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Wismer: Way to work out court payments in Sun Cities

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These are troubled times.

I know that sounds cliché, but that phrase, regrettably, represents our reality. We are now, on a daily basis, inundated with sobering health, financial and employment news.

Rather than editorializing about our collective plight, which is now, or may be in the future, more significant for some than others, I’m going to get right to the point. If someone who reads this commentary has an outstanding balance, be it civil, traffic or criminal, that is due to  the court I represent (Arrowhead Justice Court), another court in Arizona or one located elsewhere in this country, and is unable to keep up with the current payment plan terms, write to the court.  Explain your situation in detail to the judge. We have a great deal of authority to decide what to do with unpaid balances.

While I don’t speak for anyone other than myself, I assure you I will read your correspondence and that you will hear back from me. Right now, you should receive my response in fairly short order. If it turns out that courts in the future limit operations due to reasons involving public health concerns, my response time may be a bit longer. What I said also applies to court orders involving requirements to complete community restitution/service and education.

People have routinely told me they either didn’t know they could write to a judge or that one would listen to them if they did. But doing so is no different than writing to your mortgage company, landlord or utility provider. We will listen to you and do what we are of the opinion is appropriate under the circumstances. But you have to take the first step and put pen to paper, as the saying goes.

I look forward to hearing from you if the need arises.

Editor’s Note: Craig Wismer is a judge in the Arrowhead Justice Court.