Apache County's Justice Courts
Apache County runs the length of Arizona's eastern edge, from the Navajo Nation in the north to the White Mountains in the south, and its three justice courts are spread across that distance rather than clustered in one town. Each keeps its own hours, which is unusual -- in most Arizona counties the justice courts open and close together.
Distance is the practical problem here more than precinct boundaries, and the hours matter as much as the drive. Three of the four courthouses in this county close on Fridays, and two open at seven in the morning rather than eight, so confirm the hours for the one you need before setting out. Note also that Northstar is a single court sitting in two places, at Chinle and at Sanders: the Chinle and Puerco courts were combined into it at the start of 2023, and older directories still list them separately.
A landlord and tenant case here is normally heard in the justice court for the precinct the property sits in. Above the justice courts' civil jurisdiction limit it belongs in the superior court instead, and below that limit the two share it. What does not happen is a municipal or city court hearing one — see how Arizona's justice courts work.
The Apache County Superior Court is in St. Johns, at 70 West Third South, which is the justice court's building too. In a county this long that is worth knowing: whichever of the two ends up hearing the case, it is the same drive.
Northstar Justice Court - Chinle
Address: US Highway 191 Mile Post 447, Chinle, Arizona 86503
Phone: 928-674-5922
Hours: Mon-Thurs 7:00am to 5:30pm
A second office of the Northstar court, not a separate one. Both offices belong to the same precinct.
Northstar Justice Court - Sanders
Address: Apache County Rd 7080, Sanders, Arizona 86512
Phone: 928-688-2729
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00am to 5:00pm
Round Valley Justice Court
Address: 130 S Mountain Ave, Springerville, Arizona 85938
Phone: 928-333-4613
Hours: Mon-Thurs 7:00am to 5:00pm
Getting there: Park on the north side or behind. Parking is free.
Going in: Children are not allowed in the courtroom, unless it is a protective order hearing or the child is requested.
Help with language or disability: Court forms are published in several languages. Interpreters work on site. A telephone interpreting service covers other languages. Tell the court at least 48 hours beforehand if you need language or disability help.
St. Johns Justice Court
Address: 70 W 3rd South, Saint Johns, Arizona 85936
Phone: 928-337-7558
Hours: Mon-Thurs 8:00am to 5:00pm
Getting there: Park in the lot in front. Parking is free.
Going in: You go through a metal detector on the way in. Anything you carry goes through an x-ray machine. Children are not allowed in the courtroom, unless it is a protective order hearing or the child is requested.
Help with language or disability: Interpreters in other languages are brought in on request.
Before You Rely on This
Court details were checked in August 2026. Arizona has been consolidating rural justice courts -- Santa Cruz in 2019, and Graham and La Paz in 2023 -- so listings elsewhere can name courts that have closed. If anything here matters to a filing, confirm it with the court before you rely on it.
The notice a tenancy has to be given before any of this arises is set out under ending a tenancy.
Common Questions
Do Apache County’s justice courts keep the same hours?
No, and the differences are large. Three of the four courthouses close on Fridays and two open at seven in the morning, which is unusual in Arizona -- in most counties the justice courts open and close together. Check the hours for the one you need before setting out.
Does a property on tribal land in Apache County go to a state justice court?
Not necessarily. Much of northern Apache County lies within the Navajo Nation, where jurisdiction can work differently. Confirm before assuming a state justice court is the right venue.
Which court hears an eviction in Apache County?
Normally the justice court for the precinct where the rental property is located, and Apache County has three justice courts. Justice courts share jurisdiction over these cases with the superior court up to a limit set by statute, and above that limit the superior court hears them. Municipal and city courts do not hear them at all.