Utah State Bar News & Announcements

Hyrum, Utah—Applications are being accepted for a Justice Court judge position in Hyrum. The position will replace Judge Jack L. Stevens who is retiring July 27, 2012.

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.

Nibley, Utah—Applications are being accepted for a Justice Court judge position in Nibley. The position will replace Judge Jack L. Stevens who is retiring July 27, 2012.

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.

JUSTICE COURT JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION

SELECTION MEETING PLANNED

Sandy, UT---The Salt Lake County Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting on Feb. 22, 2012, to select candidates to replace Judge Donald Sawaya who retired on Feb. 5, 2012, and Judge Holly Barringham who retired July 29, 2011. The commission will begin meeting at 2 p.m. at the Sandy City Hall, 10000 Centennial Parkway, East Conference Room, 350.

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 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Following the public hearing, the meeting is closed to allow commission members to select a slate of three to five candidates for each vacancy.

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 Justice Court Nominating Commission members is available at www.utcourts.gov.

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MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT ROD SNOW

Spring Convention

Friends, colleagues, jurists and the like, I send you early spring greetings. We hope you have enjoyed the enlightening ideas generated by this year’s political season. By way of announcement, we are looking for a chairperson for our New Moon Law Section. We are pleased to inform you that former Bar president V. Lowry Snow has been appointed by the Governor to the House of Representatives. Congratulations to Lowry.

2012 Spring Convention in St. George - I am pleased to announce that American Bar President William. T. (Bill) Robinson will be our keynote speaker at the Spring Convention in St. George, March 15 - 17, 2012. Throughout his 40-year career, Robinson has been a volunteer leader in his profession and in his community. An ABA member since 1972, he has been active in the Association for more than 25 years in various leadership roles, including three years as ABA Treasurer, eight years on the ABA Board of Governors and nine years as Kentucky State Delegate on the ABA Nominating Committee. Robinson has served as a President of the Kentucky Bar Association, President of the Kentucky Bar Foundation, Founding Chair of Kentucky’s Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) and President of the National Caucus of State Bar Associations. As ABA President, he has made the work of the Task Force on Preservation of the Justice System one of his primary areas of focus for the 2011-2012 year. The Task Force is addressing some of the most critical issues facing the legal profession today, including the severe underfunding of our justice system, depletion of resources, and the courts’ struggle to render their constitutional function and provide access to justice for countless Americans. We will also hear from Utah’s Businessman of the Year, Ron Vandermyde and, President and Chief Executive Officer of the World Trade Center Utah, Lew Cramer. Register now and book early for the best rooms and rates! Visit http://www.utahbar.org/cle/springconvention/Welcome.html.

The Supreme Court has approved amendments to the following Utah court rules. The amendments are effective April 1, 2012, unless otherwise noted.

Summary of amendments

Rules of Appellate Procedure
URAP 004. Appeal as of right: when taken. Amend. The amendment deletes the paragraph on notices of appeal filed by inmates, which provision is moved to Rule 21. The amendment also clarifies the time for filing a cross-appeal. The time begins from the date that the notice of appeal is docketed, rather than filed.
URAP 021. Filing and service. Amend. The amendment includes the provisions on filing notices of appeal by inmates. The amendments also clarify where filings are to be made and when filing is deemed accomplished.
URAP 038A. Withdrawal of counsel. Amend. Places the burden on opposing counsel to file the notice to appoint or appear when an attorney withdraws from a case. This will make the practice similar to the practice in trial courts.

The Judicial Council has approved amendments to the following Utah court rules. The amendments are effective April 1, 2012, unless otherwise noted.

Summary of amendments

Code of Judicial Administration

CJA 03-0414. Court security. Amend. Removes from the rule certain architectural features for court facilities. Transfers some responsibilities from the TCEs and the Judicial Council to the Court Security Director. Regulates access keys and cards. Prohibits demonstrations inside a courthouse. Technical amendments.
CJA 04-0510.01 Alternative dispute resolution definitions. Renumber and amend. Replaces paragraph (1) of Rule 4-510. Retains the same definition of terms.
CJA 04-0510.02 Responsibilities of the Director and Administrative Office of the Courts. Renumber and amend. Replaces paragraphs (2) and (4)(A) of Rule 4-510. Retains the same responsibilities for program administration.
CJA 04-0510.03. Qualification of ADR providers. Renumber and Amend. Replaces paragraph (3) of Rule 4-510. Retains the same qualifications for ADR providers.
CJA 04-0510.04. ADR training. Renumber and Amend. Replaces paragraph (4) of Rule 4-510. Retains the same training qualifications and requirements.
CJA 04-0510.05 Referral of civil actions. Renumber and amend. Replaces paragraphs (5) through (16) of Rule 4-510.Modifies how cases involved in ADR are handled. Eliminates the requirement to view the ADR video.
CJA 04-0510.06 Cases exempt from ADR rules. Renumber and amend. Replaces the "Applicability" section Rule 4-510. Identifies the casetypes excluded from the ADR rules.
CJA 04-0904. Informal trial of support, custody and parent-time. New. Provides for an optional informal trial in which the parties present their cases in narrative form with questions by the judge.

Logan, UT---The Cache County Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting on March 14, 2012, to select candidates for the Hyrum and Nibley justice courts to replace Judge Jack L. Steven who announced his retirement effective July 27, 2012. The commission will begin meeting at 12 p.m. at the Nibley City Hall, 455 West 3200 South, City Council Room.