Judge Christopher Coury
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Exhibits
- 1 copy • Chambers Drop Off • Within 24 Hours
Communication
Chambers
Page & Word Limits3 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Each party may file only one summary judgment motion unless the court grants prior leave for good cause.
Each party shall be limited to one Motion for Summary Judgment, absent prior leave of Court for good cause shown.
Motion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Motions in limine and responses are each limited to four pages, and replies are not permitted.
Motions in Limine are to be no more than four pages in length and responses are no more than four pages in length. There are no replies.
Motion
4 pages
Opposition
4 pages
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
Page limits may be exceeded only with leave of court.
Page limits should not be exceeded with leave of court.
Document Format Requirements4 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
A Statement of Discovery Dispute must use 13-point Times New Roman and should include a certification of compliance with Rule 37's meet-and-confer requirement.
The Statement of Discovery Dispute must be in Times New Roman 13 point font. You should attach a certification of compliance with the "meet and confer" requirement of Rule 37, Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
Avoid duplicate and unnecessary exhibits, bring disputed exhibits to the pretrial management conference, consider admitting only operative portions of large documents, and Bates-number every page when more than 20 pages of documents will be admitted.
Please try to remove all duplicate exhibits. Stipulated exhibits are generally admitted at the pre-trial management conference. If there are major issues about an exhibit, please be prepared to address them at the pre-trial management conference. Please have a copy of the exhibit in question for the Court. With large documents, please consider only having the operative language admitted. If there is a 100 page contract with only one sentence in dispute, there generally is no need to admit the entire document. Please seriously consider what documents are necessary for your case. The court does not look favorably on having dozens of exhibits presented "just in case" they are necessary. If more than 20 pages of documents are to be admitted, all pages must be Bates numbered.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Note
Most pretrial matters will be held virtually through Court Connect.
Most pretrial matters will be conducted virtually, through the Court Connect platform.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Note?
The Court appreciates elctronic copies of exhibits (.pdf preferred), if there are critical exhibits in the case.
Summary: The court appreciates electronic copies of critical exhibits and prefers PDF format.
Document Filing Requirements11 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
A motion must cite its authorizing rule or statute within its first two pages, and the court may deny a motion that does not.
The rule or statute authorizing supporting a motion shall be cited in the first two pages of a motion (i.e. "Plaintiff seeks summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56, Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure", or "Defendant seeks dismissal for failure to state a claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure"). The Court reserves the right to deny motions for failure to cite the applicable rule authorizing the motion.
Document Type
Motion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Parties and counsel must comply with the Trial Setting Minute Entry, including its exhibit-submission and court-reporter deadlines and requirements.
Parties and counsel are expected to read the Trial Setting Minute Entry and comply with all specifics set forth in that Minute Entry, including but not limited to deadlines for submitting exhibits, and for requesting and paying for a court reporter.
Document Type
Trial Setting Minute Entry
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Litigants must submit a joint Pretrial Statement before trial or an evidentiary hearing.
All litigants are expected to submit JOINT Pretrial Statements before the trial/evidentiary hearing. This is required by the Rules and in my orders setting the case for the trial/evidentiary hearing.
Document Type
Joint Pretrial Statement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Filings must be self-contained and may not incorporate separate filings by reference; incorporated material will be disregarded.
Incorporation by reference is not allowed, and the incorporated document will be disregarded. Thompson Thrift Development v. Albertson, 2023 WL 7001798, ¶¶ 12-17 (App. 2023), All filings shall be fully self-contained and shall not “incorporate by reference” other separate filings for review and consideration as part of the pending filing.
Requirement
Document requirement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Supplemental briefing may not be filed without leave of court.
No party should file supplemental briefing without leave of Court.
Document Type
Supplemental Briefing
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
The Joint Pretrial Statement should identify agreed and disputed issues and cite helpful rules, statutes, or cases.
In the Joint Pretrial Statement: 1. Please identify all issues upon which agreements have been reached, and also identify what issues need to be decided. 2. If there is a rule, statute or case law that will help me make my decision, cite it in the Joint Pretrial Statement.
Document Type
Joint Pretrial Statement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
Citations must appear in the body of a brief, not in footnotes.
All citations shall be included in the body of the brief and not in footnotes.
Document Type
Brief
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
Filers using AI are expected to verify citations and authorities, confirm factual support, request verifiable citations, and recognize that AI cannot provide legal advice.
To reduce errors (and minimize the risk of sanctions), the Court expects filers utilizing AI to: A. Independently and carefully verify every citation and legal authority using official or reliable legal sources. Again, the party using AI is responsible for false citations. B. Confirm all facts are true and supported by evidence in the record. C. Tell the AI tool to provide only real and verifiable citations with links to the cases when possible. D. Remember: AI tools are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice.
Requirement
Document requirement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
A Statement of Discovery Dispute should include a certification of compliance with Rule 37's meet-and-confer requirement.
The Statement of Discovery Dispute must be in Times New Roman 13 point font. You should attach a certification of compliance with the "meet and confer" requirement of Rule 37, Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure.
Document Type
Statement Of Discovery Dispute
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
Self-represented litigants are expected to comply with all court rules.
All attorneys and litigants will be treated the same. Self-represented litigants are expected to comply with all court rules.
Requirement
Document requirement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
A burdensomeness objection should show what the objecting party offered to produce if the other party assumes the burden; a protective order may support an objection based on privilege or sensitivity.
When you are objecting to a discovery request because it is too burdensome, you should couple that objection with a showing what you have offered to produce if the other party assumes the burden. If the objection is based on privilege or the information is too sensitive, you may also be more persuasive if you submit a protective order with your objection.
Document Type
Discovery Objection
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
If good-faith discussion does not resolve the dispute or the opposing party will not respond, submit a Rule 26(d)(2) joint statement by email without exhibits; the court may request additional documents.
If you cannot resolve your differences or if you repeatedly tried to have a conversation with the opposing party and they will not respond, you are to prepare a joint statement of discovery or disclosure dispute as set forth in Rule 26(d)(2), Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure and email it to my division at cvj23@jbazmc.maricopa.gov. No exhibits shall be included with the summaries. If, after reviewing a summary, the Court determines that it needs additional documents, division staff will contact the attorneys.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Discovery or Disclosure Disputes and/or Sanctions
Motions or filings made fewer than 10 days before a hearing must be emailed to the division in MS Word format.
ALL MOTIONS OR FILINGS MADE LESS THAN 10 DAYS BEFORE A HEARING MUST BE EMAILED, IN MS WORD FORMAT TO cvj23@jbazmc.maricopa.gov.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Lodge other proposed orders 72 hours before the hearing and email them in MS Word format if possible; PDF orders are also accepted.
If are lodging any other proposed orders, please do so 72 hours before the hearing. Please email it, in MS Word format, if possible, to cvj23@jbazmc.maricopa.gov. We can also receive .pdf formatted orders.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Trial Practice and Procedure
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Deposition transcript designations and objections are due on the Joint Pretrial Statement deadline.
Deposition transcripts designations and objections are due on the same date as the Joint Pretrial Statement.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Joint Pre-Trial Memo and/or Conference; Exhibits and Objections
Discovery or nondisclosure objections are waived if not asserted by the Joint Pretrial Statement deadline, except for disclosures first made afterward.
Any discovery or non-disclosure objection that is not asserted by the Joint Pretrial Statement deadline shall be deemed waived (except for disclosures occurring for the first time after the Joint Pretrial Statement deadline).
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Notify the division 72 hours in advance of any witness appearing virtually at trial; the calling party bears the risk of technical difficulties, which will not delay or extend the trial.
You must advise my division 72 hours in advance if any witness will be appearing virtually during a trial. Witnesses appearing virtually are at the risk of the party calling the witness. If the witness has technological difficulties, the trial will not be delayed or time expanded.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Trial Practice and Procedure
Expert-exclusion, Daubert, and Evidence Rule 702 motions must be filed by the dispositive-motion deadline.
Motions to exclude experts / for a Daubert hearing or brought under Evidence Rule 702, shall be filed no later than the dispositive motion deadline.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Each party must provide a binder with hard copies of all disclosure statements at least 14 days before jury selection, except that only the final statement is acceptable if it incorporates all prior statements.
Each party shall provide a binder containing a hard copy of all disclosure statements no less than 14 days before jury selection commences. If a party adopts a practice where the final disclosure statement incorporates all prior disclosure statements, production only the final disclosure will be acceptable.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Joint Pre-Trial Memo and/or Conference; Exhibits and Objections
Motions requiring an evidentiary hearing should be filed sooner rather than later.
If you have a motion that necessitates an evidentiary hearing, please file those motions sooner rather than later.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Email proposed forms of hearing orders to the division by 72 hours before the hearing or within four hours of filing the request for the order, whichever comes first.
Forms of Orders for hearings (such as a Temporary Restraining Order or Preliminary Injunction) should be emailed to my division (cvj23@jbazmc.maricopa.gov) no later than 72 hours before a hearing (or 4 hours of filing the document requesting the order, whichever comes first).
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Trial Practice and Procedure
Observe the time limit stated in the hearing-setting minute entry; request additional time by motion well in advance, though additional time is not assured.
The time for oral argument/presentation of evidence will be limited and stated in the minute entry setting the hearing. Keep to that time limit. If you "need" more time, ask for it by motion, way in advance of the hearing. My inclination is to not give more, but it could happen.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Trial Practice and Procedure
Service and Proof of Service Rules
For virtual trials, provide exhibits to the court and opposing parties so everyone can access the exhibits to be used.
If your trial is a virtual trial, please make sure that you have provided exhibits to the Court and to the other side. The Rules require everyone to have access to the exhibits you plan to use.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Trial Practice and Procedure
Copy all opposing attorneys or self-represented parties on the email; if the division does not respond within two business days, you may call to request a hearing.
All opposing attorneys (or, if self represented, parties) must be copied on the email. If you do not hear from my division within 2 business days, you may call my division at 602-372-3876 to request a hearing.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Discovery or Disclosure Disputes and/or Sanctions
Courtesy Copy Requirements
The division appreciates one hard copy of motion exhibits within 24 hours after filing and one copy of any court submission exceeding 30 pages including exhibits.
It would be greatly appreciated if you provide one hard copy of all exhibits to motions to my division no later than 24 hours after the motion, response or reply is filed. Likewise, for any court submission exceeding 30 pages in the aggregate (including exhibits), it is appreciated if you kindly provide one copy to my division.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Filing Bundling Requirements
File each motion separately, keep each motion to one discrete subject, do not combine motions with responses or replies, and identify the motion's identical title in any response or reply; cross-motions are strongly discouraged.
No party should include more than one motion in a single filing or combine a response and a motion or a reply and a motion in one filing. This applies to requests for attorneys' fees or sanctions. Such requests should be made by separate motion. Each motion, including dispositive motions, must deal with one discrete subject. Cross-motions are strongly discouraged. DO NOT combine a dispositive motion with ANY other motion and DO NOT respond or reply to more than one motion in each response or reply. Please label responses and replies to motions by identifying the IDENTICAL TITLE of the motion being responded to: e.g. “Defendant’s Response to Plaintiff’s Motion Summary Judgment Re: Vulnerable Adult Abuse claim.” Because of electronic filing, we can track the single filing only as a response, as a reply or as a new motion. Again, do not combine a response or a reply to one motion with a new motion for affirmative relief (i.e. a cross-motion), even if on a related topic; they should be filed separately from responses and replies.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Staff will email parties to schedule a telephonic discovery conference, generally within one week; written filings may be directed for complex disputes, and motions to compel or for discovery sanctions require authorization.
Someone from my team (my judicial assistant or courtroom assistant) will email the parties/attorneys to schedule a telephonic conference on the discovery dispute. These generally will be held within 1 week. If the issue is truly too complicated to resolve over the phone, I will direct you to file something in writing. Unless authorized, no motions to compel or motions for discovery sanctions shall be filed.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Discovery or Disclosure Disputes and/or Sanctions
Motions in limine require leave in bench trials, are limited to five per party absent leave for good cause, and should be reserved for extremely prejudicial matters that could cause a mistrial rather than routine evidentiary issues or enforcement of a rule of evidence.
Motions in Limine should not be filed in bench trials without leave of Court. Absent leave of Court for good cause shown, each party may file no more than five Motions in Limine. Motions in Limine should address only matters that are extremely prejudicial and could result in a mistrial. Motions in Limine should not be filed on routine evidentiary matters. Motions in Limine asking the Court to enforce a particular rule of evidence should not be filed.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Rule 26(d)'s discovery-dispute procedures apply to discovery disputes, requests to compel action, and intended sanctions requests; the expedited procedures apply unless full briefing is allowed.
This division applies Rule 26(d), Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure to resolve discovery disputes in all of the following circumstances: (1) the parties have a discovery dispute that needs to be addressed; (2) one party seeks to compel another party to take some action; or (3) a party intends to seek sanctions against another party. Unless full briefing is allowed, the expedited procedures in Rule 26(d) of the Rules of CIVIL Procedure apply to all discovery disputes.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Discovery or Disclosure Disputes and/or Sanctions
Before submitting a discovery dispute, parties are expected to confer in good faith through an actual conversation, not merely exchange voicemails or emails.
Before submitting a discovery dispute, you are expected to meet and confer with the opposing party and to try to resolve your dispute in good faith. "Meet and confer" will require an actual conversation with the opposing party and not just an exchange of voice mails and emails.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Discovery or Disclosure Disputes and/or Sanctions
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Parties must arrange with the court team to learn the technology; continuances due to technology failure cannot be granted, and the party using the technology bears the risk of malfunction.
If you are going to be calling a witness or appearing virtually, the responsibility for making arrangements with my team to know how to work the technology is on the parties. Given the caseloads in our court system, continuances resulting from non-working technology cannot be granted, and the party attempting to use the technology assumes the risk of the non-functioning technology.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Trial Schedule
If the court has ordered that no further continuances will be granted, parties should be prepared to set and proceed to trial absent extraordinary circumstances.
Throughout your case, if the Court has previously ordered that no further continuances will be granted, the parties should be prepared to set and proceed to trial absent extraordinary circumstances.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Other Pre-trial Practice Guidelines or Comments
Chambers Communication Rules
The judge does not email parties or attorneys, but staff may email them for scheduling, electronic submission formats, expedited document review, urgent situations, or minute entries.
I do not communicate by email with parties or attorneys. My staff may communicate with parties (if self-represented) or with attorneys and their staff by email for scheduling purposes or if an electronic format of a submission is needed, to expedite review of certain documents, or in urgent situations or to send minute entries.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Specific Requirements or Preferences
Notify the court when the parties agree to extend a response or reply deadline.
If you have agreed to extend deadlines for filing a response or reply, please notify the court so that the court does not rule on the motion thinking that no response or reply will be filed.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Other Courtroom Policies and Recommendations
Respond promptly to staff scheduling emails, even if only to acknowledge them and estimate when a substantive response will follow.
If one of my staff members contacts you by email for scheduling, please respond promptly, even if it is just to acknowledge the email and estimate when you will be able to respond substantively.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Specific Requirements or Preferences
Notify the court as soon as possible if a settled case has pending motions or an upcoming oral argument or evidentiary hearing.
If you settled a case that has pending motions or has an upcoming oral argument or evidentiary hearing, please notify the court as soon as possible.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Other Courtroom Policies and Recommendations
The division's email address is cvj23@jbazmc.maricopa.gov.
The email address for my division is cvj23@jbazmc.maricopa.gov.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Specific Requirements or Preferences
Email any order lodged within 72 hours before a hearing to the division.
Any order lodged within 72 hours before a hearing should be emailed to my division.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Trial Practice and Procedure