Judge Erik Thorson
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- Hand Delivery

Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Chambers
Page & Word Limits1 rule
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
Instead of filing a discovery or disclosure motion, parties who believe a brief court conference may resolve the issue may file a joint statement of up to three pages, with 1.5 pages for each side, and request a discovery dispute conference.
If counsel or self-represented parties believe a brief, on-the-record conference with the Court will resolve the issue posed by a discovery or disclosure motion yet to be filed, they may instead file a joint, three-page statement (with each side being entitled to 1.5 pages) and request a discovery dispute conference with the Court.
Joint Statement
3 pages
Document Filing Requirements3 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Lodge proposed orders in eFile as separate Word documents linked to the filing they accompany; the order need not include the word “Proposed.”
Proposed orders of any kind should be lodged in eFile as separate Word documents related to the filing they accompany; there is no need to include the word "Proposed" on the Word-format order.
Document Type
Proposed Order
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
The joint statement must include a Rule 9(c) good-faith consultation certificate and may include attachments needed to resolve the dispute.
The joint statement must include a Rule 9(c) good-faith consultation certificate and may include any attachments the counsel or parties believe are necessary for the Court to resolve the dispute.
Document Type
Joint Statement
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Important
Motions should be accompanied by a lodged Word-format electronic form of order, without the words “Proposed” or “[Proposed].”
Division 46 can handle most motions via eFile; please lodge a Word format electronic form of order. There is no need to include the word "Proposed" or "[Proposed]" on Word format forms of order; omitting it makes e-filing more efficient for the Division.
Document Type
Motion
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Proposed orders must be lodged in eFile as separate Word-format documents related to the filing they accompany.
Proposed orders of any kind should be lodged in eFile as separate Word documents related to the filing they accompany; there is no need to include the word "Proposed" on the Word-format order.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Specific Requirements or Preferences
All exhibits must be submitted through the CaseCenter electronic exhibit portal.
Judge Thorson's Division is also one of those using CaseCenter, a state-wide electronic exhibit portal. All exhibits must be submitted through CaseCenter.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Specific Requirements or Preferences
Most motions may be handled via eFile, and a Word-format electronic form of order should be lodged; the form need not include “Proposed” or “[Proposed].”
Division 46 can handle most motions via eFile; please lodge a Word format electronic form of order. There is no need to include the word "Proposed" or "[Proposed]" on Word format forms of order; omitting it makes e-filing more efficient for the Division.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Courtesy hard copies are not required for e-filed items, except that paper deposition-designation materials are helpful; if a document is filed only in hard copy, provide a courtesy copy to the Division.
Judge Thorson does not require courtesy hard copies of any e-filed item, unless you are submitting deposition designations. Only then are paper copies of designated deposition transcripts with objection and response charts/annotations helpful. If you only filed your document in hard copy, please do provide a courtesy copy to the Division, as otherwise we do not get notice of it.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Specific Requirements or Preferences
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Before filing a discovery or disclosure motion, parties must comply with the required good-faith consultation rules; personal meeting or contact is not required when the stated domestic-violence and self-representation conditions apply.
This Division requires strict compliance with Ariz. R. Fam. L.P. 51(f) and 9(c), regarding good-faith consultation before filing a discovery or disclosure motion. Ariz. R. Fam. L.P. 9(c)(2) has an exception, however: The parties are not required to personally meet or contact each other if: (A) there is a current court order prohibiting contact between the parties, a history of domestic violence between the parties, or an allegation of domestic violence; and (B) the alleged victim of the domestic violence is self-represented.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Discovery or Disclosure Disputes and/or Sanctions
The expedited dispute-resolution procedure applies only to discovery or disclosure issues unless a party seeks leave to use it for other issues.
This expedited dispute resolution procedure is applicable to discovery or disclosure issues only, unless leave of Court is sought to apply it to other issues in a case.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Discovery or Disclosure Disputes and/or Sanctions
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
When the parties agree to a brief extension of a response, reply, or other pretrial deadline, email Division 46 staff, copy all counsel and self-represented parties, and advise them of the agreement and any related requests to the Court.
If agreement on a brief extension of a response or reply or other pretrial deadline is reached, please email, copying all counsel and self-represented parties, Division 46 staff (Jaime.Ferniza@jbazmc.maricopa.gov and Sebastian.Inman@jbazmc.maricopa.gov) to advise of that and make any related requests of the Court.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Chambers Communication Rules
Emails to the Division about a pending case must copy all other parties or counsel, and the Division will not engage in ex parte communications; the stated email-copy direction excludes requests for temporary orders without notice.
If you use any Division email address to communicate about a case pending before Judge Thorson, please copy all other parties or their counsel on the email. This especially includes communications about emergency filings (OTHER than temporary orders being sought without notice; for those, filers should follow Rule 48(b), Ariz. R. Fam. L.P.). The Division will not engage in ex parte communications and can assess emergency filings (again, other than temporary orders being sought without notice) much faster if the other side is included on email communication, and even better, if the other side's position has been sought in advance and is also included.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Specific Requirements or Preferences
Requests to appear in person in a presumptively remote proceeding must be emailed to Division staff at least seven days beforehand, copying counsel and self-represented parties; untimely requests may be summarily denied.
If you intend to request to appear in-person for what is a presumptively remote proceeding, please make such request via email to Division staff, copying all counsel and any self-represented parties, at least seven days in advance of the proceeding. Requests to appear in-person for remote proceedings submitted untimely are subject to summary denial.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Specific Requirements or Preferences
For an agreed brief extension or related request, email Division 46 staff at the listed addresses and copy all counsel and self-represented parties.
If agreement on a brief extension of a response or reply or other pretrial deadline is reached, please email, copying all counsel and self-represented parties, Division 46 staff (Jaime.Ferniza@jbazmc.maricopa.gov and Sebastian.Inman@jbazmc.maricopa.gov) to advise of that and make any related requests of the Court.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Motion Practice