Utah State Bar News & Announcements

Vernal, UT - The 8th District Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting for June 8, 2009, to select five candidates to fill a vacancy that will result when Judge John Anderson retires Sept. 1, 2009. The commission will meet at the Uintah County Courthouse, 920 East Highway 40, in Vernal.

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 are being accepted from 12 to 12:30 p.m.

Following the public hearing, the meeting is closed to allow commission members to select the slate of five candidates whose names will be forwarded to Utah’s governor to consider for appointment. The nominating commission does not take testimony on individual applicants.

Individuals interested in appearing before the commission should contact the Administrative Office of the Courts at (801) 578-3800 to request an appointment. Information on the 8th District Nominating Commission members is available at www.utcourts.gov.

The Supreme Court and the Judicial Council invite comments to proposed amendments to the following court rules. The comment period expires July 23, 2009.

Summary of proposed amendments

Rules Governing the Utah State Bar
USB 14-0808. New lawyer training program Amend. Establishes rule regarding conflicts and confidentiality in outside mentoring. Effective May 13, 2009 under Rule 11-105(5). Subject to change after the comment period.

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT NATHAN D. ALDER

The Need for a Licensing Fee Increase

The Bar Commission has taken up the issue of a licensing fee increase that would take effect next year in the 2010-2011 renewal cycle.  It would not affect the current 2009-2010 renewals that are now being processed.  It was twenty years ago when licensing fees were last increased.  Three years ago the Utah Supreme Court directed the Bar to undertake an outside review of its governance and operations. Grant Thornton conducted that review and recommended that the Bar do a follow-up and in-depth review of its operations.  Accordingly, last year reviewers studied five areas (management and technology, communications, admissions, access to justice, and benefits/services) and issued reports.  By next month an additional five areas (professional conduct, continuing legal education, building/property, client security fund, and fee dispute resolution) will be completed.  This three-year review effort has indicated several areas where investment in future operations, planning, development and offerings are necessary.  The Bar has created a page on our website for information related to the eventual petition for a licensing fee increase, including an extended article that I have recently written. ( www.utahbar.org/documents/ ).  More information will be posted upon receipt.  At the site you will find the Grant Thornton review, the completed operational reviews from last year, the Utah Supreme Court’s Rules for Integration and Management of the Utah State Bar, Bar By-Laws, the 2008-2009 Audit, as well as the budget for 2009-2010.  The Bar Commission will next study the petition issue on July 15th and thereafter again at its August 28th and October 2nd Commission meetings.  The Commission anticipates filing the petition by the end of December 2009.

"I have a question or comment for the Bar President"  -  President@utahbar.org

Salt Lake Tribune
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_12600493

By Jon Gilbert

Special To The Tribune
Updated: 06/16/2009 03:21:50 PM MDT

In the summer of 1997, 12 runners gathered in Sugar House Park to run a 5K race to raise money for breast cancer research. They were inspired by the 10-year battle against breast cancer of their friend, Judge Anne Stirba.

Stirba died in 2001, her cancer proving too severe to overcome. Nevertheless, the runners still gather every year to complete the same race, now called the Judgesrun 5K, as they did on Saturday. Except now, they are comprised of an army of nearly 400 runners and walkers raising money for a cure.