The Brief - May 2014

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The Brief

Vol. 10, No. 5                                                                                                    May 2014

Lengthy Trial Fee Returns May 19

The $15 lengthy trial fee authorized by Arizona Revised Statute 12-115 was repealed under the terms of the statute on December 31, 2013. The legislature voted to reestablish the fee this session. Although the bill passed with an emergency clause, making it effective upon the governor’s signature, the Supreme Court established an implementation date of May 19, 2014. The date-specific implementation was to provide time to update case management systems and notify the legal community and the public in advance of the return of the fee. The Lengthy Trial Fund allows jurors to receive a portion of their lost pay when sitting on trials that go beyond five days. Through the Arizona Code of Judicial Administration, the Supreme Court directs which filings are assessed the fee. For a list of fees effective on and after Monday, May 19, 2014, see the Clerk’s website at http://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/fees.asp. Remember that filing fees vary throughout the state based on each county’s statutory ability to assess local fees.

Announcing 37-CLERK – The New Phone Number for the Clerk’s Office

The Clerk’s Office is moving to a new, all-purpose telephone number for the public. Effective May 19, 2014, all calls to the Clerk’s Office will start by dialing (602) 37-CLERK (602-372-5375).

The Clerk’s Office will launch an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to allow the public to reach most areas of the office by dialing one number. Callers will select from menu choices for the various areas of the office, and most will reach their destination within three button presses. Many telephone numbers previously listed for public use will be disconnected. For a brief period during the introduction of the IVR system, disconnected numbers will provide a voice message referring customers to the new (602) 37-CLERK telephone number. 

The primary benefits of the IVR system include a customer’s ability to reach a preferred area of the Clerk’s Office through one easy-to-remember number while reducing the number of misdirected calls and transfers between departments or agencies.

Callers will be able to reach the following business units in the Clerk’s Office by calling the 37-CLERK main telephone number (602-372-5375):

·         Accounting (bonds, trust funds)

·         eFiling (document review clerks)

·         Billing (deferred fees, jury fees, tax intercept)

·         Appeals

·         Exhibits

·         Family Support Services

·         Distribution (address changes and mailings)

·         Administrative Receptionist

·         File Counters (adult)

·         File Counters (juvenile)

·         Criminal Financial Obligations (restitution, victim address updates)

·         Grand Jury

·         Marriage Licenses & Passports

·         Public Records

Starting Monday, May 19, 2014, dial (602) 37-CLERK (602-372-5375) for all calls to the Clerk’s Office.

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