Utah Courts Recent Press Notifications

Pleasant Grove, UT—The Utah County Judicial Nominating Commission has announced the appointment of Judge Randy B. Birch to fill the Pleasant Grove City Justice Court vacancy. The position replaces Judge Brent Bullock who retired effective February 28, 2019.
Judge Randy B. Birch was appointed to the Heber City Justice Court in Sept., 2010. He received a B.A. from Utah State University and a J.D. from the University of Utah College of Law. Judge Birch has been an active member of the Utah State Bar since 1984. He served as a screening panel member of the Utah State Bar Ethics Committee, as a member of Utah Association for Justice, and as a board member of the Utah Association Criminal Defense Lawyers (UACDL). He has practiced law for over 34 years, focusing on construction-related commercial law and criminal defense. He practiced law in Salt Lake City, and served as in-house counsel with a federal contractor. He currently maintains a solo practice in Heber City. He often speaks on construction and collection-related subjects and has written numerous articles for several publications and local newspapers, covering a wide range of topics. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Birch served over 25 years as a small claims judge in Salt Lake and Summit counties. In 2007, he prepared materials and taught substantive law portions of the training for the Administrative Offices of the Court (AOC) for Justice Court judges and the judges pro tempore. He appeared and presented training materials in videos for the AOC. He is a member of the bar of the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, the
U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and since 2001, the bar of the United State Supreme Court.

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Bryce, UT — A panel of judges is scheduled to meet on May 10, 2019, to hear testimony to determine whether reasonable cause exists to call a grand jury. The meeting will take place at Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn, located at 26 S Main St, Bryce, Utah 84764.
Those wanting to testify before the panel of judges should contact Michael C. Drechsel, Associate General Counsel for the Administrative Office of the Courts, at (801) 578-3821 by Tuesday, April 30, 2019, at 5 p.m. to schedule an appointment. If no appointments are scheduled by that time, the meeting will be canceled without further notice.
Individuals testifying must be prepared to give evidence to support claims that justify calling a grand jury. Controversies between individual parties will not be considered. Individuals who need special accommodations during the hearing must notify the court at least three business days prior to the hearing.
Utah’s Grand Jury Statute requires a panel of judges selected from throughout the state to hold hearings in each judicial district every three years. The purpose of the hearings is to determine whether a grand jury needs to be summoned based on evidence of criminal activity. The Grand Jury Panel is comprised of the following judges: 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 Kara Pettit, 3rd District Court.
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, all persons claiming information that justifies calling a grand jury. All individuals appearing before the panel of judges will be placed under oath. If a grand jury is summoned, the jurors will be called from the state-at-large or any judicial district within the state.
Additional information regarding the Grand Jury panel of judges is available at the Utah Court’s website or in the Utah Code.

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Salt Lake City, UT—The Salt Lake County Nominating Commission has selected five nominees for a judicial vacancy in the Salt Lake City Justice Court. The position will replace Judge L.G. Cutler who retired effective Feb. 28, 2019.
Following are the nominees followed by place of employment and residence:

• Matthew Barraza, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Salt Lake City
• Remington “Jiro” Johnson, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Cottonwood Heights
• Katherine Peters, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Salt Lake City
• Heather Thuet, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Salt Lake City
• Jenifer Tomchak, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Salt Lake City

A comment period will be held through April 19, 2019. A final candidate will then be selected by Salt Lake City Mayor, Jackie Biskupski, who has 30 days to make an appointment. The appointment is subject to ratification by the Salt Lake City Council. The Utah Judicial Council must then certify the appointment. To submit written comments about the candidates, please contact Amy Hernandez at amymh@utcourts.gov.

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WHAT: The Utah Supreme Court periodically holds court sessions in other locations to provide an opportunity to enhance public understanding of the court’s work and to give law students with an opportunity to see the Supreme Court in session.
Cases to be heard are as follows:

10:00 a.m. Vega v. Jordan Valley Medical, Case No. 20170866-SC
10:45 a.m. State v. Grunwald, Case No. 20180459-SC

WHEN: Monday, March 18, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. to approx. 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: J. Reuben Clark Law School moot courtroom, Brigham Young University

WHO: Utah Supreme Court Justices: Chief Justice Matthew B. Durrant, Associate Chief Justice Thomas R. Lee, Justice Deno Himonas, Justice John Pearce, and Justice Paige Petersen will sit on the first case. Justice Petersen is recused in the second case. Seventh District Judge Douglas Thomas will sit in stead.

PHOTOGRAPHY:
Fox13 is TV Pool. To request to be the Still Pool photographer, contact Geoffrey Fattah at (801) 578-3994 by March 15.

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North Logan and Hyde Park, UT—The deadline for applications for a single Justice Court Judge position that will serve both North Logan and Hyde Park has been extended. The position will replace Judge David Marx who will retire effective May 1, 2019.

To be considered for a Justice Court Judgeship in Cache County, candidates must be at least 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a Utah resident for at least three years, and have earned a high school diploma or GED. In addition, candidates must have been a resident of Cache County or an adjacent county for at least six months immediately preceding appointment.

Information on judicial retention and performance evaluation is posted on the Utah State Court’s website at legacy.utcourts.gov under employment opportunities. An application for judicial office form must be completed and is available on the court’s website (legacy.utcourts.gov/admin/jobs). The annual salary for the position is $28,459. For additional information, contact Mayor Sharidean Flint at (435) 881-4952 or by email at mayor@hydeparkcity.org.

The deadline for applications is Friday, Mar. 29, 2019 at 5 p.m. and should be sent to the attention of Amy Hernandez, Administrative Office of the Courts, P.O. Box 140241, Salt Lake City, UT, 84114-0241. For an application or information, email amymh@utcourts.gov.

Utah law requires the Judicial Nominating Commission to submit three to five nominees to Hyde Park Mayor Sharidean Flint and North Logan Mayor Damon Cann within 45 days of
its first meeting. Mayor Flint and Mayor Cann then have 30 days in which to make a selection. The selection must then be certified by the Utah Judicial Council.
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Logan, UT—The deadline for applications for a Justice Court Judge position in Logan has been extended. The position will replace Judge David Marx who will retire effective May 1, 2019.

To be considered for a Justice Court Judgeship in Cache County, candidates must be at least 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a Utah resident for at least three years, and have earned a high school diploma or GED. In addition, candidates must be a resident of Cache County or an adjacent county for at least six months immediately preceding appointment.

Information on judicial retention and performance evaluation is posted on the Utah State Court’s website at legacy.utcourts.gov under employment opportunities. An application for judicial office form must be completed and is available on the court’s website (legacy.utcourts.gov/admin/jobs). The annual salary for the position is $85,650 to $107,060 with benefits including a URS contribution. For additional information, contact Greg Cox at
435-716-9046 or by email at greg.cox@loganutah.org.
The deadline for applications is Friday, Mar. 29, 2019 at 5 p.m. and should be sent to the attention of Amy Hernandez, Administrative Office of the Courts, P.O. Box 140241, Salt Lake City, UT, 84114-0241. For an application or information, email amymh@utcourts.gov.

Utah law requires the Judicial Nominating Commission to submit three to five nominees to Logan Mayor Holly Daines within 45 days of its first meeting. Mayor Daines then has 30 days in which to make a selection. The selection must then be certified by the Utah Judicial Council.

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North Logan and Hyde Park, UT—Applications are being accepted for a single Justice Court Judge position that will serve both North Logan and Hyde Park, Utah. The position will replace Judge David Marx who will retire effective May 1, 2019.

To be considered for a Justice Court Judgeship in Cache County, candidates must be at least 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a Utah resident for at least three years, and have earned a high school diploma or GED. In addition, candidates must have been a resident of Cache County or an adjacent county for at least six months immediately preceding appointment.

Information on judicial retention and performance evaluation is posted on the Utah State Court’s website at legacy.utcourts.gov under employment opportunities. An application for judicial office form must be completed and is available on the court’s website (legacy.utcourts.gov/admin/jobs). The annual salary for the position is $28,459. For additional information, contact Mayor Sharidean Flint at (435) 881-4952 or by email at mayor@hydeparkcity.org.

The deadline for applications is Monday, Mar. 18, 2019 at 5 p.m. and should be sent to the attention of Amy Hernandez, Administrative Office of the Courts, P.O. Box 140241, Salt Lake City, UT, 84114-0241. For an application or information, email amymh@utcourts.gov.

Utah law requires the Judicial Nominating Commission to submit three to five nominees to Hyde Park Mayor Sharidean Flint and North Logan Mayor Damon Cann within 45 days of its first meeting. Mayor Flint and Mayor Cann then have 30 days in which to make a selection. The selection must then be certified by the Utah Judicial Council.

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Lindon, UT—The Utah County Nominating Commission has selected three nominees for an upcoming vacancy in the Lindon Justice Court. The position will replace Judge Brent Bullock who will retire effective Feb. 28, 2019.

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

• Honorable Randy B. Birch, J.D., Heber City Justice Court Judge, resident of Heber City
• John H. Jacobs, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Alpine City
• Honorable Brook J. Sessions, J.D., Wasatch County Justice Court Judge, resident of Heber City

A comment period will be held through March 7, 2019. A final candidate will then be selected by the Mayor of Lindon City, Jeff Acerson, who has 30 days to make an appointment. The appointment is subject to ratification by the Lindon City Council. The Utah Judicial Council must then certify the appointment. To submit written comments about the candidates, please contact Amy Hernandez at amymh@utcourts.gov.

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Logan, UT—Applications are being accepted for a Justice Court judge position in Logan, Utah. The position will replace Judge David Marx who will retire effective May 1, 2019.

To be considered for a Justice Court judgeship in Cache County, candidates must be at least 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a Utah resident for at least three years, and have earned a high school diploma or GED. In addition, candidates must be a resident of Cache County or an adjacent county for at least six months immediately preceding appointment.

Information on judicial retention and performance evaluation is posted on the Utah State Court’s website at legacy.utcourts.gov under employment opportunities. An application for judicial office form must be completed and is available on the court’s website (legacy.utcourts.gov/admin/jobs). The annual salary for the position is $85,650 to $107,060 with benefits including a URS contribution. For additional information, contact Greg Cox at 435-716-9046 or by email at greg.cox@loganutah.org.

The deadline for applications is Monday, March 11, 2019 at 5 p.m. and should be sent to the attention of Amy Hernandez, Administrative Office of the Courts, P.O. Box 140241, Salt Lake City, UT, 84114-0241. For an application or information, email amymh@utcourts.gov.

Utah law requires the Judicial Nominating Commission to submit three to five nominees to Logan Mayor Holly Daines within 45 days of its first meeting. Mayor Daines then has 30 days in which to make a selection. The selection must then be certified by the Utah Judicial Council.

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Pleasant Grove, UT—The Utah County Nominating Commission has selected three nominees for an upcoming vacancy in the Pleasant Grove Justice Court. The position will replace Judge Brent Bullock who will retire effective Feb. 28, 2019.

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

• Honorable Randy B. Birch, J.D., Heber City Justice Court Judge, resident of Heber City
• John H. Jacobs, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Alpine City
• Honorable Brook J. Sessions, J.D., Wasatch County Justice Court Judge, resident of Heber City

A comment period will be held through Feb. 24, 2019. A final candidate will then be selected by the Mayor of Pleasant Grove, Guy Fugal, who has 30 days to make an appointment. The appointment is subject to ratification by the Pleasant Grove City Council. The Utah Judicial Council must then certify the appointment. To submit written comments about the candidates, please contact Amy Hernandez at amymh@utcourts.gov.

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