Employee of the Month

For some folks- taking a vacation means you leave work behind… you walk away without a care in the world and enjoy your time off.

For clerk Denisse at the Country Meadows Justice Court, it means days of preparation beforehand, to leave things in good hands while she’s out. That ensures enjoying her time off.

“I have a way I like to do it, and there’s a way the judge likes to do it,” she said.

Denisse was shy in explaining her routine. But it’s a routine that earned her our CRAFT Award- our version of Employee of the Month. 

Her manager, Tracy, could not be happier with the prep.  “It takes the pressure off the person filling in. Her notes were so extensive, that clerk could just go in and know everything that’s going on."

Denisse joined the justice courts just a year ago, and now fills a key role. That’s an accomplishment, considering that Country Meadows is our fourth-busiest court for this case type. And they roll along smoothly because Cabrera cares.

A record-breaking year

Maricopa County landlords broke the all-time record number of cases filed in the Justice Courts in 2024. 

In 2005 we saw 83,687 eviction cases filed. In 2024 that number surged to 87,197.

Of course population growth plays a part in the data, but inflation and a lack of affordable housing are addition factors that economists point to.

Katherine Davis-Young at KJZZ radio digs in to see what tenants can do to preserve their housing.

Free Legal Assistance

Various cities, law libraries, non-profits, or other advocates hold legal assistance events throughout the year. This is a partial listing: 

City of Phoenix: Landlord-Tenant Workshops

Maricopa County Superior Court Law Library: Legal Clinics

Coconino County Law Library: Free Legal Talks

Pima County: Free Law Clinics