Category: Uncategorized

Willard, Utah—The Willard Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting on August 18, 2025 to review applications for a justice court judge position that will serve Willard, Utah. The position will replace Kevin Christensen who resigned in March. The Commission will begin the meeting at 12:00 p.m. at the Willard City Offices, which are located at 80 West 50 South in Willard, Utah.

The early portion of the meeting is open to the public. Public comments will be accepted from 1:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. for those who want to address the issues facing the Utah judiciary or improvements to the system. 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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Tremonton, Utah—The Tremonton Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting on August 11, 2025 to review applications for a justice court judge position that will serve Tremonton, Utah. The position will replace Kevin Christensen who resigned in March. The Commission will begin the meeting at 12:00 p.m. at the offices of Evans, Grover & Beins, P.C., which is located at 52 West Main Street in Tremonton, Utah.

The early portion of the meeting is open to the public. Public comments will be accepted from 1:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. for those who want to address the issues facing the Utah judiciary or improvements to the system. 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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San Juan County, Utah—Applications are being accepted for a justice court judge position that will serve San Juan County, Utah. The successful candidate will replace Judge Lyon Hazleton who will retire at the end of the year.

To be considered for a justice court judgeship in San Juan 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 San Juan County or an adjacent county either upon appointment or before taking the bench.

Information on judicial retention and performance evaluation is posted on the Utah State Court’s website at www.utcourts.gov under employment opportunities. An application for judicial office must be completed online at justicecourtvacancies.utah.gov before the deadline. The salary range for the position is $59,856 to $76,957 per year and includes some benefits. For additional information about working for San Juan County, email Mack McDonald, the Chief  Administrative Officer for San Juan County, at mmcdonald@sanjuancountyut.gov or call him at (435) 587-3225.

The deadline for applications is Monday, September 1, 2025, 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 the San Juan County Commission within 45 days of its first meeting. The Commission will then have 30 days in which to select a finalist. Its selection must then be certified by the Utah Judicial Council.

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Box Elder County, Utah—The Box Elder County Judicial Nominating Commission has selected three nominees for a justice court judge position that will serve Box Elder County, Utah. The final candidate will replace Judge Kevin Christensen who resigned in March.

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

• Dustin D. Ericson, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of North Logan,

• Tyler W. Holmes, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Farr West, and

• Bryan J. Memmott, J.D., Attorney at Law and Justice Court Judge in Plain City, South Ogden, South Weber, Uintah and Woods Cross, resident of Fruit Heights.

A comment period will be held through July 17, 2025. Once application materials are provided to the county commission, it will have 30 days to make a final selection. 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 Utah Judiciary is saddened to announce the passing of the Honorable Gordon R. Hall, former Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court, on June 1, 2025, at the age of 98.

Born on December 14, 1926, in Vernal, Utah, Justice Hall enjoyed a storied and impactful career that began in private practice in Tooele and included service as Tooele County Attorney and as a 3rd District Court judge. In 1977, he was appointed to the Utah Supreme Court, eventually serving as Chief Justice from 1981 to 1993.

During his time on the bench, Chief Justice Hall spearheaded efforts to strengthen judicial independence through constitutional reform, led Utah’s Judicial Council, served as President of the Conference of Chief Justices, and chaired the board of the National Center for State Courts. In 1988, he received the Distinguished Jurist Award for his exemplary contributions to the judiciary.

“Chief Justice Gordon R. Hall was a visionary leader whose commitment to fairness, judicial integrity, and the rule of law shaped our courts for generations. His legacy endures in the independence of Utah’s judiciary and the many lives he influenced,” said Chief Justice Matthew B. Durrant.

In 2007, the Tooele County Courthouse was named in his honor, recognizing his dedication and significant impact.

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Box Elder County, Utah—The Box Elder County Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting on June 13, 2025 to review applications for a justice court judge position that will serve Box Elder County, Utah. The position will replace Kevin Christensen who resigned in March. The Commission will begin the meeting at 12:00 p.m. in the Box Elder County Attorney’s Office, which is located at 81 North Main Street in Brigham 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 1:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.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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Kane County, Utah—The Kane County Judicial Nominating Commission has selected three nominees for a justice court judge position that will serve Kane County, Utah. The final candidate will replace Judge Gary Johnson who will retire in June.

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

• Barry E. Clarkson, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Santa Clara,
• William “Bill” Frazier, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of St. George, and
• J. Shea Owens, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Panguitch.

A comment period will be held through May 12, 2025. Once application materials are provided to the county commission, it will have 30 days to make a final selection. To submit written comments about any of the candidates, please email James Peters, Justice Court Administrator, at jamesp@utcourts.gov.

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Vernal, Utah — The next regularly scheduled meeting of Utah’s grand jury panel of judges will be on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Vernal 8^th District Courthouse, located at 920 U.S. Hwy 40, Vernal, UT, 84078.¹

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, June 2, 2024, 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; Judge Matthew Bell, 5th District Court; and Judge Paul Parker, 3rd District Court. Additional information regarding the grand jury panel of judges is available at the Utah Court’s website² 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

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Kane County, Utah—The Kane County Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting on May 1, 2025 to review applications for a justice court judge position that will serve Kane County, Utah. The position will replace Judge Gary Johnson who will retire in June. The Commission will begin the meeting at 1:00 p.m. in the Kane County Administration Building, which is located at 76 North Main Street in Kanab, 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 2:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.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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