judicial productivity
credits
HB 2144 generally increases the number of court filings to be used in the computation of judicial productivity credits for purposes of determining compensation for justices of the peace.
Each county board of supervisors divides its county into justice precincts, within which justices of the peace are elected to a four-year term of office. Justices of the peace have jurisdiction for civil actions when the amount in controversy is $10,000 or less. For criminal actions, justices of the peace have jurisdiction for misdemeanors and other crimes when the maximum possible fine is less than $2,500 (not including surcharges) or the maximum possible jail time is less than six months. Justices of the peace have jurisdiction for felonies for the limited purpose of commencing action and conducting preliminary hearings.
Justices of the peace are compensated on the basis of total judicial productivity credits (JPCs) of each court as reported in statistics compiled by the Arizona Supreme Court according to a statutory formula. The formula is based on:
Ø Total civil filings, excluding small claims filings heard by a volunteer hearing officer.
Ø Total felony complaint filings.
Ø Total misdemeanor filings.
Ø Total filings for violations of certain misdemeanor and civil traffic regulations.
Ø Total of all other traffic filings (this provision is given less weight than the total filings for violations of certain misdemeanor and civil traffic regulations).