Posted: November 20, 2025
Rules of Juvenile Procedure – Comment Period Closes January 5, 2026
URJP003. Style of pleadings and forms. Amend. The proposed change to Rule 3(b) permits a generic caption for court-approved forms that the Self-Help Center can provide to self-represented parties for use across multiple case types, expanding access to justice.
URJP020A. Discovery in non-delinquency proceedings. Amend. The proposed changes to Rule 20A clarify that the rule applies to discovery in non-delinquency and non-criminal proceedings in juvenile court. The changes also refine language and update cross-references throughout the rule. Specifically, paragraph (b) is revised to more closely align with Rule 26 of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure. Paragraph (g) now incorporates the caution language from Rule 36 of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, with a shortened timeframe. Finally, new paragraphs (n) and (o) relocate provisions currently found in Rule 20 of the Utah Rules of Juvenile Procedure. (Changes to Rule 20 are forthcoming.)
URJP022. Initial appearance and preliminary hearing in cases under Utah Code sections 80-6-503 and 80-6-504. Amend. The proposed change to Rule 22(g) amends the preliminary hearing timeframes. For youth in custody, a hearing will be held no later than 14 days after the initial appearance. For youth not in custody, the preliminary hearing will be held no later than 28 days after the initial appearance. These timeframes are consistent with those in Rule 7 of the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Second Comment Period
URJP015. Preliminary inquiry; informal adjustment without petition. Amend. Rule 15 is being posted for a second public comment period. The added language to paragraph (d) is a response to Senate Bill 157 (2025), which amended Utah Code section 80-6-304 to require probation officers to inform minors of their right to consult counsel—and how to access counsel—before declining a nonjudicial adjustment. This change remains part of the proposal. Additional proposed changes remove references to “parent, guardian, or custodian” from paragraphs (b), (c), (d), and (e). These revisions reflect that Utah Code section 80-6-303.5 does not require parental participation or agreement for a minor to enter a nonjudicial adjustment.
Rule 20A(b) requires the parties to share initial disclosures “within 14-days of the answer.” Most “answers” in child welfare proceedings are given orally at the first pre-trial hearing. It would be good if this rule clarified “within 14-days from the first pre-trial hearing.” Some AAG’s resist providing initial discovery because an answer is not formally ‘filed’ with the court. Therefore, I suggest the rule state that initial discovery be provided within 14-days “of the first pre-trial hearing.”
Additionally Rule 20A(c), (d), and (e) should not state “after the answer is filed.” As stated, most “answers” are given orally pursuant to URJP 19(a). Therefore, the discovery rules should be consistent with Rule 19(a). Stating that parties can make interrogatories or take depositions after the “answer is filed” is confusing. Either change to “after the answer is submitted” or “after the answer is made.”
It would be less confusing in Rule 20A(c), (d), and (e) to just state “After the first pre-trial hearing…” in stead of “After the answer is filed…”
Also- it would be great if Rule 20A offered more clarity on the filing of pre-trial disclosures. The only pre-trial disclosure that is even required is expert notices.
Thank you
Parents, Guardians, and custodians are out on URJP015. I understand this because the NJ statutory scheme has abandoned parents, guardians, and custodians from being involved. I also understand that parents may not be considered trusted adults in some scenarios where and when they want their children to accept responsibility for misdeeds. There is an old adage that Bill Russell likely recalls “Mother Knows Best”. Well, no mas…
I am not suggesting Bill is old, he is simply wise…
URJP003. Style of pleadings and forms. Not all minors will be under a certain age. Instead of having a blank space to type an age in please consider a check box option of under or over with an age of 18 as the listed age. Example: “State of Utah, in the interest of ____________, a minor ____ under / ____ over 18 years of age.”