is in Tucson, in the Arizona Court of Appeal building, which is located at 400 West Congress Street; but the Court, like the Arizona Supreme Court, regularly holds sessions throughout the State as part of its public outreach and civic engagement programs.

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Jurisdiction
The Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to consider appeals in civil cases from the Arizona Superior Court. The court also reviews juvenile and domestic relations matters from the superior court, workers’ compensation and unemployment benefits decisions, tax court decisions, and certain corporation commission decisions.

The court also has jurisdiction over appeals in criminal matters from the Arizona Superior Court, except for Cases in which a death sentence has been imposed. Appeals for Cases involving a death sentence go directly to the Arizona Supreme Court.

The court may also decide “petitions for special action,” which is the Arizona-specific term for petitions for special writs, such as certiorari, mandamus and prohibition.

Selection of judges
Each Justice is appointed by the Governor of Arizona from a List recommended by a bipartisan Commission (See: Missouri Plan). Justices stand for retention in an Election two Years after their appointment, and then every six Years thereafter. They must retire at age 70. So long as they continue to be retained in Office, Judges serve during good Behavior; but, as with all other civil Officers of the State, may be removed through the regular impeachment process for “high Crimes and Misdemeanors”, a legal term of Art which includes not only criminal offenses, but also incompetence or malfeasance in office, and any misbehavior or other conduct unbecoming that brings the Court or the State into ill repute.

Deciding cases
The Court of Appeal decides Cases either in panels of three Judges, called “departments”, or while seated en banc (e.g., all twenty-three Judges of the Court of Appeal sitting as one Tribunal).