Legal research for Phoenix and Arizona law firms - Court of Appeals divisions and memorandum decisions
By LegiMatch Research Team · Published October 16, 2026 · 2 min read
Short answer: Arizona's Court of Appeals has two divisions: Division One in Phoenix and Division Two in Tucson. Published opinions from either bind Arizona trial courts. Memorandum decisions issued on or after January 1, 2015 may be cited for persuasive value when no opinion adequately addresses the issue. Federal cases go to the District of Arizona and the Ninth Circuit.
Arizona courts
| Court | Role |
|---|---|
| Arizona Supreme Court | Highest court; binds every Arizona court |
| Court of Appeals, Division One (Phoenix) | Appeals from Maricopa, Yuma, La Paz, Mohave, Coconino, Yavapai, Navajo and Apache counties |
| Court of Appeals, Division Two (Tucson) | Appeals from Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Greenlee, Graham and Gila counties |
| Superior Court | General trial court in each county (Maricopa County Superior Court for Phoenix) |
| Justice and municipal courts | Limited jurisdiction |
Memorandum decisions
Under Arizona Supreme Court Rule 111(c), a memorandum decision issued on or after January 1, 2015 may be cited for persuasive value, but only if no opinion adequately addresses the issue, and the citing party must say that it's a memorandum decision. Earlier memorandum decisions generally can't be cited. Published opinions remain the authority to look for first.
Federal courts
The District of Arizona has courthouses in Phoenix, Tucson, Prescott, Flagstaff and Yuma. Appeals go to the Ninth Circuit.
Citations and statutes
Arizona decisions are cited to Ariz. (and Ariz. App. for older Court of Appeals cases) and the Pacific Reporter (P.3d). The Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) are on the Legislature's site, azleg.gov.
A fact-first workflow
Phoenix-area practice is heavy on auto accidents, premises liability, construction defects and HOA disputes.
- Describe the facts in plain English. Example: "A Scottsdale homeowner's association fined an owner for solar panels visible from the street. The owner says the HOA's rules can't prohibit solar devices."
- Limit to Arizona, and add Ninth Circuit and District of Arizona decisions if the case is in federal court.
- Read published opinions first, then post-2015 memorandum decisions if nothing published is on point.
- Check treatment before relying on any decision.
- Read the statute at issue (here, A.R.S. § 33-1816 on solar energy devices in planned communities) in the version in force on the relevant date.
LegiMatch returns up to 100 similar decisions for each matter, ranked by a match score that shows how much facts, legal issues, statutes, jurisdiction and recency contributed. Every result is a real decision linked to the court's text. It supports your research and doesn't give legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Which Court of Appeals division covers Phoenix?
Division One, which sits in Phoenix and hears appeals from Maricopa County and several northern and western counties.
Can I cite an Arizona memorandum decision?
If it was issued on or after January 1, 2015, you may cite it for persuasive value when no opinion adequately addresses the issue, and you must identify it as a memorandum decision.
Where can I read Arizona statutes for free?
On the Arizona Legislature's official site, azleg.gov.
Sources
- Arizona Supreme Court Rule 111
- Arizona Judicial Branch (azcourts.gov)
- Arizona State Legislature, Arizona Revised Statutes (azleg.gov)
- United States Courts, court locator (uscourts.gov)
This article is general information about legal research, not legal advice. Verify every authority before relying on it.
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