Located in the Northeastern part of Arizona, Apache County was founded in 1879 and named after the Apache people. Its land area of 11,218 square miles makes it the largest county by land area in the State and the sixth largest in the US. The county seat is St. Johns, and as of the 2020 census, it has a population of 66,021.

Courts in Apache County

The court system in Apache County comprises superior, Justice, and municipal courts. The highest court in Apache County, with general jurisdiction over most civil and criminal cases, is the Apache County Superior Court. It has jurisdiction over civil cases with more than $10,000 in claims, probate, felony, and family law cases. It also handles cases involving the legality of municipal ordinances and lawsuits against the State and its employees.

There are Justice courts in Apache County. They include Northstar Justice Court (merging Puerco (Sanders) and Chinle Justice Courts), Round Valley Justice Court, and St. Johns Justice Court. They have original jurisdiction over civil cases with under $10,000 claims and criminal offenses punishable with less than $2,500 fines or less than six months in jail. They also hear warrant applications, domestic violence, and felony preliminary hearings.

Lastly, there are three municipal courts in Apache County. They hear municipal violations and traffic offenses. The municipal courts are in Eagar, Springerville, and St. Johns.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Apache County

Apache  County public court records are documentations of court filings, legal proceedings, court transcripts, and decisions of courts in the county. The Clerk of the Superior Court maintains all records generated by the Superior and Justice courts, while municipal court clerks maintain their records. Members of the public can visit the Clerk of the Superior Court office to search for public court records and may request copies at a fee. They must complete and submit the Request for Access to Court Records to request public court records. Municipal court clerks also provide access to public court records at their offices. Alternatively, anyone can search for Apache public court records online via the Arizona Judicial Branch Public Access to Court Information portal.

Types of Public Court Records in Apache County

The following types of court records are available to the public in Apache County unless sealed by court orders:

• Probate Court Records: documentation for estates, trusts, wills, codicils, and guardianships
• Criminal Court Records: court proceedings and judgments for misdemeanors and felonies
• Family Court Records: includes annulments, divorce decrees, custody, and emancipation
• Civil Court Records: includes court proceedings and judgments for libel, slander, trade secrets, personal injury, and professional malpractice cases

Confidential Court Records in Apache County

Confidential court records in Apache County are court documents sealed by law or court orders for privacy and personal security reasons. These records may only be accessed by authorized persons and can be unsealed by specific court orders. The following court records are usually confidential in Apache:

• Mental health records
• Adoption records
• Juvenile records
• Substance abuse treatment records
• Identifying information about jurors
• Certain records of domestic and sexual violence
• Misdemeanor and traffic convictions after 3 years
• Felony conviction after 10 years

Court records containing the following may have part of the records sealed:

• Driver’s license number
• Social Security number
• Individual financial information

Juvenile Delinquency in Apache, AZ

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Apache County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Arizona often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 84 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Apache County. Of that total, 87% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 73 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Apache County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Apache County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Apache County, AZ

https://az.gov/

County Seat:	Saint Johns
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1879
Total Square Miles:	11,218
2019 Population:	71,606
Persons/Square Mile:	0.16
County Contact:	75 West Cleveland Street County Annex Saint Johns , AZ 85936-0428 http://www.co.apache.az.us

Apache County, AZ Courts