Judge John Blanchard
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
Adjournments
- A motion must be filed for longer extensions or extensions that may affect court-ordered deadlines or hearings.
- A request to vacate or continue a hearing must state the other parties’ position or describe a reasonable attempt to contact them, and include a form of order.
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Page & Word Limits1 rule
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
Covered discovery and disclosure disputes must first follow Rule 26(d); briefing is three pages, with expansion to six pages considered for good cause in exceptional cases.
• Discovery Disputes Generally: This Division requires strict compliance with Ariz.R.Civ.P. 26(d), the Expedited Procedure for Resolving Discovery and Disclosure Disputes. All disputes between parties that could be addressed in motions for protective order under Rule 26(c) or motions to compel discovery or disclosure under Rule 37(a) must first proceed pursuant to Rule 26(d). The Court will consider expanding the briefing from three pages to six pages upon a showing of good cause in exceptional cases.
Brief
3 pages
Document Filing Requirements3 rules
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
An attorney’s withdrawal request filed within two weeks of a hearing must state that opposing counsel or the opposing party was notified of the intent to withdraw; obtaining their position is not required.
• Attorney requests to withdraw filed within two weeks of a hearing must include a statement that the moving attorney notified the opposing counsel or opposing party of his/her intent to withdraw. This is just a notification to the other side; not a requirement to obtain the opposing party’s position on the issue.
Document Type
Motion
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026Mandatory
For Rule 26(d) procedures and many other motion, dispute-resolution, or sanctions procedures, the moving party must attach a separate good-faith statement documenting consultation in person or by telephone, not merely by letter or email.
• Good Faith Certificate: Please remember that when using the procedures under Rule 26(d), or many other Rules governing the filing of motions, resolution of disputes, or seeking of sanctions, the moving party is required to “attach to the motion a separate statement certifying and demonstrating that the movant has tried in good faith to resolve the issue by conferring with, or attempting to confer with – the party against whom the motion is directed. The consultation must be in person or by telephone and not merely by letter or email.” Rule 7.1(h), Ariz.R.Civ.P.
Document Type
Motion
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.Note?
• Forms of Order. Judge Blanchard handles most motions through eFile, so lodging an electronic form of order is strongly encouraged.
Summary: Lodging an electronic form of order is strongly encouraged for most motions.
Document Type
Motion
Filing & Service rules
Courtesy Copy Requirements
A copy of every filed document must be submitted to the division; the Clerk does not provide copies.
• It is the party’s responsibility to make sure that a copy of each document filed is submitted to the division. The Clerk of Court does not make copies for the divisions.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Motions and Orders
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
A trial date will not be set until ADR or mediation, discovery, and dispositive motions are complete; if they are incomplete before the trial-setting conference, the parties must seek to vacate and reset it.
• The Court will not set a trial date until (1) the parties have completed their ADR or Mediation; AND (2) all discovery is completed; AND (3) any dispositive motions have been fully resolved. If all of these items are NOT complete prior to a trial-setting conference, the parties must seek to vacate and reset that conference to an appropriate date.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Evidentiary Hearings and Trials
The Court generally will not consider discovery or non-disclosure disputes first raised after the Trial Setting Conference deadline, except disputes concerning disclosures that first occur after that deadline.
• Untimely Discovery Disputes: The Court will generally not consider discovery disputes or non-disclosure disputes that are raised for the first time after the Trial Setting Conference deadline, except for disclosures occurring for the first time after the Trial Setting Conference Deadline.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Motions and Orders
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A request to vacate or continue a hearing must state the other parties’ position or describe a reasonable attempt to contact them, and include a form of order.
• Requests to vacate or continue a hearing must include the other parties’ position or indicate that a reasonable attempt was made to contact the other party, and a form of order.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Evidentiary Hearings and Trials
A motion must be filed for longer extensions or extensions that may affect court-ordered deadlines or hearings.
• If a short extension of a response or reply time is granted, please email division staff. For longer extensions, or extensions that may affect court-ordered deadlines or hearings, please file a motion.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026
Page 1 | Motions and Orders
Chambers Communication Rules
Email division staff about a granted short response or reply extension; file a motion for longer extensions or those affecting court-ordered deadlines or hearings.
• If a short extension of a response or reply time is granted, please email division staff. For longer extensions, or extensions that may affect court-ordered deadlines or hearings, please file a motion.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.
Page 1 | Motions and Orders