PowerPoint Presentation

West Valley Regional Veterans Court 
Glendale City Court,  Nicholas C. DiPiazza, Presiding Judge

This presentation will follow – up on the Council Special Item 
of Interest articulated by Mayor Weiers on January 12, 2021:
To fully examine the requirements and resources 
necessary for the implementation of a Veterans Court 
in Glendale.  
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Council Special Item of Interest

• To enhance public safety and reduce recidivism by 
adjudicating cases involving Veterans of the U.S. Armed 
Forces, while ensuring justice for victims and the accused, 
by coordinating efforts with the VA to provide targeted 
services to achieve sustained accountability and successful 
reintegration into the community.
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Veterans Court Mission

A reduction in crimes perpetrated by Veterans and mitigation 
of unemployment and homelessness within the community of 
those who served, through the appropriate adjudication of 
cases and by addressing issues at the root of crime involving 
Veterans.
The WVRVC will expand the operational definition of 
“community” from the confines of the City of Glendale and 
now encompass the entire West Valley.
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WVRVC Vision

• Veterans Courts have been in existence for many years 
nationwide. In Arizona, Phoenix, seven East Valley cities and  
Lake Havasu City all have a Veterans Courts and they have 
continually achieved positive results.
• The Maricopa County Justice Courts also established a 
Veterans Court at the NW Regional Court Center, located in 
Surprise, that accepts cases from the 26 Maricopa County 
Justice Courts, but not from city courts.
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BACKGROUND

• A Veterans Court for West Valley Municipal Courts is long 
overdue.
• The Glendale City Court has successfully operated a 
Veterans Court since October 2021.
• We have a “green light” to proceed from the Presiding 
Judge, Superior Court, Maricopa County. 
• We are ready now, for Glendale to exercise a leadership role 
by establishing a West Valley Regional Veterans Court.
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West Valley Regional Veterans Court

• The Court, in cooperation with partners, will develop 
innovative “pre” or “post” adjudicative solutions, as may be 
appropriate to each case, in order to achieve the Mission of 
Veterans Court, one case at a time. 
• The Court will leverage services provided by and through the 
VA. It will also continually seek available grants and other 
resources necessary to achieve solutions, enhance the 
program and improve customer service.
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Concept of Operations

• The City Court will use: 
• Existing City Court budget resources.
• Proceeds of a DOJ Grant $197,235 10/21 – 9/25.
• Cost sharing among participating cities & towns.
• Size and scope of the program will be managed to remain 
within budget.
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Concept of Operations (con’t.)

• With the consensus of Council, the Glendale City Court team 
will proceed with the implementation of a West Valley 
Regional Veterans Court with a projected commencement of 
operations on January 2, 2023.
• The Court will engage all West Valley Municipal Courts and 
enter into IGAs providing for participation and cost sharing. 
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Conclusion

Questions?
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Council Special Item of Interest
Glendale City Court
Nicholas C. DiPiazza
Presiding Judge