Category: URAP030

Posted: November 30, 2021

Rules of Appellate Procedure – Effective November 1, 2021

URAP023. Motions. The amendments to Rule 23 are intended to: (1) remove all language regarding form requirements in 23(f) and incorporate that language into Rule 27; and (2) clean up other language for clarity and consistency.

URAP027. Form of briefs, notions, and other documents. The amendments to Rule 27 are intended to: (1) combine form requirements for briefs, motions, and other documents into one rule; (2) incorporate language regarding form requirements from Rule 23(f); and (3) clean up other language for clarity and consistency.

URAP030. Decision of the court; notice of decision. The amendments to Rule 30 are intended to: (1) clarify what constitutes the entry of a decision in 30 (d) and (e); and (2) clean up other language for clarity and consistency.

URAP031. Expedited decisions. The amendments to Rule 31 are intended to: (1) include language in 31(b)(1)allowing the court to consider expedited decision upon stipulation of parties; (2) remove the language in (d) regarding appeals ineligible for expedited decision; and (3) clean up other language for clarity and consistency.

URAP054. Transcripts. The amendments to Rule 54 are intended to: (1) update instructions for ordering transcripts in 54(a); and (2) clean up other language for clarity and consistency.

URAP055. Petition on appeal. The amendments to Rule 55 are intended to: (1) change the deadline in Rule 55(a) for filing the petition on appeal to 15 days from transmission of the record, rather than from filing the notice of appeal; (2) modify 55(b) to allow appointed appellate counsel to file the petition on appeal; (3) include a requirement that appellate counsel be appointed within 21 days of the notice of appeal in 55(b); and (4) clean up other language for clarity and consistency.

URAP056. Response to petition on appeal. The amendments to Rule 56 are intended to: (1) replace the page requirement with a word requirement in 56(b); (2) comport the rule with Standing Order 11; and (3) clean up other language for clarity and consistency.

URAP057. Record on appeal; transmission of record. The amendments to Rule 57 are intended to update language regarding record transmission in 57(b).

URAP058. Ruling. The amendments to Rule 58 are intended to remove the language in 58(b) regarding the remand to juvenile court to appoint appellate counsel.

Supreme Court Order

Posted: November 29, 2017

Rules of Appellate Procedure – Effective May 1, 2018

URAP021. Filing and service. Amend. Amended Rule 21 clarifies the “prisoner mailbox rule,” which will promote consistency, clarity, and certainty in inmate litigation. A virtually identical amendment has also been added to the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure.

URAP025. Brief of an amicus curiae or guardian ad litem. Amend. This is a conforming amendment to amended URAP 25A.

URAP025A. Challenging the constitutionality of a statute or ordinance. Amend. This amendment gives the Attorney General the right to appear at oral argument whenever an amicus brief has been filed pursuant to the rule.

URAP030. Decision of the court: dismissal; notice of decision. Amend. The amendment, which deletes the word “dismissal” in the title, corrects an anomaly because nowhere in the rule does it mention the word or provide for dismissing an appeal.

URAP037. Suggestion of mootness; voluntary dismissal. Amend. The proposed amendment makes several changes to the rule.

Subdivision (a). The changes are intended to clarify and simplify a party’s obligation to bring to the court’s attention those circumstances that render moot one or more issues presented for review on appeal.
Subdivision (b). The amended subdivision provides that if all parties to an appeal agree that the appeal should be dismissed, and if they stipulate to a motion for voluntary dismissal, then the appeal must be promptly dismissed. The committee felt that the proposed change would encourage prompt and efficient settlements. It also felt that dismissal of the appeal is constitutionally appropriate when the parties have agreed to a voluntary dismissal because there is no longer a justiciable case or controversy. Finally, the committee considered deleting the last sentence on fees and costs, but instead it opted to simply rework the sentence to read: “The stipulation must specify the terms of payment of costs and fees, if any.”
Subdivision (c). The proposed amendment provides an efficient way for an attorney who is unable to contact his or her client to obtain the necessary affidavit to support a motion for voluntary dismissal, while still protecting the appellant’s right to appeal. The proposal also requires the attorney to certify that he or she has reasonable grounds to believe that the appellant no longer wishes to pursue the appeal. The committee concluded that a certification from the attorney is appropriate because it safeguards the appellant’s right to an appeal, and it also avoids having the attorney reveal confidential communications with the client in an affidavit.
Subdivision (d). The current subdivision —“[a] suggestion of mootness or motion for voluntary dismissal shall be subject to the appellate court’s approval”— has been deleted for the same reasons mentioned in subdivision (b).

URAP055. Petition on appeal. Amend. Amended Rule 55 gives the court discretion to dismiss an untimely filed petition in a child welfare case, rather than requiring dismissal.

Supreme Court Order

Posted: February 14, 2007

Rules of Appellate Procedure

URAP 12. Transmission of the record. Amend. Creates a process for counsel in civil cases to check out the record from the trial court.
URAP 28A. Appellate Mediation Office. Amend. Restricts disclosure of all mediation communications and documents, except the written agreement.
URAP 30. Decision of the court: dismissal; notice of decision. Amend. States that copies of unpublished decisions need not be supplied, unless the decision was issued before October 1, 1998.
URAP 55. Petition on appeal. Amend. Clarifies that a colored cover isn’t used in child welfare appeals.
Supreme Court Order.

Posted: September 29, 2005

Rules of Appellate Procedure

URAP 04. Appeal as of right: when taken. Amend. The proposed amendments are intended to clarify the status of a notice of appeal filed while certain motions are pending. The notice of appeal will be effective as of the date the motion is resolved, but will only be effective for the underlying judgment.
URAP 08A. Emergency relief. New. Creates a new rule to establish a process for managing requests for emergency relief.
URAP 09. Docketing statement. Amend. Contains a technical change to reflect a legislative amendment requiring a motion to withdraw a guilty plea to be made before sentencing.
URAP 12. Transmission of the record. Amend. Requires the clerk transmit the record in post-conviction cases.
URAP 19. Extraordinary writs. Amend. Clarifies the process for resolving petitions for extraordinary relief, and references Rule 8A for other requests for emergency relief. Clarifies that the court?s decision will be based on the petition and the response, unless briefing is requested by the court.
URAP 30. Decision of the court: dismissal; notice of decision. Amend. Technical change.
Supreme Court Order.