Goodyear municipal judge outlines rising caseload, expands veterans and inmate-release programs

Presiding Judge Delgado told the Goodyear City Council on Jan. 12 that the municipal courthas seen steep increases in filings and is implementing programs and operational changes to keep pace.

Delgado said the courtrecorded about 17,151 charge filings in fiscal year 2025, up from roughly 13,734 the year prior, an increase the presentation described as roughly 34% in charge filings year over year. The largest single-category jump the judge highlighted was civil traffic filings, which rose by about 3,314 cases. Delgado said the courtfinished FY2025 with a clearance rate of about 99.9% after operating below the usual standard at times earlier in the year.

Why it matters: the increase in filings accelerates staff workload and affects calendar management and time-to-resolution. Delgado said the court has taken several management steps, including an administrative order issued in June 2025 that gives court staff confidential access to a Mercy Care database to identify defendants designated as seriously mentally ill (SMI) and, when appropriate, appoint counsel and track those cases.

Delgado described program-level responses to the workload: Goodyear renewed an IGA with Glendale allowing veteran defendants to participate in the West Valley Regional Veterans Court; 30 defendants completed the veterans court program in FY2025 (including cases referred earlier). The court is also participating in Maricopa CountyRegional Homeless Court programs that can convert eligible participantscommunity service in lieu of fines if they graduate from the program.

Crystal Whalen, court director, said the court added a biweekly in-person Spanish interpreter docket to improve language access, while most interpreter services remain provided remotely. Whalen also described an Inmate Release Court (IRC) partnership with the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Arizona Department of Corrections Second Chance program: 11 defendants submitted IRC participant agreements in FY2025 and seven completed their plans to resolve outstanding cases while incarcerated.

On facilities, Whalen said the court has engaged the National Center for State Courts to evaluate Old City Hall as a potential future courtroom and related space. The kickoff occurred Dec. 10; Whalen said data collection and analysis are complete and a site visit and final report are scheduled, with a feasibility recommendation expected by June.

Council members thanked the judge and director for the report, asked for clarifications about the mental-health administrative order and discussed the extent to which police enforcement and growth are driving category-by-category changes in filings. Delgado and Whalen said multiple factors likely drive trends, including population growth and increased enforcement in some categories.

Next steps: the judge said the court will continue to track time-standard compliance required by the Arizona Supreme Court, prepare recommendations pursuant to the presiding judgeemployment agreement when relevant, and incorporate facility recommendations from the National Center for State Courts when they are available.