§ 22.1.3.1 CIVIL JURISDICTION.

• Jurisdiction: Arizona

§ 22.1.3.1 Civil Jurisdiction. Although A.R.S. § 22-201(B) purports to grant justice of the peace courts exclusive, original jurisdiction in civil actions where the amount involved is $10,000 or less, the supreme court has held that justice courts have exclusive, original jurisdiction only for amounts up to $1,000. State ex rel. Neeley v. Brown, 177 Ariz. 6, 8, 864 P.2d 1038, 1040 (1993) (construing A.R.S. § 22-201 as granting superior and justice courts concurrent jurisdiction of claims exceeding $1,000 because Ariz. Const. art. 6, § 14(3) provides the superior court original jurisdiction over controversies exceeding $1,000). Because forfeiture proceedings commenced pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-4302 are "special cases and proceedings" over which the superior court retains original jurisdiction, the superior court has jurisdiction over forfeiture actions without regard to the value of the property involved. State ex rel. Neeley, 177 Ariz. at 9, 864 P.2d at 1041 (citing Ariz. Const. art. 6, § 14(11)).

Justice courts have concurrent...