Month: December 2022

Herriman and Riverton, UT—The Salt Lake County Nominating Commission has selected an additional nominee for judicial vacancies that will serve Herriman and Riverton, Utah. The vacancy in Herriman results from the resignation of Judge Paul Farr in April. The vacancy in Riverton results from the retirement of Judge Greg Bown in July. The cities may select one nominee to fill both vacancies or they may select a different nominee for each  vacancy.

The following is the name of the nominee followed by place of employment and residence:

• Judge Christopher Bown, J.D., Taylorsville City Justice Court Judge, resident of  Riverton.

A special comment period will be held through December 31, 2022. A final candidate will then be selected by Lorin Palmer, the mayor of Herriman, and Trent Staggs, the mayor of  Riverton, 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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Blanding, UT—The San Juan County Nominating Commission has selected three nominees for the judicial vacancy that will serve Blanding, Utah. The position will replace Judge  Lyon Hazleton who will resign at the end of December.

Following are the nominees followed by place of employment and residence:

• Trenton Herring, Chief Operating Officer for Blue Mountain Hospital, resident of Blanding,

• Kelly Laws, previous Blanding City Councilman, resident of Blanding, and • Judge Danalee Welch-O’Donnal, Grand County Justice Court Judge, resident of Moab.

A comment period will be held through December 31, 2022. A final candidate will then be selected by Logan Monson, the mayor of Blanding, 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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Blanding, UT—The San Juan County Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting on December 20, 2022 to review applications for a justice court judge position that will serve Blanding, Utah. The position will replace Judge Lyon Hazleton who will resign in December. The Commission will begin the meeting at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Blanding City Offices (50 W 100 S in Blanding, UT 84511).

The early portion of the meeting is scheduled for public comment about issues facing the Utah judiciary and improvements to the system. Public comments will be accepted from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Following the public comment period, the meeting will be closed to allow commission members to review applications for the vacancy.

Individuals interested in appearing before the commission during the public comment portion of the meeting should contact Amy Hernandez at (801) 578-3809 or amymh@utcourts.gov to request an appointment.

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Vernal, Utah – During the last two and a half years, many of the State Courts’ hearings have been held virtually.  Currently, many hearings are back to being held in person, but we anticipate that others will continue to be held online through Webex.

In order to provide increased access to the Courts, the 8th District would like to announce that we have installed kiosks in the Vernal Courthouse that can be used by the public.  These kiosks will allow you to connect to your hearing in the 8th District or in any District in the State where you may have a case.  We hope this will provide a service to those without internet access or those who would prefer to come to the courthouse.

We anticipate that by the first of the calendar year, kiosks will be available in Roosevelt, Duchesne and Daggett as well.  In order to access the kiosks please talk with a Judicial Assistant at one of the Clerical Counters.

Brigham City, Utah — The next regularly scheduled meeting of Utah’s grand jury panel of judges will be on Thursday, January 12, 2023, at the Brigham City 1st District Courthouse, located at 243 North Main, Brigham City, UT 84302-0873.¹

The purpose of the meeting is to hear testimony, if any, to determine whether a grand jury should be summoned based upon 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. 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. Controversies between individual parties, civil matters, and matters that are subject to criminal appeal will not be considered.

Those wanting to testify before the panel of judges should contact Keri Sargent, Assistant District Court Administrator, Administrative Office of the Courts, at (435) 633-5549 by Friday, December 30, 2022, at noon, to schedule an appointment and arrange to receive further specific instructions. Any individual needing special accommodation during the hearing must notify panel staff at least three business days prior to the hearing. If no appointments are scheduled by the appointed time, the meeting will be canceled without further notice.

The current members of the grand jury panel of judges are: Supervising Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills, 3rd District Court; Senior Judge Lynn W. Davis, 4th District Court; Judge Angela Fonnesbeck, 1st 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 website² or in the Utah Code.³

1 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.

2 http://www.utcourts.gov/cal/grandjury

3 https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title77/Chapter10A/77-10a-S2.html?v=C77-10a-S2_2018050820180508

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