CRIMINAL CASES AT THE GILBERT MUNICIPAL COURT (GILBERT CITY COURT)

If you’ve been charged with misdemeanor or DUI in Gilbert, by the Gilbert Police Department, your case will likely be at the Gilbert Municipal Court (Gilbert City Court). The courthouse is near the major crossroads of Gilbert and Warner. It’s on Civic Center Drive in Gilbert’s Municipal Buildings Complex.

Gilbert Municipal Court Location

Gilbert Municipal Court
55 E Civic Center Dr. #101
Gilbert, AZ 85296

Contact Gilbert Municipal Court

Phone: 480-635-7800
Fax: 480-635-7820
Civil Traffic: 480-635-7815
Español: 480-635-8840
Hearing Impaired: gilbertmunicipalcourt@gilbertaz.gov

Gilbert Municipal Court Hours of Operation

Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM except for holidays.

Gilbert Municipal Court Parking.

There’s plenty of free parking at Gilbert City Court with a large parking lot out front. There’s never trouble finding parking. There’s also handicap parking close to the court’s entrance. Unfortunately, there’s no covered parking.

Who are the Gilbert Municipal Criminal Court Judges?

Below is a list of the Judges you may appear before at the Gilbert Municipal Court.

• Presiding Judge James Scorza
• Judge Nicole Laurin
• Judge James Dunham
• Judge David Cutchen
• *Justice of the Peace* Steve Urie (Highland Justice Court)

Tobin Law Office Offers Experienced Criminal Defense at the Gilbert City Court.

Located at 1910 S. Stapley Drive in Mesa, Arizona, Tobin Law Office is only a few miles north of the Gilbert Municipal Court. Being so close, we consider Gilbert City Court to be our home court. We regularly handle misdemeanor and DUI offenses at the Gilbert Municipal Court.

Tobin Law Office is familiar with Gilbert Prosecutors, Gilbert Judges, Gilbert Police, and Gilbert agencies. In addition, Attorney Timothy Tobin is the former prosecutor of Gilbert’s Highland Justice Court in the Gilbert Courthouse. As a deputy county attorney, Mr. Tobin regularly prosecuted Gilbert Police Department cases. For those reasons, Tobin Law Office is experienced in the procedures and nuances of the Gilbert Municipal Court.

When charged with a misdemeanor or DUI in Gilbert, Arizona, you’re either cited and released on scene, or booked and processed at one of the Gilbert Police Department stations:

• Main Precinct: 75 E. Civic Center Drive, Gilbert, AZ 85296
• Santan Substation: 4760 S Greenfield Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85297

Look at Your Police Paperwork For Your First Court Date at the Gilbert Municipal Court.

Gilbert police should’ve provided you with either a complaint, citation, or release paper that lists your first court date at the Gilbert City Court. Your first court appearance is called the Arraignment (Initial Appearance).

What to Do When You Get to the Gilbert Municipal Court for Your First Court Date.

Once parked out front, walk to the front entrance of the Gilbert courthouse. Once inside, you’ll need to go through security and metal detectors. Do not bring illegal items to Court as you’ll face criminal prosecution. Once through security walk straight to the staircase, which is about 50 feet ahead. At the bottom of the staircase, look to your right and look for your name on the large monitors. You should make sure that the courtroom number on your paper matches the courtroom number on the monitor. Next, go upstairs to your courtroom. Each courtroom has a large identifying number outside the door. Enter your courtroom and look for a sign in sheet. It’s important that you sign in to ensure that your case is heard promptly. When waiting for your case to be called, remember to be quiet and respectful. When the Judge or clerk calls your name, step forward to address the Judge.

What to Wear and Bring to the Gilbert City Court.

While formal wear isn’t required, you should dress appropriately. Avoid wearing sunglasses, hats, sandals, or anything considered provocative. Avoid items with obscene or offensive language or images. Business casual is appropriate for court. You never want to make a poor impression on either the judge or prosecutor by dressing inappropriate or disrespectful.

Avoid bringing gum, candy, food, or drinks, unless for medical purposes. Your cell phone or electronic devices should be put away and in silent mode. Avoid using electronic devices in the courtroom. Children are allowed in the courthouse, but their presence in the courtrooms during court proceedings may be disallowed by the Judge, depending on whether the child is able to remain quiet in the courtroom. While the court doesn’t provide childcare, there’s an unsupervised play area in the courthouse for young children whose parents are with them.

First Court Date: Arraignment (Initial Appearance) at the Gilbert Municipal Court.

Unless you’ve hired a criminal defense attorney to go in your place, you must report to the Gilbert City Court as directed on your paperwork. It’s imperative that you show up to Court on time. If you fail to appear, or even show up late, you risk additional charges, suspension of your driver’s license, and a warrant for your arrest. If you fail to appear for your arraignment date or any other hearing date, the case can go to trial, and you may be convicted in your absence.

At your arraignment, the Judge will explain your rights, read the charges, advise you of potential penalties, and ask how you would like to plead. This is not the time to explain the situation or try to get your case dismissed. In fact, the Judge cannot take testimony, and anything you say will be used against you. Only the prosecutor can make a deal or dismiss charges. Your opportunity to speak with the prosecutor won’t happen until the next court date. It’s very important that you plead not guilty at arraignment. You have several rights and defenses that can be raised, and they are only preserved by entering a not guilty plea. Even if you know you are guilty, the arraignment is not the time to take responsibility. Once you plead guilty, you give up the opportunity to negotiate your case with the prosecutor. You also cannot change your mind later. For those reasons, you should always enter a not guilty plea and consult a criminal defense attorney with experience in the Gilbert Municipal Court.

The Judge will also address release conditions at arraignment. Your release conditions will depend on the facts of your case, your criminal record, and any other information provided to the Court: you can be released on your own recognizance, released with supervision, or ordered to post a bond.

Tobin Law Office can help ease the stress of your initial appearance at Gilbert Municipal Court. We can often file paperwork so you won’t have to appear in Court. In addition, we can appear at future hearings, in your place, so you don’t have to take time from work or family.

The Hearings after Arraignment: Pre Trial Conferences.

The next court date is the pre-trial conference. This is when you or your attorney will meet with the prosecutor to exchange evidence and discuss plea negotiations. Gilbert criminal cases often have several pre-trial conferences to investigate evidence, resolve legal issues, and negotiate the case. Witnesses do not attend the pre-trial conferences and no testimony is taken.

Trial: If your case cannot be resolved by dismissal or plea agreement during the pre-trial conferences, your case will be set for trial.

Potential penalties in the Gilbert Municipal Court. The Gilbert Municipal Court handles misdemeanors. In Arizona, a misdemeanor carries up to 6 months in the county jail, fines and fees, years of probation, and much more. A misdemeanor conviction also leaves you with a criminal record that’s accessible by agencies and employers.

The maximum jail for misdemeanors is listed in Arizona Revised Statutes: A.R.S. § 13-707.

• Class 1 Misdemeanor: 6 months in jail.
• Class 2 Misdemeanor: 4 months in jail.
• Class 3 Misdemeanor: 30 days in jail.

The maximum fines for misdemeanors are in Arizona Revised Statutes: A.R.S. § 13-802. The total fines and costs can exceed $10,000 adding in surcharges, fees, assessments, and costs.

• Class 1 Misdemeanor: $2,500, plus surcharges, fees, assessments, and costs
• Class 2 Misdemeanor: $750, plus surcharges, fees, assessments, and costs
• Class 3 Misdemeanor: $500, plus surcharges, fees, assessments, and costs

Other Penalties. Years of probation, loss of legal rights, loss of driving privileges, programs, classes, treatment, community service, restitution, and more.

DUI Penalties. DUI penalties are lengthy and complex; as such, please review my blog on Arizona DUI penalties: Arizona’s Misdemeanor DUI penalties.

Check on the Status of Your Case Online.

You can check the status of a Gilbert Criminal Case online: Gilbert Case Search.

Why You Should Hire an Experienced Gilbert Defense Attorney in Your Gilbert Municipal Court Case?

When facing a misdemeanor or DUI at the Gilbert City Court, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney to protect your legal rights and future. Preferably, that attorney should regularly practice at the Gilbert City Court. An experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense attorney is in the best position to dismiss or reduce charges, limit penalties, and protect your future.

Tobin Law Office offers criminal defense services for all misdemeanor charges in the Gilbert Municipal Court. The following is a list of the most common types of misdemeanor cases we handle there:

• DUI
• Criminal Traffic, including Speeding, Reckless Driving, Aggressive Driving, and Driving on a Suspended License
• Drug Paraphernalia
• Contempt of Court
• Minor in Possession or Minor in Consumption
• Underage drinking
• Property Offenses: Trespassing, Theft, Shoplifting, Property Damage
• Disorderly Conduct
• Assault
• Domestic Violence
• Expungement (Set Aside of Convictions)
• Probation Violations
• Municipal Code Violations
• Commercial Vehicle Violations

How to make payments on your Gilbert Municipal Court Case.

You can pay online at Gilbert Court’s Online Payment Terminal. You can also pay in person at the courthouse. Because there’s a high volume of people visiting the court, you usually need to take a ticket and wait your turn. You can pay with cash, money order, check, or credit card. There’s an ATM machine on the first floor of the courthouse near the staircase.

How to Pay a Bond at the Gilbert Municipal Court.

You can pay a bond in person at the Gilbert Municipal Court windows. They are just past security to the right. You must make payment by cash or money order. They will not accept other forms of payment. The only other option to seek the services of a bail bond company.

What if You Have an Outstanding Warrant in the Gilbert Municipal Court?

If you have an active warrant out of the Gilbert Municipal Court and have any police contact in Arizona, you’ll likely be arrested. In addition, an outstanding warrant can be reported to MVD leading to the suspension of your driver’s license. Tobin Law Office recommends that you hire an attorney to deal with the warrant and underlying charges. Tobin Law Office can help with outstanding warrants by appearing on your behalf and asking the Court to quash the warrant. This avoids arrest, posting bond money, and a license suspension.

Here are Some Gilbert City Court Resources and Forms.

Gilbert Court Community Service Instructions
Gilbert Court Community Service Reporting Form
Court Records Request
Extension Request
Motion
Application to Set Aside Judgment and Order
Plaintiff’s Guide Sheet for Protective Orders
Petition for Protective Orders
Request for Hearing

Contact Tobin Law Office for a Free and Confidential Consultation About Your Gilbert Municipal Court Case.