On Thursday morning, the Arizona Superior Court for Maricopa County made an announcement that many lawyers will be happy to see. It explains that a new, speedier way to enter the courthouse is now available for attorneys.

Here is the complete release:

Judicial Branch of Arizona

Office of Media Relations

Old Courthouse

125 W. Washington

Phoenix, Arizona 85003-2205

602.506.7570

www.twitter.com/courtpio

“Equal Justice Under Law”

Contact:           Karen Arra, Media Relations Director, 602.506.7570

New Express Attorney Entrance

Attorneys will now have shorter lines and wait times to get into Superior Court if they use the new express attorney entrance located in the East Court Building.

Any attorney presenting his/her bar card can use the attorney line located on the east side of 1st Avenue. The other court entrances will still remain open to both attorneys and the public. 

Superior Court Presiding Judge Norman Davis said, “We are continually exploring ways to reduce the time court users are required to wait to clear security screening each day.  Since September 19, 2011 we have experimented with an attorney entrance at the east entrance of theEastCourtBuilding.  The results are favorable enough that we have decided to keep this entrance in place to expedite the attorneys entrance into the court complex at least until the Criminal Tower is opened next February.”

Courthouse security continues to be a growing concern for Superior Court. Last year, the Superior Court screened 3.7 million court visitors and confiscated more than 34,000 weapons and 60,000 prohibited items in 53 court and probation buildings across the county.

Although the number of people screened over the past five years has remained constant, the court has witnessed an increase in weapons, prohibited items and threats against judges and court staff.

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