Uncategorized – Utah Court Rules – Published for Comment

Posted: November 26, 2025

Code of Judicial Administration – Comment Period Closes January 12, 2026

CJA 3-101. Judicial performance standards (AMEND)
The proposed amendments modify the case under advisement performance standards for appellate court judges from a fixed number to a percentage-based standard.

CJA 3-111. Performance Evaluation of Court Commissioners (AMEND)
The proposed amendments remove language allowing court commissioners to exclude an attorney from a certification performance survey because that provision no longer applies.

CJA 4-410. Courthouse closure (AMEND)
The proposed amendments: 1) clarify the sequence of designated authority for signing courthouse closure orders; 2) add cybersecurity and court operations throughout the rule; and 3) modify the language to include a provision for physical building closure, as well as operational closure.

Posted: October 9, 2025

Rules Governing the Utah State Bar – Admissions – Comment Period Closed November 24, 2025

USB14-702. Board – general powers. Amend. This amendment changes the title of the rule and clarifies that the process to request a rule waiver is found in Rule 14-722.

USB14-716. License fees; enrollment fees; oath and admission. Amend. This amendment allows the Office of Admissions at the Utah State Bar to file a fifth Motion for Admissions.

USB14-722. Rule Waiver. New. This new rule provides a process for applicants to seek a waiver of a rule from the Supreme Court.

Posted: September 3, 2025

Rules of Civil Procedure – Comment Period Closed October 20, 2025

URCP005. Service and filing of pleadings and other papers. AMEND. The proposed amendments to this rule are primarily to address when service is required on parties in default, to clarify when a party in default must be served. There is also a new subparagraph (a)(2)(D) after review of the Standards of Professionalism and Civility, particularly Standard 16, and Utah Supreme Court case, Arbogast Family Trust ex rel. Arbogast v. River Crossings, LLC, 2010 UT 40. There is also a proposed amendment to (b)(3)(C) regarding a mailing address.

URCP042. Consolidation; separate trials; venue transfer. AMEND. The proposed amendments to this rule clarify the filings to be made in each action and by the parties when there are requests to consolidate cases. This includes clarification on motions to intervene, notices, orders, the assigned judge, and the use of a single case number. There is also new proposed language regarding severance of matters, and reassignment of cases where the cases to be consolidated may not be of the same case type.

URCP103. Child protective orders. NEW. This new proposed rule will apply when child protective order cases are transferred from the juvenile court to the district court under Utah Code section 78A-6-104(5). This rule covers procedures for live child testimony, recorded statements, and recorded testimony, and follows generally the substance of Utah Rules of Juvenile Procedure Rule 37A.

Posted: September 3, 2025

Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Rule Changes – Comment Period Closed October 20, 2025

USB011-613. CLE Accreditation for qualified audio and video presentations, webcasts, computer interactive programs, writing, lecturing, teaching, public service, and verified attendance. AMEND. The proposed change to the MCLE Rule 11-613 would allow lawyers and Licensed Paralegal Practitioners to receive one hour of elective CLE credit for every 1,000 words up to a maximum of three elective CLE credit hours per compliance cycle.

Posted: July 22, 2025

Code of Judicial Administration – Comment Period Closed September 5, 2025

CJA03-407. Accounting (AMEND)
The Board of Justice Court Judges voted to adopt the Court’s Accounting Manual as the standard for all justice courts. The proposed amendments: 1) broaden the scope of the manual to include justice courts; 2) add two members of the Justice Court Education Committee to the Accounting Manual Review Committee; and 3) make non-substantive formatting changes.

Posted: July 11, 2025

Rules of Juvenile Procedure – Comment Period Closed August 25, 2025

URJP034. Pre-trial hearing in non-delinquency cases. Amend. In response to In re J.M., 2024 UT App 147, the proposed amendments to Rule 34 include: (1) stylistic and grammatical changes that aim to provide clarity; (2) in paragraph (c), articulation of the court’s process in informing respondents of their rights and potential consequences upon adjudication of the petition; (3) a proposal to remove the language in (d)–this language is contained in Rule 19–and replace it with the capture of a respondent’s answer in open court; (4) in paragraph (e), when a respondent declines to admit or deny the allegations, the respondent can proceed with an “uncontested answer;” (5) paragraph (f) directs the court to find that admissions or uncontested answers and waiver of rights are knowing and voluntary; (6) and in paragraph (g), provide a mechanism to respondents seeking relief from admissions or uncontested answers.

Posted: June 23, 2025

Code of Judicial Administration – Comment Period Closed August 7, 2025

CJA03-201.Court commissioners (AMEND)
The proposed amendments delegate the authority to approve court commissioner selections to the Management Committee.

CJA03-413.Judicial library resources (AMEND)
The proposed amendments modify which print publications are provided to each district and juvenile courtroom. The amendments are necessary due to significant price increases for print publications and the discontinuation of statewide bulk ordering by Legislative Services.

Posted: May 8, 2025

Rules of Evidence – Comment Period Closed June 22, 2025

URE0404. Character evidence; crimes or other acts. Amend. The proposed amendments to the text of the rule are technical rather than substantive in nature. Additionally, a proposed new advisory committee note clarifies that consideration of the Shickles factors is no longer mandatory, but that they may be relevant and properly considered depending on the facts and circumstances of the case.

URE0408. Compromise offers and negotiations. Amend. Proposed amendments to the text of this rule are likewise technical rather than substantive. A proposed new advisory committee note observes that the rule differs from its federal counterpart.

URE0510. Miscellaneous matters. Amend. Proposed amendments to the text of the rule are technical only. It is also proposed that a reference be added to recent legislation substantively amending this rule.

Posted: March 17, 2025

Rules of Criminal Procedure – Comment Period Closed May 1, 2025

URCrP007. Initial proceedings for class A misdemeanors and felonies. Amend.

URCrP007A. Procedures for arraignment on class B or C misdemeanors, or infractions. Amend.

Rules 7 & 7A are amended to require the collection of certain demographic information for a person subject to a pretrial protective order at the time of case initiation or when a party makes a request for a pretrial protective order. The demographic information collected is necessary to establish the pretrial protective order on both state and federal databases and maintain the record for enforcement purposes.

Posted: March 14, 2025

Code of Judicial Administration – Comment Period Closed April 28, 2025

CJA04-403. Electronic signature and signature stamp use (AMEND)
The proposed amendments grant district, juvenile, and justice courts the discretion to authorize clerks to use a judge’s or commissioner’s electronic signature or signature stamp on additional document types without judicial review by issuing a standing order signed by a presiding judge.

CJA04-111. Priority of post-conviction petitions in capital cases (AMEND)
The proposed amendments remove the requirement that the Administrative Office of the Courts prepare a monthly report on pending post-conviction petitions in capital cases because those reports are no longer needed.