To the Editor,

One of the first things I did after I was appointed constable by the Board of Supervisors in 2024 was search through the old files that remained in the office. I wanted to get an idea of the workload before my arrival.

During April, May and June of 2019, I was surprised to see more than a dozen protective orders served each month, four to five summonses and complaints, and between three and five evictions.

In contrast, on one day in December 2025, there were 31 eviction actions scheduled to be heard. Of those, seven were dismissed by the plaintiff before trial, and the remaining 24 cases were heard by the judge. Seven were dismissed, two were scheduled for trial and 15 were awarded default judgments.

Oh, how Maricopa has grown. And that’s where I come in.

My job as constable is to serve and execute orders on behalf of the Justice Court. I don’t serve papers from out of state or other courts. Private process servers do those.

Why do evictions happen?

An eviction is the legal process used when a property owner or manager, or landlord, wants to reclaim rented property. It can be due to unpaid rent or lease payments, a violation of the rental or lease agreement, damage to the property or criminal activity being conducted on the property. In some major violations, the eviction could be immediate and without discussion.

For some landlords, it is more economical to keep someone on the property who pays rent rather than have it vacant, requiring repairs or preparation for new residents.

In a minor rent or lease violation, the landlord may allow a short period of time to make a correction rather than evict a tenant. It makes sense, and it may be the right thing to do.

In Arizona, the eviction process is not complicated. However, it does require some very important steps. They are outlined in the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.

First, written notice must be given. The landlord gives a written notice that money is due or something must be corrected that violates the lease or rental agreement. This can be a five-day, 10-day or even 30-day notice. Emergency evictions are a different matter.

If the problem isn’t fixed, whether that means money paid or a violation corrected, the landlord can file for an eviction at the Justice Court. Notice of the hearing is given when the summons and complaint are served by the constable or a private process server. This notice may be posted on the front door or entrance and sent by certified mail if it is not personally given to the tenant.

At the hearing, the tenant has an opportunity to address the problem with the judge. If the judge orders an eviction, a writ of restitution may be issued in five days. Once that writ is ordered and signed by the judge, it is passed on to the constable for service.

As constable, it is my responsibility to see the property is vacated when I serve the writ of restitution. Generally, I meet with the landlord and their locksmith. Sometimes, the tenant is there because they haven’t moved out yet. It’s not always pleasant, and it’s always stressful for the parties. After all, this was someone’s home.

If the tenant hasn’t moved out yet when I arrive, I will give them time to pack their immediate needs. That may be their cell phone and chargers, car keys, wallet or purse, credit cards, cash, medication or prescriptions, legal paperwork, baby care goods, clothes, toiletries, water, pets and pet food, and anything they can carry off in a few minutes.

Once the locks get changed, the landlord must store anything inside for a certain number of days before disposing of the property.

Anyone can be faced with problems at some time in life, and I try to be as empathetic as possible. Sometimes folks ask me for legal advice when I serve them. Unfortunately, I can’t give it to them. That’s what attorneys are for. Some of the answers they are looking for may also be found in the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act at Housing.az.gov or AZCourts.gov, or at SAZLegalAid.org or AZLawHelp.org.

Evictions are difficult in every instance. If it appears imminent that you will be evicted, start making plans now. When the constable knocks on your door and that written order says, “YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED,” know that the constable will try to make it as easy as possible. However, he is commanded to do it now.

This is how it looks from the Constable’s Corner.

William Lee “Bill Griffin”
Constable, Western Pinal County