House of
Representatives
SB 1167
criminal case information; disclosure
Sponsors: Senator Gray C, Senator Johnson
SB 1167 prescribes requirements for counties regarding the electronic publication of criminal case minute entries.
History
A.R.S. § 12-283 outlines the responsibilities of the clerk of the Superior Court. These responsibilities include administrative duties, record keeping, maintaining court records and various other duties.
Minute entries are written and kept by the Superior Court for all criminal cases. Rule 125, Rules of the Supreme Court defines a minute entry as the memorialization, electronic or otherwise, either by form or narrative of events occurring during a court proceeding. In addition to the date and starting/ending times of a proceeding and the identity of the court reporter, alternative recording method and operator, or the absence thereof, a minute entry includes all official acts occurring during the proceeding, which may consist of the following:
- Nature of the hearing.
- Appearances of counsel and parties.
- Identification and admission of exhibits.
- Administration of oaths and to whom administered; names of witnesses who are called to testify.
- Parties’ motions.
- Finding of fact and conclusions of law by the court as required by law or rule.
- Court rulings, orders, decisions and notices to the parties made in the course of the proceeding.
- Verdicts and/or
- Any other matter directed by the court.
According to the Arizona Association of Counties, Maricopa County is the only county currently providing minute entries online. Minute entries for Maricopa County cases are searchable online by the case name or number. Docket information for the other 14 counties may be found online through the Supreme Court website (and for Pima County, directly through the county's website), but that information does not include minute entries or other actual documents.
Provisions
· Requires the clerk of the Maricopa County Superior Court to compile and publish electronically all superior court criminal case minute entries from and after December 31, 2007. Requires at a minimum the minute entry information be arranged or searchable by:
- Case name
- Case number
- The name of the judge or commissioner.
· Requires the clerk of the superior court in all other counties to compile and publish electronically all superior court criminal case minute entries by January 1, 2010. Requires at a minimum the minute entry information be arranged or searchable by:
- Case name
- Case number
- The name of the judge or commissioner.
· Makes technical changes.
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· Forty-eighth Legislature
· First Regular Session 2 May 2, 2007
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