Umayok Novell
City Magistrate
City of Mesa Municipal Court
250 East 1st Avenue
Mesa, AZ 85210
Phone: (480) 644-2255
FAX: (480) 644-2927
[email protected]
Bar No: 019684

Summary:
Rule 1.5 allows courts to require defendants to appear by use of an interactive audiovisual system for some proceedings. However, Rule 17.1(f) only provides Limited Jurisdiction Courts with procedures for holding Telephonic Pleas and Plea by Mail plea proceedings. Rule 17.1(f) does not include procedures for interactive audiovisual plea proceedings. Petitioner’s proposed amendments to Criminal Rules 1.5 and 17.1 create procedures for Limited Jurisdiction Courts to conduct real-time interactive audiovisual pretrial conferences that immediately result in plea and sentencing proceedings. The proposed changes to Rules 17.2 and 17.3 are primarily technical. The proposed amendments will also enable Limited Jurisdiction Courts to provide more productive court proceedings by reducing the number of pretrial conferences and provide greater access to justice for defendants who are in detention centers, live farther away, have limited or no access to transportation, or live out of state.

Filed: January 4, 2024

Would amend Rules 1.5, 17.1, 17.2, and 17.3 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure to facilitate the use of interactive audiovisual appearances in proceedings before limited jurisdiction courts and encourage the use of electronic filing portals in such courts.

Comments must be submitted by no later than Wednesday, May 1, 2024, and any reply by a petitioner must be submitted no later than Monday, June 3, 2024.