Arizona courts can restrict public access to some county records

A superior court judge orders a county recorder to restrict public access to certain identifying information for five years when the judge finds the restriction would reduce a danger to someone’s life or safety. The request is available to people in listed roles or circumstances, including public officials, peace officers, health professionals, and people protected by a court order or address confidentiality program. The person must file an affidavit explaining the danger and identifying the records, and a judge must approve the request. If the judge finds someone faces actual physical harm from a person they dealt with officially, the judge also orders public access to the listed index details restricted for five years. The recorder must restrict access within ten days after receiving the court order. Restrictions last five years, and the recorder must remove them by January 5 of the year after the order expires.

A superior court judge orders a county assessor and county treasurer to redact an eligible person’s identifying information for five years when the judge finds the redaction would reduce a danger to someone’s life or safety. The request is available to the same listed groups, for identifying information held by county assessors and treasurers, including information in their records and a public official’s property held in trust. The person must file an affidavit explaining the danger, and a judge must approve the request. Voter registration records are excluded. The person may also request a restriction on county recorder records using one affidavit. The assessor and treasurer must restrict access within ten days after receiving the court order. Restrictions last five years, and the counties must remove them by January 5 of the year after the order expires.