The Flagstaff DUI Court Process: Which Court Has Your Case and What Happens Next

By Joe Styler, Editor, not an attorney · Sources checked October 18, 2026

Short answer: which Flagstaff DUI court hears your case depends on where you were arrested and how serious the charge is. A misdemeanor DUI inside Flagstaff city limits goes to Flagstaff Municipal Court. A misdemeanor DUI in unincorporated Coconino County goes to the justice court for that area, which for the Flagstaff region is the Flagstaff Justice Court. A felony, such as aggravated DUI, ends up in Coconino County Superior Court. Your citation or release paperwork names the court and your first date. And separately from all of these, the MVD runs its own license case with a short deadline.

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Which court has your DUI case

Where and what	Court	Notes
Misdemeanor DUI inside Flagstaff city limits	Flagstaff Municipal Court	211 W Aspen Ave, Flagstaff. 928-213-2000. Hears criminal misdemeanors, criminal traffic and civil traffic in city limits.
Misdemeanor DUI in unincorporated Coconino County	A Coconino County justice court	Justice courts sit in Flagstaff, Williams, Page and Fredonia; the precinct depends on where the arrest happened.
Felony DUI (aggravated DUI)	Coconino County Superior Court	A justice court can hold the preliminary hearing and send the case to Superior Court.
Arrest on tribal land	Tribal or federal court, depending on the facts	See our tribal land DUI guide.

The Flagstaff Municipal Court handles weekend initial appearances by video, according to the court’s website. Check your paperwork, not this table, for your actual court and date.

Felony or misdemeanor?

A standard DUI, an extreme DUI (0.15 or more) and a super extreme DUI (0.20 or more) are class 1 misdemeanors under A.R.S. § 28-1381(C) and § 28-1382(K), even though they carry mandatory jail. A DUI becomes a felony, called aggravated DUI, in situations set out in A.R.S. § 28-1383, such as a DUI while your license is suspended or restricted, a third DUI within 84 months, a DUI with a child under 15 in the vehicle, a DUI while required to have an ignition interlock, or a DUI while driving the wrong way on a highway. Our pages on extreme DUI and aggravated DUI cover the tiers.

The steps in a misdemeanor DUI case

1. Arrest and release. You are cited and released, or booked and brought before a judge for an initial appearance, where release conditions are set.
2. Arraignment. You enter a plea. A not guilty plea at this stage keeps every option open while the evidence is reviewed. A.R.S. § 28-1381(F) requires the court to tell you at arraignment that you may request a jury trial, and that the request will be granted if made.
3. Discovery. Your lawyer gets the police reports, video, breath or blood test records and calibration records. This is where the defense is built.
4. Pretrial conferences. The prosecutor and defense discuss the evidence and any plea offer. Several conferences are possible.
5. Motions. The defense can ask the court to suppress evidence, for example if the stop lacked a legal basis or test procedures were not followed.
6. Plea or trial. The case ends with a plea agreement, a dismissal, or a trial before a judge or jury.
7. Sentencing. For a first standard DUI, A.R.S. § 28-1381(I) requires at least 10 consecutive days in jail, all but one of which can be suspended if you complete court-ordered screening and education or treatment, plus a fine of at least $250, two $500 assessments, traffic survival school, and an ignition interlock if alcohol was involved.

How long this takes varies with the court’s calendar and the issues in the case. Our first-offense DUI guide covers penalties and total costs in more detail.

The felony track

An aggravated DUI follows felony procedure: charges by complaint, grand jury indictment or information, and the case proceeds in Superior Court. The Coconino County justice courts describe their role in felonies as conducting preliminary hearings and either sending the case to Superior Court or dismissing it for lack of probable cause. Felony DUI carries prison exposure and a longer license revocation, so representation from the start matters.

The MVD case runs at the same time

While the court case moves, the Arizona MVD handles your license on a separate track. If you took a test and it showed 0.08 or more (0.04 in a commercial vehicle) or a drug without a valid prescription, A.R.S. § 28-1385 calls for an administrative suspension of at least 90 days, or 30 days plus 60 restricted days if you qualify. If you refused, the suspension is 12 months under § 28-1321; see our page on refusing a breath or blood test. Winning in court does not automatically undo the MVD suspension, and losing at MVD does not decide the court case. Our license suspension guide explains the hearing.

What to do this week

• Find your court name, case number and first date on your citation or release paperwork. Put it on your calendar.
• Find your MVD notice and note the hearing request deadline.
• Write down everything you remember about the stop, the field tests, the test, and what was said.
• Gather documents: release paperwork, any test result slip, your temporary permit, and any towing or impound receipt.
• Do not miss court. A missed appearance can lead to a warrant.
• Get legal advice before the arraignment if you can. A lawyer can sometimes appear for you or tell you what to expect.

Students, visitors and second offenses

NAU students face campus consequences on top of the court case; see our underage DUI and NAU guide. Visitors arrested on I-17 or I-40 should see out-of-state DUI in Flagstaff. If you have a prior DUI within 84 months, see our second-offense guide, because the mandatory penalties change.

Frequently asked questions

Which court will hear my Flagstaff DUI?

A misdemeanor DUI inside city limits goes to Flagstaff Municipal Court. A misdemeanor in unincorporated Coconino County goes to the justice court for that area. A felony aggravated DUI goes to Coconino County Superior Court. Your paperwork names your court.

Do I get a jury trial for a DUI in Arizona?

Yes. A.R.S. 28-1381(F) requires the court to tell you at arraignment that you may request a jury trial, and that the request will be granted.

Is an extreme DUI a felony in Arizona?

No. Extreme and super extreme DUI are misdemeanors, though with higher mandatory penalties. A DUI becomes a felony when aggravating facts under A.R.S. 28-1383 apply.

Will winning my court case get my license back?

Not automatically. The MVD license case is separate. You need to request the MVD hearing within the deadline on your notice to contest the administrative suspension.

What happens at a DUI arraignment?

You hear the charges, enter a plea, and are told about your right to request a jury trial. The arraignment starts the case; it does not decide it.

How long does a Flagstaff DUI case take?

It varies with the court’s calendar, the evidence and any motions. Ask a lawyer for a realistic estimate once the police reports and test records are in.

Related guides

• Flagstaff DUI lawyer: the full guide
• First-offense DUI in Flagstaff
• Second DUI in Flagstaff
• DUI license suspension and the MVD hearing
• Flagstaff criminal defense overview

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