Protocol and Practice of Persons Appearing in the Court of Judge Melissa Zabor

Trial Practice and Protocol

Trial Schedule

Trial Schedules:  
Monday-Thursday, 10:30-4:30  
More specific trial calendars will be determined, as necessary, for each trial.  
 

Joint Pre-Trial Memo and/or Conference; Exhibits and Objections

Exhibits:  
Please contact our division in advance of trial to find a time to get exhibits marked. 602-375-4516  
 
Pretrial Motions/Motions in Limine/Evidence:  
Please work with opposing counsel IN ADVANCE to work through as many stipulations as possible to evidence that will be admitted at trial. The rules do not allow for surprises, so these issues must be addressed in advance with each other and with the Court to ensure that we are not wasting court time and jury time. While the Court recognizes that parties will not agree on everything, the issues need to addressed ahead of time to determine what is agreed on and what is not agreed on.

Jury Selection

Jury Questionnaires:  
Jury questionnaires will be used in nearly all cases, so please take some time in advance to review the court's procedures on how the information is reviewed by the attorneys once it is collected.  
Questions from the parties submitted to the Court in advance can be added to the questionnaires.  
Once jurors are released, based on the questionnaire responses for hardship and cause, remaining jurors will be brought to the courtroom for additional questioning and follow-up.  
 

Trial Practice and Procedure

Technology:  
Our courtroom is newly renovated and has lots of options for showing videos, pictures, etc. Please contact our division in advance at 602-372-4516 to schedule a time to test out the equipment.  
 
Objections/Pretrial Motions/Motions in Limine/Evidence:  
Please work with opposing counsel IN ADVANCE to work through as many stipulations as possible to evidence that will be admitted at trial. The rules do not allow for surprises, so these issues must be addressed in advance with each other and with the Court to ensure that we are not wasting court time and jury time. While the Court recognizes that parties will not agree on everything, the issues need to addressed ahead of time to determine what is agreed on and what is not agreed on.  
 
Speaking objections are NOT allowed. In the event parties need to make a longer record, they must ask to approach. White noise will be played for the jury. If additional time is needed, a ruling may be made with the allowance that attorneys can make a longer objection at the next break, out of the presence of the jury.  

Other Courtroom Policies and Recommendations

Settlement Conferences  
Please submit a Settlement Conference Memo to McKenna Soha at McKenna.Soha@jbazmc.maricopa.gov and Samantha Burns at samantha.burns@jbazmc.maricopa.gov. Unless the parties have previously agreed to a virtual Settlement Conference for an out-of-custody defendant, all parties must appear in person.  
 
Changes of Plea  
Prosecutors may appear virtually or in-person. Defense counsel may appear virtually with an out-of-custody defendant, unless the defendant will be remanded at the time of the change of plea.  
 
Sentencings  
Prosecutors may appear virtually or in-person. Defense counsel must appear in-person.