Rule 18 - [Effective 1/1/2025] Disposition of Appellate Special Actions(a) Jurisdiction Declined. Orders declining special action jurisdiction must be in writing and need not state reasons for the decision.(b) Jurisdiction Accepted. If the court accepts special action jurisdiction, orders granting or denying relief must be in writing and state the grounds for the decision.(c) Effectiveness of Decision. Unless the appellate court's decision states that it is effective immediately, the decision will become effective when the appellate court issues and distributes a termination letter or order to all lower courts and the parties stating that the court's review is complete.(d) Termination Letter or Order.(1) If no party has filed a petition for review, the Court of Appeals clerk must issue the termination letter or order when the time for filing such a petition expires.(2) If a party filed a petition for review, the Court of Appeals clerk must issue the termination letter or order 15 days after the clerk's receipt of a Supreme Court order denying the petition for review.(3) When the Supreme Court has granted a petition for review, the Supreme Court clerk must issue the termination letter or order 15 days after the entry of the Court's disposition of the matter, or, if a party has filed a motion for reconsideration in the Supreme Court, 15 days after the Court's final disposition of that motion. Ariz. R. P. Spec. Act. 18
Added August 22, 2024, effective 1/1/2025.2025 Comment
Generally, the filing of an appellate special action does not divest the Superior Court of continuing jurisdiction. An appellate court therefore has no need to issue a mandate after it makes its decision to revest jurisdiction back in the Superior Court. In its place. Rule 18(d) provides that an appellate court will issue and distribute a termination letter or order to the lower courts and the parties stating that appellate review of the special action proceeding is complete.