Rule 11 - [Effective 1/1/2025] General Provisions for Appellate Special Actions(a) Other Rules Applicable. To the extent they are consistent with these rules: (1) the Arizona Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure (ARCAP) apply to appellate special actions in the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court; and(2) the Superior Court Rules of Appellate Procedure - Civil apply to appellate special actions in the Superior Court.(b) Forum. Appellate special actions are those requesting review of an earlier decision of a lower court. A party may file an appellate special action in: (1) the Superior Court, seeking review of a decision of a justice court, municipal court, or other tribunal as allowed by law;(2) the Court of Appeals, seeking review of a decision of the Superior Court, an administrative law judge, tribunal, or public body as allowed by law; or(3) the Supreme Court, seeking review of a decision of any other court.(c) Improper Forum. If a special action is filed in the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court and the action might have been properly initiated in a lower court, the petition must state the reasons for not filing it in the lower court. If the appellate court finds these reasons insufficient, it will dismiss the petition without prejudice.(d) Jurisdiction. The court may decline special action jurisdiction at any time and without oral argument. If the court accepts jurisdiction, it must render a decision on the merits.(e) Exercising Special Action Jurisdiction in a Direct Appeal. If the reviewing court lacks jurisdiction over a direct appeal for reasons other than timeliness, the court may-on a party's request or on its own initiative-treat the appeal as a special action and accept special action jurisdiction consistent with Rule 12.(f) Order Pending Further Proceedings. The court may issue any order during the course of a special action to facilitate or expedite consideration of the case.(g) Suspension and Acceleration. For good cause, a court may suspend or accelerate any procedure for an appellate special action.(h) Sanctions. The court may impose any sanction consistent with ARCAP 25.Ariz. R. P. Spec. Act. 11
Added August 22, 2024, effective 1/1/2025.