Arizona Court of Appeals, 2026

State v. Smith

State v. Smith
Arizona Court of Appeals · Decided May 28, 2026
State v. Smith

Opinion

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.

UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

IN THE ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION ONE

STATE OF ARIZONA, Respondent, v. CHRISTOPHER LEE SMITH, Petitioner.

No. 1 CA-CR 25-0363 PRPC FILED 05-28-2026

Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County No. CR2008-102616-001 The Honorable Sam J. Myers, Judge REVIEW GRANTED; RELIEF DENIED

COUNSEL Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Phoenix By Philip D. Garrow Counsel for Respondent Christopher Lee Smith, Tucson Petitioner

MEMORANDUM DECISION Presiding Judge Michael J. Brown, Judge Veronika Fabian, and Vice Chief Judge David D. Weinzweig delivered the decision of the Court.

STATE v. SMITH Decision of the Court PER CURIAM: ¶1 Petitioner Christopher Lee Smith seeks review of the superior court’s order dismissing his petition for post-conviction relief. This is Smith’s fifth petition.

¶2 Absent an abuse of discretion or error of law, we will not disturb a superior court’s ruling on a petition for post-conviction relief.

State v. Gutierrez, 229 Ariz. 573, 577, ¶ 19 (2012). Smith bears the burden to show the superior court abused its discretion by denying his petition for post-conviction relief. See State v. Poblete, 227 Ariz. 537, 538, ¶ 1 (App. 2011) (petitioner has burden of establishing abuse of discretion on review).

¶3 We have reviewed the record in this matter, the superior court’s order denying the petition for post-conviction relief and the petition for review. Smith has not established an abuse of discretion.

¶4 We therefore grant review and deny relief.

MATTHEW J. MARTIN • Clerk of the Court FILED: JR

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