Month: February 2023

Salt Lake City, UT – The Utah State Courts mourn the passing of Judge Regnal Washington Garff, Jr. and thank him for his exemplary service to the people of Utah for many years.

Judge Garff passed away on February 25, 2023 at the age of 95. He was born in 1927 and was raised in Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah in 1955 with an LL.B. degree and acquired a Juris Doctor degree in 1967.

Judge Garff was a nationally recognized pioneer in the juvenile justice system. He was the first judge to begin working in the Utah juvenile court in 1959.  He served for a combined 34 years as a juvenile court judge in what is now the Third District Juvenile Court, and as a founding member of the Utah Court of Appeals, until his retirement in 1993. Judge Garff also served as the first Presiding Judge of the Utah Court of Appeals.

“Reg Garff was one of the finest human beings I have known. No wonder he was such a luminary on our juvenile court bench for so many years,” said Judge Gregory Orme, Utah Court of Appeals. “He was empathetic, generous with his time, flexible, humorous, and fair. We came to the Utah Court of Appeals together when the court was first established, 37 years ago. He was the oldest appointee; I was the youngest. We elected him to be our first presiding judge. His office was right next to mine, and we got along fabulously although he was old enough to be my father. We served together for six years before he retired, but we remained good friends throughout the decades that followed. He truly was one of the giants of the Utah judiciary.”

Judge Garff was honored as Outstanding Judge of the Year, 1976; S.J. Quinney College of Law Award, Honorary Order of the Coif, 1978; Outstanding Appellate Court Judge, 1989; and the University of Utah Merit of Honor Award, 1999.

Funeral services for Judge Garff are scheduled for Saturday, March 4 at 12:00 p.m.

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Santa Clara, UT—The Washington County Nominating Commission has selected four nominees for the judicial vacancy that will serve Santa Clara, Utah. The position will replace Judge Kenneth  Armstrong who retired in December, 2022.

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

• William “Bill” Frazier, J.D., Attorney at law, resident of St. George,

• Judge K. Jake Graff, J.D., Hildale City Justice Court Judge and Washington City Justice  Court Judge, resident of St. George,

• Aaron Randall, J.D., Attorney at law, resident of St. George, and

• Judge Ronald Read, J.D., Orderville Justice Court Judge and Washington County Justice  Court Judge, resident of St. George.

A comment period will be held through February 23, 2023. A final candidate will then be  selected by the Santa Clara Mayor, Rick Rosenberg, 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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Emery County, UT—The Emery County Nominating Commission has selected three nominees for the judicial vacancy that will serve Emery County, Utah. The position will replace Judge Steven L. Stream who retired in July, 2022.

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

• Judge Jon Carpenter, J.D., the Carbon County Justice Court Judge and the East Carbon  Justice Court Judge, resident of Price,

• Neal Peacock, Emery County School District, resident of Castle Dale, and

• Joshua Robertson, J.D., attorney at law, resident of Huntington.

A comment period will be held through February 16, 2023. A final candidate will then be selected by the Emery County Commission 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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Wayne County, UT—The Wayne County Nominating Commission has selected three nominees for the judicial vacancy that will serve Wayne County, Utah. The position will replace Judge Roy Brown who retired in December, 2022.

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

• Donald Bone, Wayne County School District, resident of Loa,

• Judge Mark McIff, J.D., Judge in 11 other justice courts in the Sixth District, resident of  Richfield, and

• Jeffrey Owens, J.D., attorney at law, resident of Panguitch.

A comment period will be held through February 16, 2023. A final candidate will then be  selected by the Wayne County Commission 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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