Uncategorized – Utah Court Rules

Posted: April 23, 2026

Rules Governing the Utah State Bar – Admissions – Effective May 1, 2026

USB4-701. Definitions. Amend. The change adds definitions for Legacy UBE and NextGen UBE as subparts of paragraph (qq). The definitions will be necessary going forward as jurisdictions begin administering the NextGen UBE starting July 2026.

USB4-702. Board – general powers. Amend. The changes add “no authority to waive rules” to the title and clarifies in paragraph (f) that the process to request a rule waiver is found in new rule 14-722.

USB4-712.Qualifications for admission based on UBE. Amend. The change will allow an applicant to transfer a score from either the Legacy UBE or the NextGen UBE exam taken in another jurisdiction starting with the July 2026 exam administration.

USB4-715. Requests for Review. Amend. The amendments to Rule 14-715: (1) clarify the process to request a review by the Admissions Committee of a final determination, (2) clarify the standard under which the Admissions Committee reviews determination, and (3) includes cleanup for clarity and consistency.

USB4-722. Petition to Waive a Rule in Extraordinary Circumstances. New. The proposed rule establishes a process for an applicant to seek a rule waiver. It clearly sets forth the “extraordinary circumstances” standard and adds an advisory note referencing relevant opinions from this Court. The change also states that the Court will not grant a rule waiver without requesting a response from the Bar, which will alleviate some burden on the Bar to respond to every petition filed under the rule.

USB4-809. Practice Pending Admission. Amend. The change adds a paragraph to the rule stating that someone who has received a passing score on the most recent bar examination in Utah and who is awaiting the next motion for admission may receive a Practice Pending Admission certificate if all other requirements are met.

The change imposes a six-month time limit on the Practice Pending Admission certificate for these applicants, which is consistent with rule 4-716(d) and its six-month time limit for an applicant to take the oath after being eligible for admission.

Supreme Court Order

Posted: April 20, 2026

Rules of Civil Procedure – Effective May 1, 2026

URCP026.1. Disclosure and discovery in domestic relations actions. AMEND. The amendments to this rule include clarifying language in relation to Rule 26 in subparagraph (b) and a change in terminology in subparagraph (e)(2).

URCP073. Attorney fees. AMEND. The amendments to this rule include increases to the default attorney fee amounts found in subparagraphs (f)(1), (2), and (3) by 35 – 40 percent, as well as some clarifying amendments to conform with the style guide for the rules.

URCP106. Modification of final domestic relations order. AMEND. The amendments to this rule include an update to the statutory references after recodification, as well as, some clarifying language in subparaph (b).

URCP108. Objection to court commissioner’s recommendation. AMEND. The amendments to this rule include clarifying the language in subparagraph (c) in regards to evidence presented to the commissioner, as well as, updating the terminology in subparagraph (d)(2) from the order to show cause language to the “motion to enforce order and for sanctions” language.

URCP109. Injunction in certain domestic relations cases. AMEND. The amendments to this rule include updating the terminology in subparagraph (a) to “paternity.”

Supreme Court Order

Posted: March 24, 2026

Rules of Civil Procedure – Effective March 6, 2026

The amendments to Rule 42 of the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure were made final and effective as of Friday, March 6, 2026 upon approval of Senate Joint Resolution, SJR006 by a constitutional two-thirds vote of all members elected to each house.

URCP042. Consolidation; separate trials; venue transfer. Amend.

Posted: March 9, 2026

Rules of Evidence – Effective March 6, 2026

The new Rule 707 of the Utah Rules of Evidence was made final and effective as of Friday, March 6, 2026 upon approval of House Joint Resolution, HJR026 by a constitutional two-thirds vote of all members elected to each house.

UTAH RULES OF EVIDENCE

URE0707. Machine-Generated Evidence. FINAL.

Posted: March 6, 2026

Rules of Appellate Procedure – Effective March 6, 2026

URAP026. Filing and serving briefs. Amend. The amendments to Rule 26 include: 1) removing the language regarding stipulated requests for extensions of time; 2) adding a paragraph directing parties to Rule 22 to find the procedures for requesting an extension of time; and 3) clean-up for clarity and consistency.

Supreme Court Order

Posted: March 5, 2026

Rules of Evidence – Effective February 26, 2026

The amendments to Rule 404 of the Utah Rules of Evidence were made final and effective as of Thursday, February 26, 2026 upon approval of Senate Joint Resolution, SJR001 by a constitutional two-thirds vote of all members elected to each house.

UTAH RULES OF EVIDENCE

URE0404. Character evidence; crimes or other acts. FINAL.

Posted: February 25, 2026

Code of Judicial Administration – Effective February 24, 2026

CJA 4-102. Case, calendar, and panel assignments (NEW)
This rule establishes the processes for case and three-judge panel assignments and reassignments. You can find the list of district court judges qualified to serve on a three-judge panel and a detailed explanation of the computer-generated random selection process for three-judge panels on the court’s website here.

Judicial Council Order

Posted: February 24, 2026

Rules of Appellate Procedure – Effective May 1, 2026

URAP005. Discretionary appeals from interlocutory orders. Amend. The amendments to Rule 5 include: 1) clarifying that the petition for an interlocutory appeal must be filed after the trial court’s signed order resolving the motion or issue before the trial court has been entered; and 2) adding an advisory committee note further clarifying what orders qualify as the trial court’s signed order.

URAP026. Filing and serving briefs. Amend. The amendments to Rule 26 include: 1) removing the language regarding stipulated requests for extensions of time; 2) adding a paragraph directing parties to Rule 22 to find the procedures for requesting an extension of time; and 3) clean-up for clarity and consistency.

URAP027. Form of briefs, motions, and other documents. Amend. The amendments to Rule 27 include: 1) changing the language in paragraph (a) Typeface from “a plain, roman style with serifs” to “plain and legible”; and 2) removing the cross reference to Rule 3 in paragraphs (c)(1)(C) and (d)(1)(C).

URAP034. Costs. Amend. The amendment to Rule 34 changes the awarded cost on appeal from $3.00 per page, to an actual reasonable cost that was incurred from the printing of briefs and attachments.

Supreme Court Order

Posted: January 26, 2026

Code of Judicial Administration – Effective May 1, 2026

CJA 3-109. Ethics Advisory Committee (AMEND)
The proposed amendments: 1) clarify the process by which ethics advisory opinions are requested and issued; and 2) make non-substantive formatting changes.

CJA 4-202.10. Record Sharing (AMEND)
The proposed amendments add the Office of Professional Conduct to the list of entities authorized to access nonpublic juvenile court records.

CJA 4-906. Guardian ad litem program (AMEND)
The proposed amendments: 1) change annual reporting from August to October in (3)(I) to allow the director and chair to report on legislative grants and requests more accurately; 2) increase compensation for conflict guardians ad litem in (6)(D) to attract experienced attorneys to handle conflict cases; and 3) make grammatical and stylistic changes.

Judicial Council Order

Posted: January 13, 2026

Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Rule Changes – Effective May 1, 2026

USB011-613. CLE Accreditation for qualified audio and video presentations, webcasts, computer interactive programs, writing, lecturing, teaching, public service, and verified attendance. AMEND. The change to the MCLE Rule 11-613 allows lawyers and Licensed Paralegal Practitioners to receive one hour of elective CLE credit for every 1,000 words up to a maximum of three elective CLE credit hours per compliance cycle.

Supreme Court Order