--- title: "Don Taylor | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/don-taylor-maricopa-612" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Don Taylor Superior Court in Maricopa County · Superior Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Superior Court in Maricopa County - State: Arizona - Role: Superior Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - As of February 2026, Judge Don Taylor is assigned to the Family Department at the Southeast Facility in Mesa as part of the Maricopa County Superior Court The Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County. - Presiding Judge, Phoenix Municipal Court — 2015 to 2026 - Assistant City Prosecutor, Phoenix City Prosecutor’s Office — 1996 to 2005 ### Education - University of Nevada — B.A. (1992) ### Additional information - This appointment was made by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs in January 2026 to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of other judges. - Executive Court Administrator, Phoenix Municipal Court — 2011 to 2015 - Legal Officer, United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia — 2006 to 2009 - B. Don Taylor III is an experienced Arizona judge, currently serving as a Family Court judge at the Southeast Facility in Mesa, and previously as Presiding Judge of Phoenix Municipal Court for over a decade. - Before his judicial career in Arizona, Taylor obtained a Fulbright Fellowship to study international law, worked in the UN ICTY, and taught law. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### judge protocol directory Scope: courtwide Maricopa County publishes judge and judicial-officer protocol links from its official judicial-officer directory; check the assigned officer's protocol page before hearings or trial presentation planning. Evidence excerpt: Protocol [Maricopa County Superior Court Judicial Officers](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/index.asp?title=0) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### digital evidence portal Scope: statewide Arizona's digital-evidence portal supports invited parties in participating courts to upload, review, manage, and share case exhibits for virtual or in-person hearings. Evidence excerpt: The digital evidence portal provides convenient 24/7 online access to upload, review, and manage exhibits in a case to which a party has been invited. [Arizona Digital Evidence](https://www.azcourts.gov/digitalevidence) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote hearing local orders Scope: statewide Arizona requires each Superior, Justice, and Municipal Court to issue a local remote-hearing administrative order. The applicable county or court order controls scheduling and technology requirements. Evidence excerpt: The Arizona Supreme Court also mandated that each Superior, Justice, and Municipal Court issue a local administrative order based on these recommendations, with modifications as necessary due to technology or staffing limitations. [Local Administrative Orders Regarding Virtual Hearings](https://www.azcourts.gov/courtservices/Court-Services-Home/Local-Administrative-Orders-Regarding-Virtual-Hearings) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote appearances and evidence Scope: statewide Arizona remote appearances depend on the assigned judge and court. Parties should provide the court with evidence, documents, photos, or proof needed for the remote hearing using the court's directions. Evidence excerpt: Depending on the judge and court, hearings can be scheduled as in person or remote appearances. [Remote Court Appearances](https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Resources/Remote-Court-Appearances) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=612&jdgUSID=19588) - [Official roster](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=612&jdgUSID=19588) - [Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County official judicial roster](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=612&jdgUSID=19588) - [Maricopa County Superior Court Judicial Officers](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/index.asp?title=0) - [Arizona Digital Evidence](https://www.azcourts.gov/digitalevidence) - [Local Administrative Orders Regarding Virtual Hearings](https://www.azcourts.gov/courtservices/Court-Services-Home/Local-Administrative-Orders-Regarding-Virtual-Hearings) - [Remote Court Appearances](https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Resources/Remote-Court-Appearances) - [Official biography source for Don Taylor](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=612&jdgUSID=19588) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/don-taylor-maricopa-612", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/don-taylor-maricopa-612", "name": "Don Taylor | KnowJudges", "description": "Don Taylor, Superior Court in Maricopa County. 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Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.azcourts.gov/courtservices/Court-Services-Home/Local-Administrative-Orders-Regarding-Virtual-Hearings). Collected 2026-07-26.