JAGC tour of superior and municipal courts, May 8, 2014.

JAGC tour of superior and municipal courts, May 8, 2014.

This morning, I am pleased to share a news story that was sent my way by attorney Debbie Weecks. It involves a visit by members of a Judge Advocate General Corps to a civilian court.

If you have law-related news you’d like to share, send it to me at arizona.attorney@azbar.org.

Here’s Debbie:

Our Luke AFB’s JAGC Corps broke with its quarterly Friday classroom from its own court setting and tradition this week. The JAGC instead enjoyed a local field day morning with a tour of the courts on Thursday, May 8. The group kicked off at Surprise Municipal Court at 7:45 a.m., where the Honorable Presiding Judge Louis Frank Dominguez gave a formidable overview of the municipal court system. Judicial Administrative Supervisor Lynn Mikus assisted in creating an instructional handout.

Next, the JAGC was greeted at Superior Court by the Honorable Presiding Judge Eilleen Willett for an overview of operations and court departments. Judge Willett was kind enough to lend her clerk out for the balance of the tour, so the members enjoyed the company and some insights courtesy of clerk John Charles Laws (a 3L at Summit Law). Thanks go out to all four NW Superior Court judges for spending time greeting and on Q&A (Judge Willett, and also Judge Jose Padilla, Judge Michael Kemp, and Commissioner Jacki Ireland), and to all their staff who pre-arranged and facilitated the tour.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office graciously provided its escort, which gave the JAGC the opportunity during a snack break between courtrooms to learn about courtroom and courthouse security from Deputy Tony Jacobs. (A thanks is due to the Surprise location Paradise Bakery’s manager Cheryl for the cookies!)

The Self Service Center is an important service member resource when pro per, so the brief instructional by SSC clerks Marta and David was very useful!

Farther down the hallway, the JAGC was greeted by a prior JAGC officer, now Justice of the Peace, Gerald Williams. The four hour-plus tour ended with the JAGC members observing brief proceedings and interacting with North Valley J.P. Judge Williams and Hassayampa J.P. Judge Chris Mueller. With Judge Williams’ background prior to civilian life, the JAGC members were provided a comparative analysis of how certain matters are treated in the two court systems, including prepared handouts and thorough explanations on some more subtle criminal charge matters. Judge Mueller invited everyone to observe an interpreter in-custody plea bargain.

Overall, a great day for all involved!