Utah Courts
UCJA Rule 9-109 (Code of Judicial Administration)
UCJA Rule 9-109 (Code of Judicial Administration)
Rule 9-109. Presiding judges.
Intent:
To establish the procedure for election, term of office, role, responsibilities, and authority of presiding judges and associate presiding judges for Justice Courts.
Applicability:
This rule shall apply to presiding judges and associate presiding judges in the Justice Courts.
Statement of the Rule:
(1) Election and term of office.
(1)(A) Presiding judge.
(1)(A)(i) A presiding judge in each judicial district shall be elected by a majority vote of the active judges present at the district meetings held at the Justice Court Conference in odd years for odd-numbered districts and in even years for even-numbered districts. In the event that a majority vote cannot be obtained, the presiding judge shall be determined by the Board of Justice Court Judges. Interim elections, if necessary, shall take place as provided in this rule. A presiding judge shall be an active judge, currently appointed to at least one court within the district. Senior judges are ineligible to hold or vote for the office of presiding judge.
(1)(A)(ii) The presiding judge's term of office shall commence on July 1 following his or her election or immediately upon appointment, as applicable, and run until he or she resigns or until June 30 of an odd year for odd-numbered districts or of an even year for even-numbered districts, whichever occurs first. A presiding judge may serve successive terms.
(1)(B) Associate presiding judge.
(1)(B)(i) The active judges of a district shall elect one judge of the district to the office of associate presiding judge. An associate presiding judge shall be elected in the same manner and serve the same term as the presiding judge in paragraph (1)(A). An associate presiding judge shall be an active judge, currently appointed to at least one court within the district. Senior judges are ineligible to hold or vote for the office of associate presiding judge.
(1)(B)(ii) When the presiding judge is unavailable, the associate presiding judge shall assume the responsibilities of the presiding judge. The associate presiding judge shall serve on the justice court Education Committee and shall work with the Education Department of the Administrative Office in developing, planning and presenting relevant judicial training at the district level. In addition, the associate presiding judge shall perform other duties assigned by the presiding judge.
(1)(C) Compensation.Presiding judges and associate presiding judges shall be compensated for their service at the end of each fiscal year, in proportion to the percentage of the year they served in office, and as otherwise contemplated by Section 78A-7-209.5 of the Utah Code.
(1)(D) Removal and Other Vacancies of Office.
(1)(D)(i) If the office of presiding judge becomes vacant, then the associate presiding judge shall serve the rest of the presiding judge’s term.
(1)(D)(ii) A presiding judge may appoint, on an interim basis, an eligible judge of the district to fill an unexpired term of the associate presiding judge until the next district meeting. At the district meeting, the active judges present shall ratify the appointment by majority vote. If they do not ratify the appointment, or if the presiding judge does not make an interim appointment, nominations and an election shall then be held at that meeting to fill the unexpired term.
(1)(D)(iii) A presiding judge or associate presiding judge may be removed from that office by a two-thirds vote of the active justice court judges in the district. A successor presiding judge or associate presiding judge shall then be elected to fill the unexpired term of the vacant office.
(1)(D)(iv) In extraordinary circumstances, to preserve confidence in the fair administration of justice, the Presiding Officer of the Judicial Council may remove a judge from any office described in this rule. Vacancies shall be filled as provided in this rule.
(2) District meetings.
(2)(A) Each district shall have regular meetings to discuss and decide district business, receive training, or address issues and concerns specific to the district.
(2)(A)(i) The presiding judge shall call and preside over a meeting of other justice court judges in the district at the annual Justice Court Conference.
(2)(A)(ii) Each district shall have at least one other meeting during the calendar year in which a majority of active justice court judges is present, including the presiding judge or associate presiding judge.
(2)(B) In addition to regular meetings, the presiding judge or a majority of the active judges may call additional meetings as necessary.
(2)(C) An agenda shall be circulated among the judges in advance of any meeting with a known method on how matters may be placed on the agenda.
(2)(D) Other than judges and the Justice Court Administrator, attendance at district meetings shall be by invitation of the presiding judge only.
(2)(E) The issues on which judges vote shall be left to the sound discretion and judgment of each district and the applicable sections of the Utah Constitution, statutes, and this Code.
(3) Administrative responsibilities and authority of presiding judge and associate presiding judge.
(3)(A) Generally. The presiding judge is charged with the responsibility for the effective operation of the justice courts within a district. He or she is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of statutes, rules, policies, and directives of the Judicial Council and the Board of Justice Court Judges as they pertain to the administration of the courts. When the presiding judge acts within the scope of these responsibilities, the presiding judge is acting within the judge’s judicial office.
(3)(B) Coordination of required training.
(3)(B)(i) The associate presiding judge shall: (a) be responsible to see that judges in his or her district are appropriately trained, (b) assist in planning statewide trainings as part of the Education Committee, (c) plan district training to be held in connection with the meetings required by section (2), (d) recommend mentors for new judges, and (e) arrange for individual training, as needed.
(3)(B)(ii) Presiding judges shall occasionally observe hearings of judges within the district to assess training needs.
(3)(C) Court committees. The presiding judge shall, where appropriate, make use of committees composed of other judges and court personnel to investigate problem areas and improve the administration of justice.
(3)(D) Outside agencies and the media.
(3)(D)(i) The presiding judge shall be available to meet with outside agencies, such as prosecuting attorneys, city attorneys, county attorneys, public defenders or associations of defense counsel, sheriffs, police chiefs, bar association leaders, probation providers, government officials of cities or counties located within the district, civic organizations, and other state agencies.
(3)(D)(ii) The presiding judge shall be the primary judicial representative of the justice court judges in the district.
(3)(D)(iii) Nothing in this rule shall replace or interfere with the statutory and administrative responsibilities of an appointed judge to the appointing authority of a court.
(3)(E) Judicial officers.The presiding judge shall discuss significant concerns, problems or complaints regarding the judges in his or her district with the Justice Court Administrator, who shall work together to resolve the concern. In the event that another judge in the district fails to comply with a reasonable administrative directive of the presiding judge, interferes with the effective operation of the court, abuses his or her judicial position, exhibits signs of impairment, or violates the Code of Judicial Conduct, the presiding judge may, depending on the severity of the issue and consistent with legal and ethical obligations:
(3)(E)(i) Consult with appropriate staff at the Administrative Office of the Courts and/or discuss the issue with other presiding judges;
(3)(E)(ii) Meet with the judge to explain the reasons for the directive given or the position taken, consult with the judge about alternative solutions and reevaluate the directive or position, as appropriate;
(3)(E)(iii) Present the problem to the Board of Justice Court Judges for input;
(3)(E)(iv) Require the judge to participate in appropriate counseling, therapy, education or treatment; or
(3)(E)(v) Refer the problem to the Judicial Council, the Chief Justice, or the Judicial Conduct Commission, as appropriate.
(3)(F) Liaison. The presiding judge or his or her designee shall serve as a liaison between the justice courts of the district and (i) the Board of Justice Court Judges and (ii) the presiding judges of Juvenile Court and District Court.
(3)(G) Reassignment.
(3(G)(i) In the event that a motion to disqualify a judge or judges is filed and no appointed judge of the court is available or empowered to hear the motion, the presiding judge shall consider the motion and, if necessary, assign any judge duly appointed pursuant to Utah Code section 78A-7-208 to serve as a temporary justice court judge.
(3)(G)(ii) In the event that all of the appointed judges of a court recuse themselves from a matter, the presiding judge shall assign any judge duly appointed pursuant to Utah Code section 78A-7-208 to serve as a temporary justice court judge.
(3)(H) Compliance with standards.The presiding judge shall monitor and ensure that judges are complying with performance standards established by the Council or as otherwise required by law.
(3)(I) Performance evaluations. Pursuant to Utah Code 78A-12-203, the presiding judge shall receive the midterm reports prepared by the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission for the other justice court judges in his or her district. The presiding judge shall consult with the evaluated judge and the Justice Court Administrator to develop a plan for addressing the issues resulting in less than satisfactory scores.
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