Consideration of Appointments:  Presiding Magistrate, Magistrate and On-Call Magistrate.

Appointment of all magistrates is required to be completed by the Flagstaff City Council for a two-year term under both the City Charter and FCC Section 1-15-001-0002(A).  Appointment of Magistrates for the Municipal Court allows for ongoing operations of the court without interruption. 

Magistrates hear criminal, civil, traffic and local code violations that are filed in the Flagstaff Municipal Court.  They conduct trials, both jury and non-jury, and sentence individuals within the parameters set by law.  Magistrates are required for the ongoing operational needs of the Municipal Court.  Magistrates On-Call are critical to the criminal and civil processes of the judicial branch.
 
Judges Chotena, Araujo and Julien have all been serving in their respective capacities as Magistrates at the Municipal Court and are requesting to continue in their current roles.

Funding for all judicial positions are included in the approved budget of the Flagstaff Municipal Court. No additional budgetary impact is anticipated.

Magistrates are critical to the criminal and civil processes of the judicial branch. These appointments help maintain an independent judiciary that is necessary for the ongoing operations of our local government. A strong, independent and fair judicial branch provides balance to criminal and civil matters that require resolution within our municipality.

Personnel - Attract and retain quality staff.

All Magistrate have been appointed by previous City Councils and have been serving in the Flagstaff Municipal Court between four and seventeen years.