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Sources of Law
Constitutions, Statutes & Rules

There are federal and state laws, rules, and regulations that help guide the judicial system. Depending on where the case is heard or what the case is about can decide what applies.

US Const.

The highest law in the United States is the US Constitution, including all its amendments.
 

US CONSTITUTION

USC

The U.S. Congress writes laws that are called statutes or the United States Code.
 

US CODE

CFR

Federal agencies write regulations that are found in the Code of Federal Regulations.
 

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS

Ariz. Const.

At the state level, the highest set of laws are in the Arizona Constitution.
 

ARIZONA CONSTITUTION

ARS

The Arizona legislature writes laws, called statutes, as part of the Arizona Revised Statutes. Arizona laws (“statutes”) are organized by title number (before the dash) and then section number (after the dash). For example, to find the shoplifting laws of ARS § 13-1805, click on Title 13 (Criminal Code) and then scroll down to 13-1802 (Shoplifting).
 

ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES

UCC

The Uniform Commercial Code is a thorough set of laws governing all commercial transactions. It is not a federal law, but a uniformly adopted state law. In Arizona, you can find it in the ARS in Title 47.
 

UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE

Arizona Court Rules

The Arizona Supreme Court has written numerous court rules, including the Arizona Rules of Evidence and the rules of procedure. Those rules explain what evidence will be considered, various types of court filings that can be filed, timeframes for certain activities to occur, and the process of how your case will be heard by the court. If you have a question as to whether you are looking at the correct rule set, the first rule will usually tell you where those rules will apply.
 

ARIZONA COURT RULES

AAC

Arizona agencies also write rules as part of the Arizona Administrative Code. You may sometimes need to refer to the AAC for more specific information, for example, for MVD rules, and procedures for certain types of cases that are heard in administrative hearings rather than courts, such as unemployment claims and registrar of contractor complaints.
 

ARIZONA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE

If you are in a city court, you may be there for a city law (called a “code” or “ordinance”).
Case Law

The United States is a “common law” country, which means that Federal and Arizona courts consider published decisions, also known as opinions, by higher courts for guidance or “precedent” on how certain laws are applied.

U.S.

The opinions of the US Supreme Court.
 

US SUPREME COURT OPINIONS

9th Cir.

The Federal Courts of Appeals are divided into a number of Circuits. Arizona is in the Ninth Circuit.
 

FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEALS

Ariz.

Decisions of the Arizona Supreme Court.
 

AZ SUPREME COURT OPINIONS

Ariz. Ct. App.

Arizona’s Court of Appeals is divided into two divisions.
 

DIVISION ONE OPINIONS

DIVISION TWO OPINIONS
Other Sources

There may be other sources of law that may also be important for your case. For example, in a contract case, you should look to any contracts between the parties because those contracts may list certain rights and remedies of the parties. In a dispute with your homeowner’s association, you may need to look to the Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions (CC & R’s) that govern that community. In a dispute with your employer, you may need to review any employment manual issued by your employer.