Arizona

Criminal Procedure

Rule 1.6 – Form of Documents

(a)Caption. Documents filed with the court must contain the following information as single-spaced text, typed or printed, on the first page of the document:

(1) to the left of the center and at the top of the page:

(A) the filing attorney’s or self-represented litigant’s name, address, telephone number, and email address; and

(B) if an attorney, the attorney’s State Bar of Arizona attorney identification number, any State Bar of Arizona law firm identification number, and the name of the party the attorney represents;

(2) centered on the page and immediately below the filer information, the title of the court;

(3) below the title of the court and to the left of the center of the page, the title of the action or proceeding;

(4) opposite the title, in the space to the right of the center of the page, the case number of the action or proceeding; and

(5) immediately below the case number, a brief description of the document.

(b)Document Format.

(1)Generally. Unless the court orders otherwise, all filed documents, other than a document submitted as an exhibit or attachment to a filing, must be prepared as follows:

(A) Text and Background. The text must be black on a plain white background. All documents filed must be single-sided.

(B) Type Size and Font. Notwithstanding any local rule, every typed document must use at least a 13-point type size. The court prefers proportionally spaced serif fonts. Footnotes must be in at least a 13-point type size and must not appear in the space required for the bottom margin.

(C) Page Size. Each page of a document must be 8 ½ by 11 inches.

(i) Exhibits, attachments to documents, or documents from jurisdictions outside Arizona that are larger than the specified size must be folded to the specified size or folded and fastened to pages of the specified size.

(ii) Exhibits or attachments to documents smaller than the specified size must be fastened to pages of the specified size.

(iii) A document that is not in compliance with these provisions may be filed only if compliance is not reasonably practicable.

(D) Margins and Page Numbers. Page margins must be at least one inch on the top and bottom of the page and between one inch and 1 ½ inches on each side. Except for the first page, the bottom margin must include a page number.

(E) Handwritten Documents. Handwritten documents are discouraged, but if a document is handwritten, the text must be legibly printed and not include cursive writing or script. The number of pages in handwritten briefs, motions, and petitions must not exceed the number of words specified in a rule, divided by 280. A handwritten submission to an appellate court must include an original and one copy.

(F) Line Spacing. Text must be double-spaced and may not exceed 28 lines per page, but headings, quotations, and footnotes may be single-spaced. A single-spaced quotation must be indented on the left and right sides.

(G) Headings and Emphasis. Headings must be underlined, in italics, or in bold type, or in any combination of the three. Underlining, italics, or bold type also may be used for emphasis.

(H) Citations. Case names and citation signals must be in italics or underlined.

(I) Originals. Unless filing electronically, only originals may be filed. If it is necessary to file more than one copy of a document, the additional copies may be photocopies or computer-generated duplicates.

(J) Court Forms. Printed court forms, court-generated form, and forms generated by a court-authorized electronic filing system or vendor may deviate from the requirements of this rule. Such court forms must be single-sided. They may be single-spaced, but any signature lines must be at least two lines below the last line of text. All hard-copy court forms must be on paper of sufficient quality and weight to assure legibility upon duplication, microfilming, or imaging.

(2)Signatures. Every document filed with the court must include the attorney of record’s signature. If there is no attorney of record, the document must include the signature of a self-represented person.

(c)Electronically Filed Documents. If a court has an electronic filing portal, a document may be filed electronically.

(1)Format.

(A) File Type. A document filed electronically that contains text, other than a scanned document image that is submitted under this rule, must be in a text-searchable .pdf, .odt, or .docx format or other format permitted by Administrative Order. A text-searchable .pdf format is preferred. A proposed order must be in a form that permits it to be modified, such as .odt or .docx format or other format permitted by Administrative Order, and must not be password protected.

(B) File Size. A document exceeding the file size limits allowed by the court’s electronic filing portal may be broken up into multiple files to accommodate such a limit.

(2)Formats of Attachments.

(A) Generally. An exhibit and other attachment to an electronically filed document may be filed electronically if it is attached to the same submission as either a scanned image or an electronic copy using an approved file type and format.

(B) Official Records. A scanned copy of an official record may be filed electronically if it contains an official seal of authority or its equivalent.

(C) Notarized Documents. A scanned copy of a notarized document may be filed electronically if it contains the notary’s signature and stamp or seal.

(D) Certified Mail, Return Receipt Card. When establishing proof of service by a form of mail that requires a signed and returned receipt, the return receipt may be filed electronically if both sides of the return receipt card are scanned and filed.

(E) National Courier Service. When establishing proof of service by a national courier service, the receipt for such service may be filed electronically by scanning and filing the receipt.

(3)Bookmarks and Hyperlinks.

(A) Bookmarks. A bookmark is a linked reference to another page within the same document. An electronically filed document may include bookmarks. A document that is incapable of bookmarking may be made accessible by a hyperlink. Bookmarks are encouraged.

(B) Hyperlinks. A hyperlink is an electronic link in a document to another document or to a website. An electronically filed document may include hyperlinks. Material that is not in the official court record does not become part of the official record merely because it is made accessible by a hyperlink. Hyperlinks are encouraged.

(4)Originals. An electronically filed document (or a scanned copy of a document filed in hard copy) constitutes an “original” under Arizona Rule of Evidence 1002.

(5)Signature. All electronic filings must be signed. A person may sign an electronic document by placing the symbol “/s/” on the signature line above the person’s name. An electronic signature is equivalent to an ink signature on paper.

Ariz. R. Crim. P. 1.6

Added August 31, 2017, effective January 1, 2018; amended effective August 28, 2018.

HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES

Former Rule 1.6, relating to interactive audiovisual systems, was abrogated effective January 1, 2018. See, now, AZ ST RCRP Rule 1.5.

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