Utah State Bar News & Announcements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2011
Contact: Nancy Volmer

(801) 578-3994
Cell: (801) 712-4545 JUDGES TO HEAR GRAND JURY TESTIMONY Moab, UT---A panel of judges is scheduled to meet on Oct. 6, 2011 to hear testimony to determine if reasonable cause exists to call a grand jury. The meeting will take place in the 7th Judicial District, Grand County Courthouse, 125 East Center Street in Moab.
Those wanting to testify before the panel of judges should contact District Court Administrator Debra Moore at (801) 578-3800 by Sept. 22, 2011, to schedule an appointment. If no appointments are scheduled by Sept. 22, the meeting will be canceled without further notice.

Salt Lake City, UT—Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker has announced the appointment of Catherine E. Roberts to fill a vacancy on the Salt Lake City Justice Court. The position replaces Judge Holly M Barringham who resigned July 29, 2011.

Roberts received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College in Northhampton, Mass. and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Utah College of Law. She is the recipient of the Edward Spurgeon Public Service Fellowship, the David T. Lewis Clinical Award and Leary Scholarship.

Roberts is a trial attorney with the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association (LDA) where she has worked for the past eight years to represent indigent clients in felony and misdemeanor cases in Salt Lake County. She currently serves as the LDA attorney at the West Jordan Felony Drug Court. In addition, Roberts is an editor of the Utah Bar Journal, a small claims judge, and a mentor for the Utah State Bar’s New Lawyer Training Program.

Robert’s appointment to the bench is subject completion of the court’s new judge orientation and certification by the Utah Judicial Council.

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Nancy Volmer
Public Information Office
Utah State Courts
nancyv@email.utcourts.gov
(801) 578-3994

NOMINEE NAMED TO FILL SALT LAKE CITY JUSTICE COURT VACANCY

Salt Lake City, UT—Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker has announced the appointment of Catherine E. Roberts to fill a vacancy on the Salt Lake City Justice Court. The position replaces Judge Holly M Barringham who resigned July 29, 2011.

Roberts received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College in Northhampton, Mass. and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Utah College of Law. She is the recipient of the Edward Spurgeon Public Service Fellowship, the David T. Lewis Clinical Award and Leary Scholarship.

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT ROD SNOW

R E G I S T E R E A R L Y
2011 Fall Forum - Salt Lake City - November 17 - 18
A former client of mine who was a CEO of a well-known Utah company would often say, “A rising tide lifts all ships.” As we continue to increase our service to the community, including the poor and underprivileged, we will not only “lift” our community, we will lift the Bar and, ultimately, our individual practices.

“A [profession] refers to a group . . . pursuing a learned art as a common calling in the spirit of public service – no less a public service because it may incidentally be a means of a livelihood. Pursuit of the learned art in the spirit of public service is the primary purpose.” - Dean Roscoe Pound

Please make plans to join us at the Fall Forum the evening of Thursday, November 17th, and all day Friday, the 18th, at the Little America Hotel. On Thursday evening, we will be entertained and educated as we observe and participate in “A Mediation Tragedy” as presented by several of our notable mediators and actors. Friday, we will have cutting-edge breakout sessions and terrific key note speakers, Kerry Lee Chlarson and Stephen Mikita. They will offer their unique perspectives on the path to social justice. Mr. Chlarson, while an officer in the Marine Corps, was seriously burned in an automobile accident. After years of surgeries and physical therapy, Kerry enrolled in the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, graduating in 1991. Kerry is an Administrative Law Judge for the Utah Labor Commission. Stephen Mikita was born with spinal muscular atrophy. He was the first wheelchair freshman in the history of Duke University and the first wheelchair student admitted to J. Reuben Clark Law School at BYU. Stephen is an Assistant Attorney General representing state agencies providing services for those with disabilities. His indomitable spirit and wisdom have touched and motivated many. The Forum will also feature a panel on 60 Legal Sites and Tips in 60 Minutes.

The early registration deadline for the Fall Forum is Sunday, November 13th. The Fall Forum offers 8.5 hours CLE or NLCLE, including up to 2.5 hours Ethics Credit. Click here for a full Fall Forum schedule: https://utahbar.org/cle/fallforum/Welcome.html. To register, please click here: https://utahbar.org/cle/fallforum/registration.html. Thanks to our Fall Forum Committee Co-chairs, Grace Acosta and Virginia Sudbury for their excellent work.

NOMINEE NAMED TO FILL WOODS CROSS JUSTICE COURT VACANCY

Woods Cross, UT—Woods Cross City Mayor Kent Parry has announced the appointment of Judge Reuben J. Renstrom to fill a vacancy at the Woods Cross City Justice Court. The position replaces Judge Robert G. Peters who resigned July 20, 2011.

Judge Renstrom was appointed to the South Ogden Justice Court in 2006. In 2007, he was appointed to the South Weber Justice Court and in 2010 to the Harrisville Justice Court and Riverdale Justice Court. Judge Renstrom is an attorney with the law firm of Helgesen, Waterfall & Jones. He is a trained mediator and typically mediates domestic disputes. Judge Renstrom has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Weber State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas School of Law. He formerly served on the Rules of Civil Procedure Committee, and currently serves on the Standing Committee on Technology, the Justice Court Education Committee, and the Board of Justice Court Judges.

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UTAH STATE COURTS TO CELEBRATE CONSTITUTION DAY
Reading Planned at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse Rotunda

WHAT: In recognition of Constitution Day the Utah State Courts is planning a reading of the preamble to the Constitution and Article III, which established the Judicial Branch of Government. The reading is planned to coincide with readings across the nation.

WHEN: Monday, Sept. 19 at 12:00 p.m. to approx. 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Scott M. Matheson Courthouse, 450 South State, Rotunda

WHO: -Judge Carolyn McHugh, Judicial Outreach Committee

-Chief Justice Christine M. Durham, Utah Supreme Court

-Judge Stephen Roth, Utah Court of Appeals

-Judge Royal Hansen, Third District Court

-Judge Jim Michie, Third District Juvenile Court

-East High School ROTC Color Guard

-National Anthem sung by Frank Chavez

NOTE: A 10’ x 15’ American flag will be hung in the rotunda and will provide a photographic backdrop to the reading.

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Vernal, Utah—Applications are being accepted for a Justice Court judge position in Vernal. The position will replace Judge Cleopatra (Pat) McRae who will be retiring Dec. 31 2011.

To be considered for the position, candidates must be at least 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a Utah resident for at least three years, and have earned a high school diploma or GED. In addition, candidates must be a resident of the county in which the court is located—or an adjacent county—for at least six months.

The Judicial Council has approved amendments to the following Utah court rules. The amendments are effective November 1, 2011.

Summary of amendments

CJA 04-0613. Jail prisoner transportation. Amend. Amends the rule to conform to a new agreement between the courts and counties.
CJA Appendix B. Justice Court Standards For Recertification. Amend. Establishes standards for recording equipment in the justice court.

How to view redline text of the approved amendments

To see the text and effective date of the amendments, click on this link to: http://www.utcourts.gov/resources/rules/approved/ and then click on the rule number. All amendments are effective on the dates indicated. Updated versions of the rules will be posted to the main rules web page (http://www.utcourts.gov/resources/rules/) on or about the effective date of the amendments.

FALL CLASSES SCHEDULED FOR DIVORCE EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM

Salt Lake City, UT—More than 12,000 Utah children are impacted by divorce each year, including nearly 5,000 children in Salt Lake County. To address the needs of these children, the Utah State Courts offers a Divorce Education for Children class twice each month at no charge to participants. Classes take place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon and Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. Following are the dates for upcoming classes: Oct. 1 and 24; Nov. 12 and 21; and Dec. 5 and 17.

The Divorce Education for Children class is for children 9- to 12-years-old whose parents have filed for divorce or whose parents are divorced. The class takes place at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse at 450 South State Street. Advance registration is required by calling (801) 578-3897 or e-mail michelleg@email.utcourts.gov. There is no charge to attend the class.

The program’s curriculum provides children with skills they can use to better communicate their feelings to parents. A mental health professional teaches the class with the assistance of a state court commissioner. Participation in the children’s class is voluntary.

For more information, go to www.utcourts.gov and search for divorce education classes.

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The Judicial Council has approved amendments to the following Utah court rules. The amendments are effective November 1, 2011.

Summary of amendments

CJA 04-0613.Jail prisoner transportation. Amend. Amends the rule to conform to a new agreement between the courts and counties.
CJA Appendix B. Justice Court Standards For Recertification. Amend. Establishes standards for recording equipment in the justice court.

How to view redline text of the approved amendments

To see the text and effective date of the amendments, click on this link to: http://www.utcourts.gov/resources/rules/approved/ and then click on the rule number. All amendments are effective on the dates indicated. Updated versions of the rules will be posted to the main rules web page (http://www.utcourts.gov/resources/rules/) on or about the effective date of the amendments.

Salt Lake City, UT—Congress has passed the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act to reauthorize funding for the Court Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP works to develop innovative solutions to provide safety and permanency for children.

The legislation was introduced to reauthorize three CIP grant programs nationwide at the $30 million level through FY 2016. The reauthorization allows Utah’s CIP to apply annually to receive approximately $450,000 in grant funding.