Utah State Bar News & Announcements

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT NATHAN D. ALDER

Financial Report

The Bar operates on a $4.5 million annual zero-based budget in which revenues cover expenses for each year's operations. The budget is available on our web site at www.utahbar.org under the heading Bar Operations. The budget and all financial matters are reviewed by a Budget and Finance Committee, consisting of accountants, bankers, members who practice in this area, and other leaders. The Bar recently went through its annual audit by Deloitte and Touche and received a clean report regarding its financial operations.

Based on conservative fiscal policies and following the recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee, the Bar has been gradually accumulating a cash surplus over the last several years which has permitted us to allocate just over $1 million dollars into reserves. Those reserves have been allocated to protect against unknown occurrences and to cover contingency losses, building expenses and operational emergencies. Bar funds are placed in Zions Bank and managed according to guidelines of the State Money Management Act, which governs the investment of all public funds. Deposits are put in cash or cash equivalent money market instruments or in short term government backed or highly rated corporate notes, debentures and bonds.

Third District Court Judge Robert Hilder was approved Wednesday, November 12th by a 3-2 vote of the Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee for a confirmation vote of the Utah Senate on his nomination to the Utah Court of Appeals. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the confirmation November 19th.

The Supreme Court has approved amendments to the following Utah court rules.

Summary of amendments

Rules Governing the Utah State Bar

Revisions to Utah State Bar's Fee Dispute Rules (formerly Fee Arbitration Rules) to further clarify the mediation process approved by the Supreme Court last year. The amendments provide additional details, such as what qualifies for mediation, how mediation can be requested, how mediators are selected, confidentiality, mediation procedures.

Utah State Bar goes 'green' at its fall forum
By Linda Thomson

Deseret News

Published: Friday, Nov. 21, 2008 4:42 p.m. MST

It isn't unusual for lawyers to have meetings, but the Utah State Bar added a new element to its fall forum: an entire day of seminars on "green law practice" to help members create environmentally friendly offices, reduce the use of paper and find ways to spread the word to those outside the world of law.

Salt Lake City, Utah—Applications are now being accepted for a vacancy on the Utah Court of Appeals bench. The position will replace Judge Judith Billings who is retiring effective Dec. 31, 2008.

To be considered for the position, candidates must be at least 30 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Utah for at least five years, and admitted to practice law in Utah.

Information on benefits, judicial retention, and performance evaluation is posted on the Utah State Courts’ Web site at www.utcourts.gov under employment opportunities. Application packets are available by contacting Margo Bird at (801) 578-3800 or through e-mail at margob@email.utcourts.gov.

Applications should be returned to the attention of Margo Bird, Administrative Office of the Courts, P.O. Box 140241, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-0241, or faxed to (801) 238-7814. Applications must be received by Dec. 29, 2008 at 5:00 p.m.

Utah law requires the Judicial Nominating Commission to submit seven nominees to the Governor within 45 days of its first meeting. The Governor has 30 days in which to make a selection. The Utah State Senate has 60 days in which to approve or reject the Governor’s selection.

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Nancy Volmer
Public Information Office
Utah State Courts
nancyv@email.utcourts.gov
(801) 578-3994
(801) 712-4545
Fax: (801) 578-3843
www.utcourts.gov
"Utah's courts are committed to open, fair, and independent justice."