Utah State Bar News & Announcements

The Utah State Bar has received a court order that will allow for the inclusion of malpractice insurance questions on the licensing forms for the 2007/8 and 2008/9 licensing years. This order can be found online at

http://www.utahbar.org/documents/20070143USB_malpractice_order.pdf

All attorneys will be required to designate the status of their license for the upcoming year. Attorneys will be asked additional questions about malpractice insurance. These questions must be answered for the licensing form to be accepted as complete. The information provided will be for the use of the Utah Supreme Court and the Utah State Bar and will not be made public.

* 2007 Annual Convention Lodging Information - July 18-21, 2007 Sun Valley, ID
* Annual Spring Practice Section CLE Events
* Nominations Sought for UDDE Board
* Bar Commission and President-elect Elections Update
* "What's in a Name?" New Name for the Solo, Small Firm and Rural Section
* The Complete Lawyer: The Fast Changing Face of Diversity

Sent on behaf or the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Memorandum

To:
Attorneys Representing Divorcing Utah Parents of Children under the Age of Eighteen

From:
Pauleen Schnaper, Education Program Coordinator, Administrative Office of the Courts

Date: 4/11/2007

Re: HB 128 and Divorce Orientation Class

HB 128 created a mandatory one hour, one time, Divorce Orientation class for divorcing Utah parents of children under the age of eighteen years. All who file for divorce or file for the newly created "temporary separation" are required to participate in this class, starting May 1, 2007.

The purpose of the Divorce Orientation class is to educate parties about the divorce process and about reasonable alternatives. A petitioner shall attend a Divorce Orientation course no more than 60 days after filing a petition for divorce. The respondent shall attend the Divorce Orientation course no more than 30 days after being served with a petition for divorce.

Course schedules will be available by following the links on the internet at the courts' public information site, www.utcourts.gov. In most cases, the Divorce Orientation class will be held in conjunction with the Divorce Education class. The fee for the Divorce Orientation class is $20. A portion of the fee is distributed to the Children's Defense Fund. Upon completion of the class, participants will receive a certificate, separate from the divorce education certificate. Both certificates will be filed with their case information.

Attached is the Notice for the Petitioner. Download file(PDF)

If you have further questions, please refer to HB128, or contact Polly Schnaper, Education Program Coordinator, Administrative Office of the Courts, at (801) 578-3823.

The Judicial Council invites comments to proposed amendments to the following court rules. The comment period expires June 15, 2007.

Summary of proposed amendments

CJA 03-304. Official court reporters. Amend. Amendments to conform with Rule 4-201. Proposed Effective Date: November 1, 2007.
CJA 03-407. Accounting. Amend. Change composition of advisory committee. Proposed Effective Date: November 1, 2007.
CJA 04-201. Record of proceedings. Amend. Distinguishes between analogue and digital record keeping systems for minimum record keeping requirements. Proposed Effective Date: November 1, 2007.
CJA 06-501. Fiduciary accountings. New. Adopt procedural provisions of Rule 6-503, 6-504 and 6-505. Better conform to statute. Resolve ambiguities in the statute. Establish minimum reporting requirements. Proposed Effective Date: November 1, 2007.
CJA 06-503. Annual report of guardian. Repeal. Move procedural provisions to Rule 6-501. Proposed Effective Date: November 1, 2007.
CJA 06-504. Annual accounting of conservator. Repeal. Move procedural provisions to Rule 6-501. Proposed Effective Date: November 1, 2007.
CJA 06-505. Fiduciary accountings. Repeal. Move procedural provisions to Rule 6-501. Proposed Effective Date: November 1, 2007.

Fillmore, UT---A panel of judges is scheduled to meet on Thursday, May 10, 2007 from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to hear testimony to determine if reasonable cause exists to call a grand jury. The meeting will take place in the Fourth Judicial District at the Fillmore Courthouse, 765 South Highway 99.