Utah Courts
UCJA Rule 1-305 (Code of Judicial Administration)
UCJA Rule 1-305 (Code of Judicial Administration)
Rule 1-305. Board of Senior Judges.
Intent:
To establish a Board of Senior Judges consisting of senior judges of courts of record and senior justice court judges.
To prescribe the composition of the Board's membership, the method of selection of Board members, the members' terms of office, the Board's officers, the procedures to be followed in the event of vacancies, the frequency of Board meetings, and the procedures to be followed in the conduct of Board meetings.
To increase the level of participation of senior judges in the development of policy for the judiciary.
To improve communication between the Council and senior judges.
Applicability:
This rule shall apply to the Board of Senior Judges.
Statement of the Rule:
(1) For purposes of this rule, "senior judge" includes active senior justices, active senior judges of courts of record, and active senior justice court judges.
(2) Board of senior judges.
(2)(A) Establishment. There is established a Board of Senior Judges.
(2)(B) Membership. The Board shall be comprised of six senior judges, elected at the annual judicial conference senior judge business meeting, by all senior judges who are in attendance. Contingent upon availability of senior judges, each court level (appellate, juvenile, district, and justice) shall have a minimum of one member of the Board.
(2)(C) Election. The senior judges present at the business meeting shall constitute a quorum. Nominations for Board positions may be made by any senior judge. All senior judges present at the meeting shall be entitled to vote for members of the Board.
(2)(D) Terms. The terms of the Board members shall be three years. A Board member shall not serve more than two consecutive terms and the remainder of a predecessor’s term.
(2)(E) Vacancies. If a vacancy occurs for any reason on the Board, the Board shall elect a replacement for the unexpired term of the vacancy.
(3) Board officers.
(3)(A) Establishment. There shall be a chair and vice-chair of the Board. Both the chair and vice chair shall be senior judges.
(3)(B) Election. The chair and vice-chair shall be elected by the Board members.
(3)(C) Chair and vice-chair's term. The chair and vice-chair shall be elected to serve two-year terms, effective immediately after the annual judicial conference. The year following election, the vice-chair shall assume the chair position.
(3)(D) Chair and vice-chair's responsibilities. The chair shall preside over all meetings of the Board and the annual judicial conference senior judge business meeting, and shall perform other duties as set forth in this Code and as directed by the Board. The vice-chair shall serve as chair in the absence of the chair or at the request of the chair.
(3)(E) Vacancy in office of chair or vice-chair. If the chair resigns or leaves the Board for any reason, the vice-chair shall become chair, serving both the unexpired term of the chair and the full term as chair. If the vice-chair resigns from the Board for any reason, a new vice-chair shall be elected by the Board from among its members to serve the unexpired term of the vice-chair and to succeed as chair as otherwise provided in this rule. Voting and replacement of the vice-chair may be conducted by e-mail if a replacement is needed before the next annual judicial conference.
(3)(F) Secretariat services. The Administrative Office shall serve as secretariat to the Board.
(3)(G) Board responsibility. The Board shall exercise such authority and assume such responsibility as delegated by the Council.
(4) Meetings of the Board.
(4)(A) The Board shall meet a minimum of twice a year and otherwise as determined by the chair. One of the meetings shall be a combined Board and Bench meeting conducted during the annual Judicial Conference.
(4)(B) The Board shall rule by majority vote. All Board members have the right to vote. Four members of the Board constitute a quorum.
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