Utah Courts Recent Press Notifications

South Salt Lake, UT—The Salt Lake County Nominating Commission has selected five nominees for an upcoming vacancy in the South Salt Lake Justice Court. The position will replace Judge Catherine M. Johnson, who will retire effective Jan. 1, 2017.

Following are the nominees followed by place of employment and residence:
• Gretchen Johns, J.D., Office of Guardian ad Litem, resident of South Jordan
• Katherine Peters J.D., Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, resident of Salt Lake City
• Scott Reed J.D., Utah Attorney General’s Office, resident of West Jordan
• Anna Lisa Rossi Anderson, J.D., Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, resident of Salt Lake City
• George Vo-Duc J.D., Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, resident of Bountiful
A comment period will be held through Oct. 11, 2016, before a final candidate is selected by South Salt Lake City Mayor Cherie Wood, who has 30 days to make an appointment. The appointment is subject to ratification by the South Salt lake City Council. 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.
# # #

Midvale, UT—The Salt Lake County Nominating Commission has selected four nominees for an upcoming vacancy in the Midvale City Justice Court. The position will replace Judge Ronald Wolthuis, who will retire effective Jan. 1, 2017.

Following are the nominees followed by place of employment and residence:
• Michael Peter Boehm, J.D., Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, resident of South Jordan
• Edward R. Montgomery, J.D., South Jordan City Prosecutor, resident of Draper
• Katherine Peters J.D., Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, resident of Salt Lake City
• George Vo-Duc J.D., Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, resident of Bountiful
A comment period will be held through Oct. 11, 2016, before a final candidate is selected by Midvale City Mayor JoAnn B. Seghini, who has 30 days to make an appointment. The appointment is subject to ratification by the Midvale City Council. 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.
# # #

Washington City, UT—Applications are being accepted for a Justice Court judge position in Washington City. The position will replace Judge Lee Bunnell who will retire effective Jan. 1, 2017.

To be considered for a Justice Court judgeship in Washington 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 courts’ website. Please note that the application has been updated since June 2016. The annual salary for the position is $39,741.00. Benefits are not provided. For additional information, contact Ruth Holyoak at (435)656-6315 or by email at rholyoak@washingtoncity.org.

The deadline for applications is Friday, Oct. 14, 2016 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 or visit legacy.utcourts.gov/admin/jobs.

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

# # #

Sunset, UT—The Davis County Nominating Commission has selected four nominees for an upcoming vacancy in the Sunset City Justice Court. The position will replace Judge Jerald Jensen, who will retire effective Jan. 1, 2017.

Following are the nominees followed by place of employment and residence:
• Steven Richard Bailey, J.D., Attorney at Law & Bankruptcy Trustee, resident of Layton
• Honorable Brian E. Brower, J.D., Clearfield City Justice Court Judge, resident of West Point
• John E. Diaz, J.D., The Diaz Law Firm, resident of Bountiful
• Paul H. Olds, J.D., Attorney at Law, resident of Pleasant View

A comment period will be held through Sept. 26, 2016, before a final candidate is selected by the Sunset City Mayor Beverly MacFarlane, who has 30 days to make an appointment. The appointment is subject to ratification by the Sunset City Council. The Utah Judicial Council must then certify the appointment. To submit written comments about the candidates, contact Melisse Stiglich, Administrative Office of the Courts, melisses@utcourts.gov.
# # #

Manti, UT — A panel of judges is scheduled to meet on Oct. 13, 2016, to hear testimony to determine whether reasonable cause exists to call a grand jury. The meeting will take place at the Manti Courthouse, 160 North Main St., Sanpete County.

Those wanting to testify before the panel of judges should contact District Court Administrator Debra Moore at (801) 578-3800 by Sept. 30, 2016, to schedule an appointment. If no appointments are scheduled by Sept. 30, 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.

# # #

Morgan, UT—The Morgan County Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting on Oct. 7, 2016, to select a candidate for the Morgan County Justice Court to replace Judge Tony Hassell who will retire effective Dec. 30, 2016. The commission will begin the meeting at 9 a.m. at the Morgan County Offices, 48 W. Young Street, in the Council Room on the East side of the building.

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 9 a.m. to 9:30 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.

# # #

Randolph, UT—Applications are being accepted for a Justice Court judge position in Rich County. The position will replace Judge Ross McKinnon who will retire effective Jan. 1, 2017.

To be considered for a Justice Court judgeship in Rich 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 minimum of a high school diploma or GED. 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 Courts’ website at legacy.utcourts.gov. An application for judicial office form must be completed and is available on the courts’ website (legacy.utcourts.gov/admin/jobs). Please note that the application has been updated since June 2016. The annual salary range for the position is $8,000 to $12,000 with some benefits. For additional information, contact Becky Peart at (435)793-2415.

The deadline for applications is Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016 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 Rich County Commission Chair Willliam Cox within 45 days of its first meeting. Chairman Cox then has 30 days in which to make a selection. The selection must then be certified by the Utah Judicial Council.

# # #

Farmington, UT—The Second District Commissioner Nominating Committee has selected three nominees for an upcoming commissioner vacancy. The position will replace Commissioner Daniel W. Garner, who will retire effective Oct. 16, 2016.

The nominees are:

• Keith Backman has served as a Shareholder at the firm of Helgesen, Waterfall & Jones since 1996, representing clients in a wide range of matters. He has previously served as a city attorney for cities in Davis and Weber counties, where he represented the cities in all civil matters and in justice courts.

• Christina Micken is currently an attorney with the firm Bean & Micken with a focus on family law. She has been with the firm since 2002.

• Kevin Richards is currently president and managing attorney for the firm Richards, Brinley & Richards. Prior to 2014 he was president and managing attorney for his own private practice. He is also a certified mediator.

A comment period will be held through Sept. 16, 2016, 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 Larry Webster, 2nd District Court Executive, larryw@utcourts.gov.
# # #

Morgan, UT — Applications are being accepted for a Justice Court judge position in Morgan County. The position will replace Judge Tony Hassell, who will retire effective Dec. 30, 2016.

To be considered for a Justice Court judgeship in Morgan 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 minimum of a high school diploma or GED. 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 Courts website at legacy.utcourts.gov. An application for judicial office form must be completed and is available on the courts’ website (legacy.utcourts.gov/admin/jobs). Please note that the application has been updated since June 2016. The annual salary range for the position is $20,634.75 to $37,142.55 with no benefits. For additional information, contact Tauna MacPherson at 801-845-6091.

The deadline for applications is Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 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 Morgan County Council Chair Logan Wilde within 45 days of its first meeting. Chairman Wilde then has 30 days in which to make a selection. The selection must then be certified by the Utah Judicial Council.

# # #

Farmington, UT—The Second District Commissioner Nominating Committee has selected three nominees for an upcoming commissioner vacancy. The position will replace Commissioner Daniel W. Garner, who will retire effective Oct. 16, 2016.

The nominees are:

• Keith Backman has served as a Shareholder at the firm of Helgesen, Waterfall & Jones since 1996, representing clients in a wide range of matters. He has previously served as a city attorney for cities in Davis and Weber counties, where he represented the cities in all civil matters and in justice courts.

• Christina Micken is currently an attorney with the firm Bean & Micken with a focus on family law. She has been with the firm since 2002.

• Kevin Richards is currently president and managing attorney for the firm Richards, Brinley & Richards. Prior to 2014 he was president and managing attorney for his own private practice. He is also a certified mediator.

A comment period will be held through Aug. 23, 2016, 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 Larry Webster, 2nd District Court Executive, larryw@utcourts.gov.
# # #