They hear civil traffic cases, violations of city ordinances and codes and issue orders of protection and injunctions prohibiting harassment. They can also issue search warrants and handle domestic violence and harassment cases. They DO NOT hear civil lawsuits between citizens. City charters or ordinances establish the qualifications of these judges, who may not have to be lawyers to serve as judges. City or town councils appoint their judges except in Yuma, where municipal court judges are elected.
Judges have court clerks who provide clerical assistance and schedule cases.
In larger cities, the judges may also have court administrators. Each county's board of supervisors sets the geographical boundaries, known as precincts, of that county's Justice of the Peace courts. Generally, Justice of the Peace precincts are larger than city or town limits and typically incorporate an entire city or town, and pieces of other communities as well. Although these geographical boundaries can be changed, the precincts cannot be abolished until the four-year term of the current justice of the peace expires. Justice of the Peace Courts hear traffic cases and certain civil and criminal cases.