Utah Courts Recent Press Notifications

Manti and Gunnison, UT— The Sanpete County Nominating Commission has announced the appointment of Honorable Mark K. McIff to fill the Manti and Gunnison Justice Court judicial vacancies. The positions will replace Judge Ivo Peterson who retired effective June 30, 2017.

Judge Mark K. McIff currently serves as judge of the justice courts in Sevier County, Piute County, Ephraim, Fairview City, Fountain Green City, Moroni and Spring City. He is also an attorney who practices in the south central Utah area. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting (1995) from Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah, and a juris doctorate degree (1998) from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. He formerly held the positions of Piute County Attorney, Wayne County Attorney, Deputy Sevier County Attorney, Deputy Garfield County Attorney, city prosecutor for several cities, and chief criminal prosecutor for the Wasatch County Attorney’s Office.

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Salt Lake City, UT — Fellow Utah State Court judges and administrators took time to honor retired Third District Juvenile Judge Christine Decker after news of her passing yesterday.

Judge Decker had retired from the bench in February 2015, but remained active in advisory and training rolls for the court.

“Judge Decker cared deeply about the children and families she served,” Said Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Durrant. “She touched the lives of many, and her influence will be felt for years to come.”

Judge Decker was appointed to the Third District Juvenile Court bench in August 2004 by Governor Olene Walker. She graduated cum laude in 1971 from Georgetown University in International Relations, and received a law degree from the University of Utah in 1975. From 1977 to 1978, she worked as a deputy county attorney in Salt Lake County, and as a bail commissioner for Salt Lake City in 1979. Judge Decker worked in private practice from 1994 to 1997 and as a Guardian ad Litem in Third District Juvenile Court from 1997 to 2002. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Decker was an assistant attorney general in the child protection division.

“Her years of exceptional service to the children and families of Utah will not soon be forgotten. Our deepest sympathies are with her husband Rod and their family,” said Utah State Court Administrator Rick Schwermer.

In 2015, Judge Decker was awarded the Christine M. Durham Woman Lawyer of the Year and the 2015 Matheson award for outstanding service to the youth of Utah.

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Farmington, UT — A panel of judges is scheduled to meet on Jan. 11, 2018, to hear testimony to determine whether reasonable cause exists to call a grand jury. The meeting will take place at the Farmington Courthouse, 800 West State Street, Farmington, Davis County.
Those wanting to testify before the panel of judges should contact Deputy State Court Administrator Jacey Skinner at (801) 578-3809 by Jan. 2, 2018, to schedule an appointment. If no appointments are scheduled by Jan. 2, 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 is available at http://legacy.utcourts.gov/cal/grandjury.
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Salt Lake City, UT — The Utah State Courts has been recognized for the quality of its case data, which allows the courts to better understand and manage Utah’s judicial system.

The award was given out by the Court Statistics Project of the National Center for State Courts during the Conference of State Court Administrators last week.

“This award once again recognizes Utah’s courts as national leaders in using data and performance measures to ensure transparent, accountable and efficient service to Utah’s Court users,” said Utah State Court Administrator Rick Schwermer.

Utah was one of three states recognized. Specifically, Utah’s courts were commended for the quality of its caseload data, adding new civil case types to its system, and keeping comprehensive data on case filings and case dispositions.

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Dear Editors and Reporters,

The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced today that they will be switching over to a new Probable Cause system created by the Utah State Courts, effective Dec. 1.

Effective tomorrow, you will be able to search for PC statements on xChange. You will be able to access the same PC information that has historically come from the jails. Simply log onto xChange. Under Case Type select Probable Cause Determinations. Select District, Justice, or both courts. Then choose to search under law enforcement agency or by court district.

PC statements will be available in the same timely manner as before, if not sooner. Currently, you can search under first/last name, or select a date range to search by. Under this new system, your assignment desks will be able to do daily searches of PC statements as they come in. We hope this new system will prove more convenient and efficient to the public.

As counties roll out implementation, some jails will still be handling PC statements their old way. Here is a list of current counties that have switched over: Box Elder, Carbon, Davis, Duchesne, Grand, Iron, Kane, Morgan, Rich, San Juan, Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele and Weber.
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Provo, UT—The Fourth District Commissioner Nominating Committee has selected three nominees for an upcoming commissioner vacancy. The position will replace Commissioner Joshua K. Faulkner, who has resigned effective Dec. 31, 2017.

The nominees are:

• Marian Ito who has served as Assistant Attorney General for the Child and Family Support Division at the Utah Attorney General’s Office since 2007. Ms. Ito previously served in the Attorney General’s Litigation Division.

• Erik Jacobson who has served as a public defender with the Utah County Public Defender’s office since 2009, handling matters in both the juvenile and district court. Mr. Jacobson previously served in private practice and as a deputy county attorney.

• Sean Peterson who is a shareholder with the firm Howard Lewis & Peterson, where his practice consists primarily of domestic and family law. Mr. Peterson has worked with the firm since 2000.

A comment period will be held through Dec. 8, 2017 before a final candidate is selected. The Utah Judicial Council must then certify the appointment within 45 days of selection. To submit written comments about the candidates, contact Mark Urry, Fourth District Court Executive, marku@utcourts.gov.

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Salt Lake City, Utah—Applications are being accepted for a Justice Court judge position in Salt Lake City. The position will replace Judge Catherine E. Roberts who will retire effective Dec. 31, 2017.

To be considered for a Justice Court judgeship in Salt Lake 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 a degree from a law school that would make one eligible to apply for admission to a bar in any state in the United States. In addition, candidates must be a resident of the county in which the court is located—or an adjacent county—for at least six months.

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 $117,728.00 with benefits. For additional information, contact Carolyn Campbell at 801-535-6663 or by email at carolyn.campbell@slcgov.com.

The deadline for applications is Monday, Dec. 4, 2017 at 5 p.m. and should be sent to the attention of Melisse Stiglich, Administrative Office of the Courts, P.O. Box 140241, Salt Lake City, UT, 84114-0241. For an application or more information, email melisses@utcourts.gov.

Utah law requires the Judicial Nominating Commission to submit three to five nominees to the Mayor of Salt Lake City, Jackie Biskupski within 45 days of its first meeting. Mayor Biskupski 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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Manti, UT—The Sanpete County Nominating Commission has selected three nominees for upcoming vacancies in the Gunnison and Manti Justice Courts. The positions will replace Judge Ivo Peterson who retired effective June 30, 2017.

Following are the nominees followed by place of employment and residence:
• Robert V. Judd, Retired from Utah Department of Corrections, resident of Gunnison
• Honorable Mark Kay McIff J.D., Justice Court Judge for Ephraim, Fairview City, Fountain Green City, Moroni City, Piute County, Sevier County and Spring City, resident of Richfield
• Stephen William Whiting, J.D., Whiting and Jardine, LLC, resident of Vineyard

A comment period will be held through Nov. 20, 2017, before a final candidate is selected by the Mayors of Gunnison and Manti, who have 30 days to make appointments. Each appointment is subject to ratification by the City Council in each city. The Utah Judicial Council must then certify the appointment. To submit written comments about the candidates, contact Melisse Stiglich, Administrative Office of the Courts, at melisses@utcourts.gov.

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Manti, UT—The Sanpete County Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting on Oct. 30, 2017, to select candidates for the vacancies in the Gunnison and Manti Justice Courts to replace Judge Ivo Peterson who retired effective June 30, 2017. The commission will begin the meeting at 8:30 a.m. in the Manti City Council Chambers located on 50 South Main Street in Manti.

The early portion of the meeting is scheduled for public comment about issues facing the Utah judiciary and refinements or improvements to the system. Public comments will be accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Following the public hearing, the meeting is closed to allow commission members to select a slate of three to five candidates for the vacancy.

Individuals interested in appearing before the commission during the public comment portion of the meeting should contact Melisse Stiglich at (801) 578-3844 to request an appointment. Information on the Justice Court Nominating Commission members is available at legacy.utcourts.gov.

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

9:30 a.m. – Cheek v. Iron County
11:30 a.m. – State v. Robertson

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 12 at 9:30 a.m. to approx. 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Hunter Conference Center, Gilbert Great Hall, Southern Utah University
351 West Center Street, Cedar City, Utah

WHO: Utah Court of Appeals judicial panel: Court of Appeals Presiding Judge Gregory K. Orme, Judge David N. Mortensen, and Judge Jill M. Pohlman

Members of the public are cordially invited to attend

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