Utah Courts Recent Press Notifications

Pleasant View, UT—The Weber County Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a  meeting on January 24, 2022 to review applications for a justice court judge position that will  serve Pleasant View, Utah. The position will replace Judge Patrick Lambert who retired in July, 2021. The Commission will begin the meeting at 7:00 a.m. The meeting will be held online through this meeting link:

https://utcourts.webex.com/utcourts/j.php?MTID=m08d9fddf4b34fc3c4ed08aba131a2fdd

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 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 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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Wellsville, UT—The Cache County Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting on January 18, 2022 to review applications for a justice court judge position that will serve Wellsville, Utah. The position will replace Judge Terry Moore who resigned his position in May, 2021. The Commission will begin the meeting at 4:00 p.m. The meeting will be held online through this meeting link:

https://utcourts.webex.com/utcourts/j.php?MTID=m38540939043911ddb803a11e87df7a3b

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 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 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 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.

Salt Lake City, UT – The Utah State Courts want to alert jurors and attorneys that jury trials are still taking place statewide. The Courts are conducting jury trials in compliance with the Utah State Judiciary Risk Phase Response Plan and are taking every possible safety measure including masking and social distancing when trials are held in person.

Jurors and attorneys should continue to appear as scheduled unless they are notified by the Court. Individual judges may be canceling some trials, but they will notify the jurors and other parties if that happens.

There has been some confusion about whether or not jury trials are cancelled.  That is because:

• Salt Lake City Justice Court suspended jury trials
• The U.S. District Court for the District of Utah (Federal) suspended jury trials

However, the federal court order and Salt Lake City justice court order do not affect jury trials happening in state district courts or other county or city justice courts.

The Utah State Courts will continue to carefully monitor COVID-19 case counts and consult with health officials moving forward. If any decision is made to cancel jury trials in the future, we will alert the public and the media immediately.

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Washington Terrace, UT—The Weber County Nominating Commission has selected four nominees for a judicial vacancy that will serve Washington Terrace and Marriott-Slaterville, Utah. The position will replace Judge Patrick Lambert who retired in July.

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

• Emilie Bean, J.D., attorney at law, resident of Washington Terrace,

• Darrin Johns, J.D., attorney at law, resident of North Ogden,

• Judge Bryan Memmott, J.D., Justice Court Judge of the Plains City Justice  Court, the Woods Cross Justice Court, the South Ogden Justice Court, and the  South Weber Justice Court, resident of Fruit Heights, and

• Judge Paul Olds, J.D., Justice Court Judge of the Riverdale City Justice  Court, resident of Pleasant View.

A comment period will be held through December 23, 2021. A final candidate will then be  selected by the Washington Terrace Mayor and the Marriott-Slaterville Mayor, Mayor Mark  Allen and Mayor Scott Van Leeuwen, 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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Kanab, Utah — The next regularly scheduled meeting of Utah’s grand jury panel of judges will be on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at the Kane County Courthouse, located at 76 North Main Street, Kanab, UT 84741 (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 matter that are subject to criminal appeal will not be considered.

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. 

Those wanting to testify before the panel of judges should contact Keri Sargent, Assistant District Court Administrator, Administrative Office of the Courts, at (801) 238-7547 by Monday, January 3, 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 W. Brent West, 2nd District Court; Senior 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 (2) 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://legacy.utcourts.gov/cal/grandjury

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

Washington Terrace, UT—The Weber County Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting on December 8, 2021 to review applications for a justice court judge position that will serve Washington Terrace, Utah. The position will replace Judge Patrick Lambert who retired in July. The Commission will begin the meeting at 7:00 a.m. The meeting will be held online through this meeting link:

https://utcourts.webex.com/utcourts/j.php?MTID=m813b7db2a340dfbfa83645f5bbc2eed4

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 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 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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Farr West, UT—The Weber County Nominating Commission has selected four nominees for a judicial vacancy that will serve Farr West, Utah. The position will replace Judge Patrick Lambert who retired in July.

Following is an alphabetical listing of nominees, their place of employment and residence:

• Michelle Jeffs, J.D., attorney at law, resident of Pleasant View,

• Darrin Johns, J.D., attorney at law, resident of North Ogden,

• Judge Bryan Memmott, J.D., Justice Court Judge for the Plain City Justice Court, the South Ogden Justice Court, the South Weber Justice Court, and the Woods Cross Justice Court, resident of Fruit Heights, and

• Judge Paul Olds, J.D., Justice Court Judge for the Riverdale Justice Court, resident of Pleasant View.

A comment period will be held through December 1, 2021. A final candidate will then be selected by the Farr West Mayor, Lee Dickemore, 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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Utah County, UT—The 4th District Court Commissioner Nominating Commission has selected  three nominees for a commissioner vacancy that will serve Juab County, Millard County, Utah  County and Wasatch County, Utah. The position will replace Commissioner Sean M. Petersen who was appointed to be a judge in the 4th District Court in August.

The following are the nominees along with their place of employment and residence:

• Jason Fida; Utah Legal Services; resident of Saratoga Springs, UT

• David Hunter; Hunter Law Mediation; resident of Provo, UT

• Marla Snow; MacArthur Heder and Metler; resident of Provo, UT

A public comment period will be held through Thursday, November 18, 2021. A final  candidate will then be selected by the judges of the 4th District Court bench. The selection must  then be approved by the Utah Judicial Council.

To submit written comments about the candidates, please contact Mark Urry, Trial Court  Executive, at marku@utcourts.gov.

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Cedar City, Utah — A panel of judges is scheduled to meet on Thursday, October 14, 2021, to hear testimony to determine whether good cause exists to call a grand jury. The meeting will take place at the Iron County Courthouse, located at 40 North 100 East, Cedar City, UT 84720.¹

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 Monday, October 4, 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 matter 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; Senior 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 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://legacy.utcourts.gov/cal/grandjury

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

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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