May 2024 – Utah Courts Recent Press Notifications

JUSTICE COURT JUDGE SELECTION MEETING PLANNED

Washington City, Utah—The Washington City Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting on June 3, 2024 to review applications for a justice court judge position that will serve Washington City, Utah. The position will replace Judge Jake Graff who will resign in June. The Commission will begin the meeting at 2:00 p.m. in the Washington City Hall, which is located at 111 North 100 East in Washington City, Utah.

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 2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Following the public comment period, the meeting will be closed to allow commission members to review applications for the vacancy.

Individuals interested in submitting oral or written commentary to the commission during the public comment portion of the meeting should contact Jim Peters at (801) 578-3824 or jamesp@utcourts.gov to request an appointment.

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JUDGES TO DETERMINE NEED FOR GRAND JURY – PROVO, UTAH

Beaver, Utah — The next regularly scheduled meeting of Utah’s grand jury panel of judges will be on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the Beaver 5th District Courthouse, located at 2270 South 525 West, Beaver, UT 84713.¹

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, Deputy District Court Administrator, Administrative Office of the Courts, at (801) 238-7547 by Tuesday, June 3, 2024, 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 Matthew Bell, 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