Month: April 2019

Bryce, UT — A panel of judges is scheduled to meet on May 10, 2019, to hear testimony to determine whether reasonable cause exists to call a grand jury. The meeting will take place at Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn, located at 26 S Main St, Bryce, Utah 84764.
Those wanting to testify before the panel of judges should contact Michael C. Drechsel, Associate General Counsel for the Administrative Office of the Courts, at (801) 578-3821 by Tuesday, April 30, 2019, at 5 p.m. to schedule an appointment. If no appointments are scheduled by that time, the meeting will be canceled without further notice.
Individuals testifying must be prepared to give evidence to support claims that justify calling a grand jury. Controversies between individual parties will not be considered. Individuals who need special accommodations during the hearing must notify the court at least three business days prior to the hearing.
Utah’s Grand Jury Statute requires a panel of judges selected from throughout the state to hold hearings in each judicial district every three years. The purpose of the hearings is to determine whether a grand jury needs to be summoned based on evidence of criminal activity. The Grand Jury Panel is comprised of the following judges: Supervising Judge W. Brent West, 2nd District Court; Judge Lynn W. Davis, 4th District Court; Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills, 3rd District Court; Judge Eric A. Ludlow, 5th District Court; and Judge Kara Pettit, 3rd District Court.
The Attorney General, a county attorney, district attorney, or special prosecutor appointed under U.C.A. section 77-10a-1 can also present evidence of criminal activity. The panel of judges will hear, in secret, all persons claiming information that justifies calling a grand jury. All individuals appearing before the panel of judges will be placed under oath. If a grand jury is summoned, the jurors will be called from the state-at-large or any judicial district within the state.
Additional information regarding the Grand Jury panel of judges is available at the Utah Court’s website or in the Utah Code.

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Salt Lake City, UT—The Salt Lake County Nominating Commission has selected five nominees for a judicial vacancy in the Salt Lake City Justice Court. The position will replace Judge L.G. Cutler who retired effective Feb. 28, 2019.
Following are the nominees followed by place of employment and residence:

• Matthew Barraza, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Salt Lake City
• Remington “Jiro” Johnson, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Cottonwood Heights
• Katherine Peters, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Salt Lake City
• Heather Thuet, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Salt Lake City
• Jenifer Tomchak, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Salt Lake City

A comment period will be held through April 19, 2019. A final candidate will then be selected by Salt Lake City Mayor, Jackie Biskupski, who has 30 days to make an appointment. The appointment is subject to ratification by the Salt Lake City Council. The Utah Judicial Council must then certify the appointment. To submit written comments about the candidates, please contact Amy Hernandez at amymh@utcourts.gov.

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