Judges

Presiding City Magistrate - Stephen Umpleby

Judge Umpleby was appointed by the Mesa City Council as Presiding City Magistrate on April 15, 2024. Judge Umpleby has been a City Magistrate with Mesa Municipal Court since February 2021. As Magistrate, he presided over Arraignment Court, Divisions 302 and 305, and the creation of the Domestic Violence Court with the goal of preventing recidivism through rehabilitation and increased offender accountability.

Prior to becoming a magistrate, Judge Umpleby was an Assistant Mesa City Prosecutor and Deputy Maricopa County Attorney, where he handled complex and specialty cases such as arsons, homicides, DUIs, and sex trafficking cases.

There are six Municipal Court Judges and one Commissioner at the Mesa Municipal Court:

  • Courtroom 203 - Vacant
  • Courtroom 302 - Judge Haley
  • Courtroom 303 - Judge Lawler
  • Courtroom 304 - Judge Novell
  • Courtroom 305 - Judge Allen
  • Custody Courtroom - Judge Balon
  • Courtroom 101 – Commissioner Fuller

Selection of Judges

The Mesa City Council established a Judicial Advisory Board in 1997. This Board is responsible for:

  • recommending to the City Council the best qualified persons to become judges and
  • evaluating the performance of appointed judges and advising the City Council about retaining them.

The City Council reviews the recommendations from the Judicial Advisory Board and appoints the judges. The initial appointment is for a two-year term; if reappointed, the second term is a two-year term; subsequent reappointments are for four-year terms. Commissioners are appointed by the Presiding City Magistrate and preside over Civil Traffic Offenses.

Judicial Advisory Board Survey

The Judicial Advisory Board would like your feedback regarding your experiences with the Judges of the Mesa Municipal Court.

Complete the Survey

 

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