Month: May 2021

Santaquin, Genola, and Goshen, UT—The Utah County Nominating Commission has selected four nominees for a judicial vacancy that will serve Santaquin, Genola and Goshen, Utah. The position will replace Judge Sharla Williams who passed away in November.
Following are the nominees followed by place of employment and residence:

• Shaynie Hunter, J.D., attorney at law, resident of Elk Ridge,
• Eric Jewell, J.D., attorney at law, resident of Payson,
• David “Jake” Summers, J.D., attorney at law, resident of Eagle Mountain, and
• Aaron Wise, J.D., attorney at law, resident of Spanish Fork.

A comment period will be held through June 7, 2021. A final candidate will then be selected by the Santaquin Mayor Kirk Hunsaker, Genola Mayor Marty Larson and Goshen Mayor Steven Staheli within 30 days. The selection must then be certified by the Utah Judicial Council. To submit written comments about the candidates, please contact Amy Hernandez at amymh@utcourts.gov.

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Heber City, Utah — A panel of judges is scheduled to meet on Thursday, June 10, 2021, to hear testimony to determine whether good cause exists to call a grand jury. The meeting will take place at the Wasatch County Courthouse, 1361 South Highway 40, Ste. 110, Heber City, UT 84032.[i]

Those wanting to testify before the panel of judges should contact Michael C. Drechsel, Assistant State Court Administrator, Administrative Office of the Courts, at (801) 578-3821 by Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at noon, to schedule an appointment and arrange to receive further specific instructions. If no appointments are scheduled by that time, the meeting will be canceled without further notice.

Due to the continuing public health concerns regarding COVID-19, individuals (including members of the panel of judges) may choose to appear at the meeting remotely using video conferencing software. Individuals who have arranged to testify will appear for individual appointments either:

• at the courthouse, where panel staff will be present to facilitate the individual’s testimony to the panel of judges (including operating video conferencing software, if necessary); or

• from a location of the individual’s choosing using remote video conferencing software, the details of which will be communicated to the individual by panel staff.

The purpose of the hearing is to determine whether a grand jury should be summoned based upon evidence of criminal activity. Controversies between individual parties, civil matters, and matters that are subject to criminal appeal will not be considered. An individual who testifies must be prepared to provide evidence to support a claim that justifies calling a grand jury. 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, individuals claiming information that justifies calling a grand jury. Individuals appearing before the panel of judges will be placed under oath. Any individual needing special accommodation during the hearing must notify panel staff at least three business days prior to the hearing.

The current members of the grand jury panel of judges are: 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 Paul Parker, 3rd District Court. Additional information regarding the grand jury panel of judges is available at the Utah Court’s website or in the Utah Code.

[i] Utah’s grand jury statute requires a panel of judges selected from throughout the state to hold a hearing in each judicial district every three years.

Salt Lake City, UT— The Utah Supreme Court voted unanimously last week to extend the term of the Utah legal regulatory Sandbox to seven years. The Sandbox allows entities to use new business structures and service models to provide legal services in Utah after going through a review and approval process.

The Sandbox was originally authorized for a period of two years, running from the end of August 2020 through the end of August 2022. The extension now means that the Sandbox will run through the end of August 2027, thereby providing a longer period in which the impact of the regulatory reforms may be felt. “The Court’s objectives for regulatory reform are significant and need sufficient time to truly work and create real change in the legal services market in Utah,” said Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Durrant. “We have already seen innovations in legal services in the short two years. We are eager to see even more.” The Court has revised Standing Order No. 15 to reflect the extended Sandbox term.

The Sandbox, which is overseen by the Office of Legal Services Innovation, has garnered strong interest in the local and national legal services arena. The Office has received 47 applications to the Sandbox. The Court has authorized 26 entities to offer services. Services provided range across legal needs, including family law, end of life planning, and small-business needs. Entities include those with new business structures, including nonlawyer ownership and investment and joint ventures between lawyers and nonlawyers. Several entities have been authorized to use nonlawyer human or software providers of legal advice and assistance. All entities authorized in the Sandbox are required to submit regular reports on the services provided to the Office of Legal Services Innovation. The entities’ authorization is contingent upon data showing no evidence of significant consumer harm. To date, the Office has not observed evidence of consumer harm in the services being provided by the Sandbox. Further detail on the Office, including the most recent report on consumer risk issued by the Office, may be found at https://utahinnovationoffice.org.