Rules of Evidence – Comment Period Closes May 4, 2026
URE0702. Testimony by experts. The proposed amendments recognize existing caselaw allowing the use of so-called “blind experts.”
Author: Utah Courts
Posted: March 20, 2026
Posted: March 19, 2026
Rules of Appellate Procedure – Comment Period Closes May 4, 2026
URAP026. Filing and serving briefs. Amend. The amendment to Rule 26 is to increase the number of paper briefs filed with the Supreme Court from eight to ten copies to account for the increase in the number of Supreme Court Justices.
Posted: March 19, 2026
Rules of Appellate Procedure – Comment Period Closes May 4, 2026
URAP048. Time for petitioning. Amend. The Committee proposes amending Rule 48 to put into rule an internal process that states a rejected petition for writ of certiorari or other filing, will be construed as an extension of time.
URAP049. Petition for writ of certiorari. Amend. The Committee proposes amending Rule 49 to add paragraph (f) and put into rule an internal process that allows the clerk to reject a petition if it does not substantially comply with the content requirements of paragraph (a). Note: This public comment period is only regarding the addition of paragraph (f). The other proposed amendments are also currently out for public comment, posted February 24, 2026, closes April 10, 2026.
URAP055A. Motion to remand for findings necessary to determination of ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Amend. The Committee proposes amending Rule 55A to include a procedure for the juvenile court to transmit the supplemental record to the appellate court.
Posted: March 18, 2026
Rules of Civil Procedure – Comment Period Closes May 4, 2026
URCP073. Attorney fees. AMEND. The proposed amendments for this rule were previously posted for public comment. An additional amendment has been made to the rule in subparagraph (d) changing the language from “will” to “may.” The Supreme Court has approved this rule as final with an effective date of May 1, 2026, and is posting this additional amendment for public comment as provided for in Rule 1-105.
URCP086. Licensed paralegal practitioners. AMEND. The proposed amendments to subparagraph (a) of this rule align the rule with the language found in Code of Judicial Administration Rule 14-802.
Posted: February 26, 2026
Rules of Professional Conduct – Comment Period Closes April 13, 2026
RPC01.12. Former Judge, Arbitrator, Mediator or Other Third-Party Neutral. Amend. This amendment restricts a former appellate judge or justice from appearing as counsel before the court in which the judge or justice last held office.
Posted: February 24, 2026
Rules of Appellate Procedure – Comment Period Closes April 10, 2026
URAP027. Rule 27. Form of briefs, motions, and other documents. Amend. The Committee proposes amending Rule 27 to add a requirement that cases involving pretrial detention, parental rights, or child custody must state that it is such a case on the cover of the brief. This expands on the already effective requirement that the cover must note if an individual is incarcerated.
URAP049. Petition for writ of certiorari. Amend. The Committee proposes an additional amendment to Rule 49 which would require the party to include a certificate of compliance be included with their petition. This rule was previously published for public comment with the following proposed amendments: 1) add a word limit and change the page limit from 20 pages to 15 pages; 2) add a requirement that a certificate of compliance be included with the petition; 3) clarify what the statement of the case should include; and 4) clean-up for clarity and consistency.
URAP050. Response; reply. Amend. The Committee proposes an additional amendment to Rule 50 which would require the party to include a certificate of compliance with their response. This rule was previously published for public comment with the following proposed amendments: 1) add what the contents of the response to a petition for writ of certiorari should include; 2) add a word limit and change the page limit from 20 pages to 15 pages for a response; 3) add a word limit of 1,500 for the reply; 4) add a requirement that a certificate of compliance be included with the response and reply; 5) clarify what the statement of the case should include; and 6) clean-up for clarity and consistency.
Posted: February 20, 2026
Rules Governing the Utah State Bar – Admissions – Comment Period Closed April 6, 2026
USB14-701. Definitions. Amend.
The proposed change adds definitions for Legacy UBE and NextGen UBE as subparts of paragraph (qq).
USB14-702. Board – general powers. Amend.
The proposed 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.
USB14-712. Qualifications for admission based on UBE. Amend.
The proposed 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.
USB14-722. Rule Waiver. 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.
USB14-809. Practice Pending Admission. Amend.
The proposed change adds a paragraph 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 proposed change imposes a six-month time limit on the Practice Pending Admission certificate for these applicants, which is consistent with rule 14-716(d) and its six-month time limit for an applicant to take the oath after being eligible for admission.
Posted: February 19, 2026
Rules of Evidence – Comment Period Closed April 6, 2026
URE804. Exceptions to the Rule Against Hearsay – When the Declarant is Unavailable as a Witness. The proposed amendments follow recent changes to Federal Rule of Evidence 804 clarifying that courts consider the totality of the circumstances to determine a statement’s trustworthiness, not just corroborating circumstances.
Posted: February 9, 2026
Rules Governing the Utah State Bar – Admissions – Comment Period Closed March 26, 2026
USB14-715. Requests for Review; Supreme Court Petition for Review. Amend. The proposed 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.
Posted: January 26, 2026
Rules of Civil Procedure – Comment Period Closed March 12, 2026
URCP062. Stay of proceedings to enforce a judgment or order. AMEND. The proposed amendments to this rule adds a new subparagraph (j) specifically addressing stays in domestic relations actions, with other amendments to add clarity and conform to the style guide for the rules.
URCP074. (Updated) Withdrawal of counsel. AMEND. The proposed amendments to this rule address the withdrawal of counsel when there may be ongoing obligations to the court, notice, and the contact information that must be included for a party, as well as amendments to conform with the style guide for the rules.
URCP076. Notice of contact information change. AMEND. The proposed amendments to this rule address notice and disclosure of contact information by an attorney or self represented parties and when disclosure may be prohibited.
URCP102. Motion and order for payment of costs and fees. AMEND. The proposed amendments to this rule clarify the granting of a motion for costs and fees in whole or in part, make amendments to conform with statutory renumbering and the style guide for the rules.