--- title: "Joseph C. Welty | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-c-welty-maricopa-232" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Joseph C. Welty 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 - 2007–Present: Judge, Maricopa County Superior Court - 2006 - 2007: Chief of the National Security Section, U. S. Attorney's Office, Phoenix - 2001 - 2006: Deputy Chief, Criminal Section, U.S. Attorney's Office, Phoenix - 1991 - 2001: Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office, Phoenix - 1988 - 1991: Assistant Attorney General, Arizona Attorney General's Office, Phoenix - Former Assistant Attorney General, Arizona AG’s Office (1988–1991) - Assignment history: Department: Criminal Associate Presiding Judge - Assignment history: Department: Civil and Associate Presiding Judge - Assignment history: Department: Juvenile and Associate Presiding Judge - Former Chief, National Security Section, U.S. Attorney’s Office (Phoenix) - Former Deputy Chief, Criminal Section, U.S. Attorney’s Office - Long‐serving Superior Court judge in Maricopa County, Arizona - Co‐chair of Arizona Supreme Court’s New Judge Orientation Program - Presiding Judge, Judicial Branch of Maricopa County - Instructor for U.S. Department of Justice and State Bar of Arizona - Judge Welty remains an influential figure in Arizona’s judiciary through his administrative leadership, teaching roles, and long-standing service on the Superior Court ### Education - Georgetown University Law Center — J.D. (1988) - Political Science, Loyola Marymount University — B.A. (1985) ### Additional information - Appointed by Governor Janet Napolitano in 2007 and has since held multiple leadership roles across criminal, civil, family, and juvenile divisions. - Year: 6/2026 - Year: 6/2025 - Year: 8/2019 - Year: 6/2018 - Year: 6/2015 - Year: 1/2013 - Year: 10/2008 - Year: 5/2007 - Former Assistant U.S. Attorney (1991–2001) - Location: Phoenix - Assignment history: Department: Family Court - Location: Juvenile Court Durango Facility - Supervises the Superior Court, Adult and Juvenile Probation, and oversees all lower courts in the county - Chair of Supreme Court Criminal Rules Task Force and Rule 32 Task Force - Community involvement: Habitat for Humanity, youth sports board member ## 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=232&jdgUSID=8377) - [Official roster](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=232&jdgUSID=8377) - [Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County official judicial roster](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=232&jdgUSID=8377) - [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) - [Judge Joseph C. WELTY](https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=232&jdgUSID=8377) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-c-welty-maricopa-232", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-c-welty-maricopa-232", "name": "Joseph C. Welty | KnowJudges", "description": "Joseph C. Welty, Superior Court in Maricopa County. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-c-welty-maricopa-232#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-c-welty-maricopa-232#judge", "name": "Joseph C. Welty", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-c-welty-maricopa-232", "jobTitle": "Superior Court Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Superior Court in Maricopa County" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JudicialBiographies/judicialBio.asp?jdgID=232&jdgUSID=8377" ], "alumniOf": [] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Arizona", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/arizona" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Joseph C. Welty", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-c-welty-maricopa-232" } ] } ] } ``` ## 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.