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Vol. 15, No. 1 | January 2019
Welcome to Jeff Fine the new Clerk of the Superior Court
Jeff Fine was sworn in on January 9, 2019 as the new Clerk of the Superior Court during a ceremony held in the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors’ Auditorium. He was elected to the position by voters in November 2018 and is the 11th person to serve as the Clerk. “I am honored to serve and blessed with an amazing team. I look forward to the opportunity now before us to pursue projects and innovations that will further increase access to justice for the benefit of those we serve,” Fine said. “My goal is to make the court system easier to use and more efficient by leveraging current systems, proven technologies and implementing best practices.”
Fine has spent the majority of his professional life in and around the court systems of Arizona. Prior to his election as the Clerk, he served four years as the court administrator for the Maricopa County Justice Courts. In this capacity, he implemented several innovative strategies, including a video appearance center for in-custody court appearances that virtually eliminated prisoner transport, allowed cases to be resolved faster and reduced demand for costly jail space in justice court cases. Preceding the administrator position, he was elected in 2010 as a Maricopa County justice of the peace in the state’s busiest court precinct at the time. Fine has also served as a police officer, court marshal, and court administrator for the City of Goodyear. In addition, he has served as an active duty member of the US Air Force.
As Clerk, Fine is the official record keeper and financial officer for the Superior Court and is responsible for overseeing a staff of 650, a budget of nearly $40 million, supporting more than 160 judges and commissioners, serving a constituency of over four million, and operating an office that serves one of the top five largest counties and trial court systems in the nation.
In addition to his service in the Judicial Branch, Fine served over 20 years in the United States Air Force on active duty and in the reserve, including deployment in support of the War on Terrorism. He is a member of the White Tanks Rotary, volunteers in support of various non-profit efforts and often presents at court training events throughout Arizona. He has served on nine state and county level task forces and committees with recent appointment to a tenth, the Arizona Task Force on Delivery of Legal Services. Jeff is married to Kori Fine, a professor with Grand Canyon University and former director with Summit Community Church and WATERisLIFE. He was raised in the West Valley of Maricopa County where he, Kori and their four children reside.
Another special welcome
Besides a new Clerk of the Court, the Office welcomes another member to the team who will help lead the Office into the future. Rich McHattie was hired to serve as the new Chief Technology and Innovation Officer. Prior to this position, he was serving as the Deputy CIO for Customer Engagement and Service Management for the Maricopa County’s Office of Enterprise Technology. In his new capacity with the Clerk’s Office, he will be working to keep the Office on the cutting edge of technology as it moves toward eFile Case Initiation, online payments, and other technology initiatives.
Appeal and Cost Bond Info Online
Court rules, statutes, court orders or other authorities may require posting appeal or cost bonds with the Clerk's Office. Depending on the type of issue, the parties, the complexity of the case and other factors, years can pass between the bond posting date and resolution of related issues. During that time, parties, attorneys, and the courts may overlook issuing a court order releasing the money. The Clerk's Office holds the funds until a court order directs the Clerk specifically what to do with those funds. The Clerk’s Office has now posted online lists of bonds posted with the Clerk's Office where the need for the bond may have ended and no court order was filed allowing the Clerk to return the money. If you or your clients posted an appeal or cost bond in any case, it is worth checking if funds are still on hold.
Customers can search the online lists by party name or case number. A party or their attorney must file a petition with the court requesting an order be issued directing the Clerk to release these funds. The Clerk's Office will only release money by court order and only as specifically directed in the order. For more information about the deposit or release of these funds, including specific information the Clerk’s Office needs before releasing money, see the Clerk’s website at http://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/release_bonds.asp. The Clerk's Office will only assist parties to a case or their attorneys. Third-party vendors, personal representatives, and other non-parties must be named in a court order to obtain detailed information, or to receive a payment check.
Office to participate in annual Arizona Veteran’s Stand Down event
For the ninth year, Clerk of the Court staff will be working with the Superior Court officials to participate in the Arizona Veteran’s Stand Down Project by setting up remote courtrooms to hear cases involving veterans. The Stand Down Project is an event where organizations, agencies, and governments come together across the nation to focus on veteran services. This year, the event is being held in Phoenix January 24 - 26 at the Arizona Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum.
At last year’s Stand Down event, the court ruled on over 240 motions and presided on nearly 50 hearings. In addition, 242 ex parte rulings were received and processed, and Criminal Financial Obligations completed 155 financial records requests. The File Counter staff assisted 17 veterans with court case issues, and 55 veterans were assisted with Restorations of Rights applications. In total, 1,658 veterans were assisted at the overall event in accessing services and resources that included health care, housing, counseling, legal aid, clothing, haircuts, dental, and vision.
Marriage license and passport Saturday dates
For a fourth year, the Office will offer Saturday service hours during the busy Spring Break season for customers to purchase a marriage license or process a passport application. This popular service will be offered in March and April at the Customer Service Center, 601 W. Jackson St. in downtown Phoenix and at the Northeast facility, located at 18380 N. 40th St. in Phoenix. Dates and times are being determined and will be announced on the Office’s website and via social media in the near future. The extended hours are offered to accommodate customers who may have difficulty obtaining these services during the normal Monday - Friday business week.
Did you know?
The Office has a Case History Index available on its website that provides statistical and historical information about court cases the Office has handled since 1871. The Index is available on the website under “Cases / Case Statistics.
The Brief
If you missed an issue of The Brief, past issues are posted on the Clerk’s website at http://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/atty_news.asp.
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