---
title: "Joan Sinclair | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joan-sinclair-maricopa-209"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Joan Sinclair

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 judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile.

## Biography

### Professional career

- 2012 - Present: Superior Court Judge, Maricpa County
- 2006 - 2012: Commissioner, Superior Court
- 2003 - 2006: Lawyer, Dodge, Anderson, Mableson, Steiner, Jones & Horowitz, Ltd.,, Phoenix, Arizona
- 2002 - 2003: Lawyer, Lawyer with Meagher & Geer, Scottsdale, Arizona
- 2001 - 2002: Law Clerk, Chief Justice Charles E. Jones, Arizona Supreme Court, Phoenix, Arizona
- 1999 - 2001: Staff Attorney, Arizona Death Penalty Judicial Assistance Program, Superior Court Maricopa County, Phoenix, Arizona
- 1996 - 1999: Deputy County Attorney, Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Phoenix, Arizona
- 1995 - 1996: Legal Intern, Office of the City Attorney-Criminal Division, Tucson, Arizona
- 1989 - 1995: Assistant Solicitor, Dekalb County Juvenile Court, Atlanta, Georgia
- 1988 - 1989: Assistant Regional Counsel, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Atlanta, Georgia
- 1987 - 1988: Regional Staff Attorney, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Social Security Disability Litigation Unit, Atlanta, Georgia

### Education

- Juris Doctor, 1986, State University of New York at Buffalo Law School
- Bachelor or Arts, Magna Cum Laude, History, 1983, LeMoyne College, Syracuse, New York

### Additional information

- Year: 6/2026
- Year: 6/2024
- Year: 6/2021
- Year: 6/2018
- Year: 6/2015
- Year: 8/2012
- Year: 11/2007
- Year: 7/2006
- 1982, Abroad in Graz, Austria, Karl-Franzens Universität
- Assignment history: Department: Family Court
- Location: Northeast Regional Court Center
- Assignment history: Department: Juvenile
- Location: Juvenile Court Durango Facility
- Assignment history: Department: Civil
- Location: Phoenix
- Location: Southeast Facility in Mesa
- Assignment history: Department: Criminal
- Assignment history: Department: IA Court

## 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 specific protocol

Scope: judge specific

Joan Sinclair has a published Maricopa protocol and practice page; review it for judge-specific courtroom and presentation requirements before appearing.

Evidence excerpt: Protocol and Practice

[Protocol and Practice page for Joan Sinclair](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/profile.asp?jdgID=209&jdgUSID=6643)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### 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=209&jdgUSID=6643)
- [Official roster](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=209&jdgUSID=6643)
- [Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County official judicial roster](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=209&jdgUSID=6643)
- [Maricopa County Superior Court Judicial Officers](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/index.asp?title=0)
- [Protocol and Practice page for Joan Sinclair](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/profile.asp?jdgID=209&jdgUSID=6643)
- [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)
- [Judge Joan SINCLAIR](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=209&jdgUSID=6643)

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## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Local Administrative Orders Regarding Virtual Hearings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7bfe9b727b74710561b957ad) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  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.
