Court Rules | Ariz. Super. Ct. Mohave Co. R. 1 | 2018
A. Pre-trial hearings leading to the setting of a trial date shall consist of an Arraignment, Case Management Conference, Omnibus Hearing and a Final Management Conference. The content of the hearings shall be as follows:
1. Arraignment. -- In addition to the requirements of Rule 14.3, Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Court shall inquire whether any victim has invoked his or her rights, whether the defendant is subject to any then-known sentencing enhancements, whether counsel has or will discuss sentencing options with the defendant, and whether the defendant has any other pending cases in Mohave County Superior Court. The Court may inform the defendant of the range of sentence. A motion for release filed in the lower Court at least ten days prior to arraignment shall be considered at the arraignment hearing. The Court shall set a Case Management Conference three weeks after arraignment unless ordered otherwise.
2. Case management conference. -- The Court shall determine whether any disclosure issue exists, whether any plea offer has or will be made to resolve the matter and whether any known motions or pre-trial issues are to be addressed. The Court shall set an Omnibus Hearing three weeks after the Case Management Conference unless ordered otherwise.
3. Omnibus hearing. -- Counsel shall provide the Court with a completed Omnibus Hearing Form prior to the Omnibus Hearing. The Court shall discuss all issues raised by the parties as set out in the Omnibus Hearing Form. The Court may then set motion deadlines, schedule evidentiary hearings or oral arguments as necessary or set the matter for trial. If the matter is set for trial, the Court shall schedule a Final Trial Management Conference no less than five court days prior to the trial.
4. Final management conference. -- The Court shall determine that the parties are ready for trial. At this hearing, inter alia, the Court and counsel shall resolve as many evidentiary issues as possible to determine appropriate voir dire areas, discuss jury instructions known to be required by the case and the parties'. Further, counsel shall inform the court whether any special accommodations or equipment will be required at the trial.
B. The defendant and counsel shall appear at all scheduled hearings. The failure of the defendant to appear as ordered shall result in the issuance of a bench warrant and possible bond forfeiture. Counsel or defendant may appear telephonically at procedural hearings upon request, at the discretion of the Court.
C. The Court may conduct a change of plea at any hearing. The Court may also specifically set a change of plea at the request of the parties.
D. The Court may set Status Hearings as necessary to effect efficient case processing of any matter. Upon prior request of counsel, the defendant may waive his or her presence in the discretion of the court.
E. Counsel for any party shall be responsible to secure the attendance of all witnesses at any hearing.