The Court System In Paradise Valley

The Town of Paradise Valley is unique to the Valley Of The Sun in that this small town has its own legal jurisdiction for all crimes committed within the city limits.

The majority of court cases in the Valley are handled through the Maricopa County Superior Court; however the town’s Municipal Court handles all of Paradise Valley’s cases. Although they are separate, any appeal from the Municipal Court case goes to the Superior Court.

Paradise Valley Municipal Court was established in 1964 and became a Court of Record in 1976. A Court of Record is a court that keeps permanent records of its proceedings, which gives it a better position in the event of an appeal. Also, only Courts of Record have the power to fine or imprison a person.

PV’s Municipal Court was created in the town’s initial incorporation grant out of a desire from the residents of Paradise Valley to not be consumed by Phoenix or Scottsdale, and to keep those cities’ government involvement to a minimum.

Associate Presiding Judge for Paradise Valley Municipal Court, John Auran, said the purpose of the Municipal Court is to best accomplish the interest of justice. Adding that, Municipal Court is where the vast majority of people’s legal experience comes from.

“The most important thing when you come to court is to tell the truth,” Auran said as advice for those going to court for the first time. “Typically you’re not in serious trouble if you’re in municipal court, unless you lie.”

According to the court’s Web site the court handles “civil traffic, criminal traffic and misdemeanors, Town of Paradise Valley Code violations and juvenile offenses.” Auran added that most of the cases he deals with are traffic violations, speeding tickets, and DUI cases.

There are three parts to a municipal trial: the arraignment, meeting with the prosecutor, and the trial. According to Judge Auran, often plea bargains are reached between the defendant and the prosecutor so the case does not go to trial.

“The goal of the court is to get people in compliance,” Auran said. “We are trying to get people to get their [drivers] licenses and get to work. We want people to be productive members of society.”
As Auran believes “You are never defined by your worst actions, but by how you respond to them.”

Story Written By:
Ian Rogers – Student At ASU
Walter Cronkite School Of Journalism

>