Current Issues in Civil Litigation – 2022

What You’ll Learn:

1.  A panel of experienced attorneys discuss principal changes and proposed changes to the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as well as recent significant judicial decisions regarding trial practice.
2.  Two fast-paced “Knowledge Nuggets” will be presented by subject matter experts. One focuses on Arizona’s newly recognized Alternative Business Structures (ABS) as adopted in Arizona Supreme Court Rules 31 and 31 (1)(c). The purpose of the ABS program is rooted in the idea that entrepreneurial lawyers and nonlawyers will pilot a range of different business forms that ultimately will improve access to justice and the delivery of legal services. Another focuses on recent changes to Rule 68, Offer of Judgment, of the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure.
3. On January 1, 2022, Arizona became the first state in the nation to eliminate peremptory challenges, the ability of attorneys or parties to strike a proposed juror without stating a reason and without the court’s approval. Under new Arizona Supreme Court rules, potential jurors can be excluded only for cause, such as acknowledged or determined bias related to the participants or circumstances in a case. A distinguished panel of lawyers, judges and professors discuss the implementation and impact of the new rules so far with insight and perspective from individuals who supported the elimination of peremptory strikes and individuals who opposed the elimination of peremptory strikes.

Presented by:
Civil Practice and Procedure CommitteeChairs:
Jessica Fotinos, General Counsel and Public Information Officer, Clerk of the Superior Court for Maricopa County
Patience Huntwork, Staff Attorney, Arizona Supreme CourtFaculty:
Prof. Jessica Berch, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University
Timothy J. Casey, Beus Gilbert McGroder PLLC
Michael Farrell, Beyers Farrell PLLC
Hon. Pamela Gates, Civil Presiding Judge, Maricopa County Superior Court
Barry D. Halpern, Snell & Wilmer
Patience Huntwork, Staff Attorney, Arizona Supreme Court
Hon. Paul J. McMurdie, Arizona Court of Appeals, Div. I (Appearing Virtually)
Hon. D. Douglas Metcalf, Pima County Superior Court
Hon, John Napper, Yavapai County Superior Court
Suzanne Porter, Manager of Legal Services, Arizona Supreme Court
John Rogers, Staff Attorney, Arizona Supreme Court
Dr. Jessica Salerno, Professor, ASU New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
Prof. Ehsan Zaffar, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University