Author: Utah Courts

Heber City, Utah — The next regularly scheduled meeting of Utah’s grand
jury panel of judges will be on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the Heber
City 4th District Courthouse, located at 1361 US-40, Heber City, UT 84032. (1)

The purpose of the meeting is to hear testimony, if any, to determine
whether a grand jury should be summoned based upon evidence of
criminal activity. The panel of judges will hear, in secret, individuals
claiming information that justifies calling a grand jury. Individuals appearing
before the panel of judges will be placed under oath. An individual who
testifies must be prepared to provide evidence to support a claim that
justifies calling a grand jury. The Attorney General, a county attorney,
district attorney, or special prosecutor appointed under U.C.A. section 77-
10a-1 can also present evidence of criminal activity. Controversies between
individual parties, civil matters, and matters that are subject to criminal
appeal will not be considered.

Those wanting to testify before the panel of judges should contact Keri
Sargent, Deputy District Court Administrator, Administrative Office of the
Courts, at (801) 238-7547 by Monday, October 5, 2026, at noon, to
schedule an appointment and arrange to receive further specific
instructions. Any individual needing special accommodation during the
hearing must notify panel staff at least three business days prior to the
hearing. If no appointments are scheduled by the appointed time, the
meeting will be canceled without further notice.

The current members of the grand jury panel of judges are: Supervising
Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills, 3rd District Court; Judge Roger Griffin, 4th
District Court; Judge Blaine Rawson, 2nd District Court; Vacant, 5th
District Court; and Judge Matthew Bates, 3rd District Court. Additional
information regarding the grand jury panel of judges is available at the Utah
Court’s website (2) or in the Utah Code. (3)

1 Utah’s grand jury statute requires a panel of judges selected from throughout the state to hold a
hearing in each judicial district every three years.

2 Grand Jury Schedule

3 77-10a-2. Panel of judges — Appointment — Membership — Ordering of grand jury

Press Release October 15 2026

JUSTICE STEPHEN DENT TAKES OATH OF OFFICE 

JUSTICE COURT VACANCY ANNOUNCED FOR LEHI

Lehi, Utah—Applications are being accepted for a full-time justice court judge position that will serve Lehi, Utah. The successful candidate will replace Judge Morgan Cummings who will resign his position in October.

To be considered for a justice court judgeship in Utah County, candidates must be at least 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a Utah resident for at least three years, and have a degree from a law school that would make one eligible to apply for admission to a bar in any state in the United States. In addition, applicants must be a resident of Utah County or an adjacent county either upon appointment or before taking the bench.

To be considered for this position, an application for judicial office must be completed online at justicecourtvacancies.utah.gov before the deadline. The salary range for the position is $147,886 to $190,139 per year and includes benefits. For additional information about working for Lehi, contact David Kitchen, the Human Resources Manager for Lehi, at (385) 201-2265 or dkitchen@lehiut.gov.

The deadline for applications is Friday, October 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Applications cannot be submitted after the deadline. For questions about the justice courts or the process for filling this position, email Jim Peters, Justice Court Administrator, at jamesp@utcourts.gov.

Utah law requires the Judicial Nominating Commission to submit at least three nominees to Mayor Paul Binns within 45 days of its first meeting. Mayor Binns will then have 30 days in which to select a finalist. His selection must then be ratified by the Lehi City Council and certified by the Utah Judicial Council.

Lehi Vacancy

Duchesne County, Utah—Applications are being accepted for a part-time justice court judge position that will serve Duchesne County, Utah. The successful candidate will replace Judge E. Jed Labrum following his resignation.

To be considered for a justice court judgeship in Duchesne County, candidates must be at least 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a Utah resident for at least three years, and have a degree from a law school that would make one eligible to apply for admission to a bar in any state in the United States. In addition, applicants must be a resident of Duchesne County or an adjacent county either upon appointment or before taking the bench.

An application for judicial office must be completed online at justicecourtvacancies.utah.gov before the deadline. The minimum salary for the position is $40,905 and does not include benefits.  For additional information about working for Duchesne County, contact Tommi Mascaro by phone at (435) 738-1232 or by email at tmascaro@duchesne.utah.gov.

The deadline for applications is Friday, September 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Applications cannot be submitted after the deadline. For questions about the justice courts or the process for filling this position, email Jim Peters, Justice Court Administrator, at jamesp@utcourts.gov.

Utah law requires the Duchesne County Justice Court Nominating Commission to submit at least three nominees to Commissioner Greg Miles, chair of the Duchesne County Commission, within 45 days of its first meeting. He will then have 30 days in which to make a selection. His selection must  then be ratified by the Duchesne County Commission and certified by the Utah Judicial Council.

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Salt Lake City, Utah—The Judicial Nominating Commission for Salt Lake City has selected five nominees for a justice court judge position that will serve Salt Lake City, Utah. The successful candidate will fill a new position recently approved by the Utah Judicial Council.

Following is an alphabetical listing of the nominees followed by place of employment and city of residence:

• Mike Boehm, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of South Jordan,
• Paul C. Farr, J.D., Attorney at Law and Justice Court Judge in Alta and Sandy, resident of Herriman,
• J. Mason Kjar, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Centerville,
• Nick Stiles, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Salt Lake City, and
• Jaime Topham, J.D., Attorney at Law and Justice Court Judge in Grantsville, resident of Grantsville.

A comment period will be held through August 16, 2026. Once application materials are provided to Mayor Mendenhall, she will have 30 days to make a final selection. Her decision must then be ratified by the Salt Lake City Council and certified by the Utah Judicial Council. To submit written comments about any of the candidates, please email James Peters, Justice Court  Administrator, at jamesp@utcourts.gov.

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Salt Lake City, Utah—The Judicial Nominating Commission for Salt Lake City has scheduled a  meeting on June 26, 2026 to review applications for a justice court judge position that will serve Salt  Lake City, Utah. The successful candidate will fill a new position recently approved by the Utah  Judicial Council. The Commission will begin the meeting at 8:00 a.m. in the Matheson Courthouse,  which is located at 450 South State Street in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

The early portion of the meeting is scheduled for public comment about issues facing the Utah  judiciary and improvements to the system. Public comments will be accepted from 9:00 a.m. to  9:30 a.m. Following the public comment period, the meeting will be closed to allow commission members to review applications for the vacancy. 

Individuals interested in submitting oral or written commentary to the commission during the public  comment portion of the meeting must contact Jim Peters at (801) 578-3824 or jamesp@utcourts.gov to request an appointment.  

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Salt Lake City, Utah — The Third District Criminal Commissioner Nominating Committee submits the following names for public comment: Melissa Stirba, Breanne Miller, Paul Farr.  Anyone wishing to make a comment regarding the following in relation to the potential appointment of the Criminal Commissioner position may do so within the next 10 days by sending an email to markp@utcourts.gov.

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