Category: Uncategorized

Salt Lake City — The Utah State Bar has awarded the 2018 Liberty Bell Award to the Divorce Education for Children program for its work with children coping in divorce or separation situations.
The award was presented by the Bar’s Young Lawyers Division to the Utah State Courts during its annual Law Day event last Monday.
Divorce Education for Children is a free class for children 9 to 12 whose parents are separated, divorcing, or divorced. The one-time class teaches children coping tools they can use to express their feelings to parents, and lets them know that the divorce is not their fault. The class is held in a court environment where they get to meet a judge or commissioner in order to demystify court, where their parents may be spending time. The 2-hour class is taught by a mental health professional and is currently offered in Logan, Ogden, Salt Lake, and Provo. For more information, visit: (https://legacy.utcourts.gov/specproj/dived/children.html).
The program was started by the late Utah Commissioner Mike Evans, in an effort to help children coping with divorce.
“We are very honored to receive this award and grateful to the volunteer judges, commissioners and community partners who have come together for the benefit of these kids,” said Third District Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills, who chairs the committee which oversees the program.
“We are proud to be the recipient of the Utah State Bar’s Liberty Bell Award and we appreciate the Bar’s recognition of the important mission of the program, which is to empower children by providing them tools that will enhance their social and emotional well-being,” said Third District Judge Laura Scott, who chairs the program’s advisory subcommittee.
The Liberty Bell Award is given to a community member or organization for their contribution to a better understanding and appreciation of the American justice system.

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Salt Lake City, Utah—Utah students will get a first-hand look at what it takes to be a judge.
The Judge for a Day program provides eager high school students the opportunity to spend time with a judge and experience our legal system. Students have an opportunity to shadow a judge for one day from April through May.
This program is offered in conjunction with national Law Day. The 2018 Law Day theme is, “Separation of Powers: Framework for Freedom.” Students were asked to write a short essay on the Law Day theme as part of their application.
This year 17 high school students applied and were accepted. They will be meeting with judges from Ogden, Farmington, Salt Lake, West Jordan, Provo, and Kanab.
Reporters who are interested in covering a job shadow day in their area can contact Geoffrey Fattah at geofff@utcourts.gov or office: 801-578-3994, cell: 801-712-4545. Upcoming dates with students will be posted on the Courts’ Twitter feed: @UtahStateCourts.

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Blanding, Utah—Applications are being accepted for a Justice Court judge position in Blanding City. The position will replace Judge William Walker who resigned Jan. 31, 2018.

To be considered for a Justice Court judgeship in San Juan 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 Court’s website at legacy.utcourts.gov. An application for judicial office must be completed and is available on the court’s website (legacy.utcourts.gov/admin/jobs). The annual salary range for the position is $12,742.00 to $13,010.00. Benefits may or may not be provided; for additional information contact Jeremy Redd at (435) 250-3485, or email at jredd@blanding-ut.gov.

The deadline for applications is Thursday, May 3, 2018 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 Blanding, Joe B. Lyman, within 45 days of its first meeting. Mayor Lyman 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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Tooele, UT — The panel of judges designated to determine the need for calling a grand jury is scheduled to meet on May 10, 2018, to hear testimony to determine whether reasonable cause exists to call a grand jury in any matter. The meeting will take place at the Tooele Courthouse, 74 S. 100 E., Rm 14. Tooele, Utah 84074.

Those wanting to request a grand jury and testify before the panel of judges should contact State Court Administrator Jacey Skinner at (801) 578-3820, by Tuesday, May 1, 2018, to schedule an appointment. If no appointments are scheduled by May 1, the meeting will not be held.

Individuals testifying must be prepared to give evidence to support claims that justify calling a grand jury in any criminal matter. A grand jury may not be called to hear private controversies between individual parties. Individuals who need special accommodations during the hearing should notify the court at least three business days prior to the hearing, to facilitate the accommodation.

Utah’s Grand Jury Statute, Utah Code 77-10a-2, requires a panel of five judges appointed 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 to return indictments based on evidence of criminal activity. The Grand Jury Panel is comprised of the following judges: Supervising senior judge, 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 may also present evidence of criminal activity. As required by statute, 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 Salt Lake County Nominating Commission has announced the appointment of Clemens Alexander Landau to fill the Salt Lake City Justice Court judicial vacancy. The positions will replace Judge Catherine E. Roberts who retired from the bench on Dec. 31, 2017.

Clemens Landau has been a member of the Utah State Bar Since graduating from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah in 2008. He has practiced law at the Salt Lake City law firms of Parr Brown Gee & Loveless and Zimmerman Jones Booher. Prior to joining Parr Brown, he clerked for Judge Dee V. Benson in the United States District Court for the District of Utah and Judge Michael R. Murphy in the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Prior to attending law school, he spent several years working as a paramedic in Boston, Massachusetts and then as a manager of a small woodworking company in Southern Germany. He attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, and majored in an interdisciplinary program combining the study of history, government, economics and philosophy. Landau currently serves on the executive board of the Salt Lake County Bar Association and on the board of the Utah Center for Legal Inclusion.

Landau’s appointment to the bench is subject to completion of the court’s new judge orientation and certification by the Utah Judicial Council.

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Mt.Pleasant, UT—The Sanpete County Nominating Commission has selected three nominees for the vacancy in the Mt. Pleasant City Justice Court. The position will replace Judge Ivo Peterson who retired June 30, 2016.

Following are the nominees followed by place of employment and residence:
• Honorable Morgan Laker Cummings J.D., Justice Court Judge for Lehi City, resident of American Fork
• Honorable Mark Kay McIff J.D., Justice Court Judge for Ephraim, Fairview, Fountain Green, Gunnison, Manti, Moroni, Piute County, Sevier County and Spring City, resident of Richfield
• Samuel Aaron Poff J.D., Drug Test Interpretation, LLC, resident of Nephi

A comment period will be held through March 9, 2018, before a final candidate is selected by the Mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Sandra Bigler, who has 30 days to make an appointment. The appointment is subject to ratification by the Mt. Pleasant 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.

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Mt. Pleasant, UT—The Sanpete County Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting on Feb. 26, 2018, to select candidates for the vacancy in the Mt. Pleasant Justice Court to replace Judge Ivo Peterson who retired effective June 30, 2016. The commission will begin the meeting at 9 a.m. in the Mt. Pleasant City Council Chambers located on 115 West Main.

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.

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Mt. Pleasant, Utah— The deadline for applications for a Justice Court judge position in Mt. Pleasant City has been extended. The position will replace Judge Ivo Peterson who will retire effective June 30, 2016.

To be considered for a Justice Court judgeship in Sanpete 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 Court’s website at legacy.utcourts.gov. An application for judicial office must be completed and is available on the court’s website (legacy.utcourts.gov/admin/jobs). The annual salary for the position is $11,485.00 with no benefits. For additional information contact Tami Larson at (435) 462-2456, Ext. 2 or email at jcmtpleasant@utcourts.gov.

The deadline for applications is Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 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 Mt. Pleasant, Sandra Bigler, within 45 days of its first meeting. The Mayor Bigler 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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Mount Pleasant, Utah—Applications are being accepted for a Justice Court judge position in Mount Pleasant City. The position will replace Judge Ivo Peterson who will retire effective June 30, 2016.

To be considered for a Justice Court judgeship in Sanpete 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 Court’s website at legacy.utcourts.gov. An application for judicial office must be completed and is available on the court’s website (legacy.utcourts.gov/admin/jobs). The annual salary for the position is $11,485.00 with no benefits. For additional information contact Tami Larson at (435) 462-2456, Ext. 2 or email at jcmtpleasant@utcourts.gov.

The deadline for applications is Monday, Feb. 5, 2018 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 Mt. Pleasant, Sandra Bigler, within 45 days of its first meeting. The Mayor Bigler 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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Salt Lake City, UT—The Salt Lake County Nominating Commission has selected five nominees for an upcoming vacancy in the Salt Lake City Justice Court. The position will replace Judge Catherine E. Roberts who retired effective Dec. 31, 2017.

Following are the nominees followed by place of employment and residence:
• Clemens Alexander Landau, J.D., Zimmerman Booher, resident of Salt Lake City
• Thaddeus James May, J.D., Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, resident of Millcreek
• Jesse Michael Nix, J.D., Salt Lake Legal Defender Association , resident of Salt Lake City
• Katherine Peters, J.D., Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, resident of Salt Lake City
• Melanie Marie Serassio, J.D., Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, resident of Sandy

A comment period will be held through Jan. 24, 2018, before a final candidate is selected by the Mayor of Salt Lake City, 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, contact Melisse Stiglich, Administrative Office of the Courts, at melisses@utcourts.gov.

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