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SB 1283

appeals court; division two; elimination

57th Legislature - Second Regular Session Introduced by Mark Finchem

SB 1283 would eliminate Arizona's southern regional appeals court (Division Two), redistributing its cases statewide and potentially impacting legal access for rural and urban Pima County residents.

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Bill Summary · SB 1283

Legislative bill overview

SB 1283 proposes to eliminate the Arizona Court of Appeals Division Two, which currently handles appeals from southern Arizona counties including Pima, Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, and Santa Cruz. The bill would redistribute Division Two's caseload to the remaining divisions of the Arizona Court of Appeals or potentially to other courts in the system.

Why is this important

This directly affects access to justice for residents in southern Arizona by potentially altering appeal timelines and increasing travel distances for litigants and attorneys seeking appellate review. The change would reshape judicial administration and could have budgetary implications for the court system and practicing attorneys in the affected region.

Potential points of contention

  • Geographic access concerns: Eliminating the division serving southern Arizona could require attorneys and parties to travel to Phoenix or elsewhere for appellate proceedings, creating practical and financial burdens
  • Caseload redistribution: Moving Division Two cases to other divisions without proportional judicial resources could overwhelm remaining courts and slow appeal processing statewide
  • Economic impact on legal profession: Southern Arizona law firms may face increased costs and reduced competitiveness; smaller courts might lose judicial expertise and local legal economy disruption

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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