Utah State Bar News & Announcements

BLUFFDALE CITY JUSTICE COURT JUDICIAL VACANCY POSTED

Bluffdale, Utah—Applications are being accepted for a Justice Court judge position in Bluffdale. The position will replace Judge Darwin Poulsen who is resigning May 1, 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.

Sandy, UT—The Salt Lake County Nominating Commission has selected five nominees for a vacancy at the Sandy City Justice Court. The position will replace Judge Donald Sawaya who retired Feb. 5, 2012.

Following are the nominees for vacancy followed by place of employment and residence:

· Honorable Paul C. Farr, Herriman City Justice Court and Lehi City Justice Court, Herriman

· Susan L. Hunt, Judicial Conduct Commission, Fruit Heights

· Honorable Catherine M. Johnson, City of South Salt Lake Justice Court, Salt Lake City

· Honorable Sydney J. Magid, Salt Lake City Justice Court and Sydney Jayne Magid, PC, Salt Lake City

· Honorable Catherine E. Roberts, Salt Lake City Justice Court, Salt Lake City

A comment period will be held through March 14, 2012, before a final candidate is selected by Sandy City Mayor Tom Dolan, who has 30 days to make an appointment, which is subject to ratification by the Sandy City Council. The Utah Judicial Council must then certify the appointment. To submit written comments about the candidates, contact Shari Veverka, Administrative Office of the Courts, shariv@email.utcourts.gov.

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The Supreme Court has approved amendments to the following Utah court rules. The amendments are effective March 5, 2012, unless otherwise noted.

Summary of amendments

USB 14-0504. OPC counsel. Amend. Prohibits OPC from prosecuting a lawyer for an act expressly authorized by an ethics advisory opinion. Provides that a court is not bound by an the interpretation of an ethics advisory opinion. Permits OPC to request that the ethics advisory opinion committee review, modify or withdraw an ethics advisory opinion. Permits OPC to request that the supreme court review, affirm, reverse or modify an ethics advisory opinion.

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.

DISTRICT COURT COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCED

Salt Lake City, UT---Third District Court Presiding Judge Royal Hansen has announced the appointment of Joanna B. Sagers as a new commissioner in the 3rd Judicial District effective March 19, 2012.

HILDALE CITY JUSTICE COURT JUDICIAL VACANCY POSTED

Hildale, Utah—Applications are being accepted for a Justice Court judge position in Hildale. The position will replace Judge Richard Carr who has been hearing cases the past six years.

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.

MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT ROD SNOW

High School Education Committee seeking volunteers to teach an important course on government in the state high schools

In July of last year, the Bar Commission authorized the creation of a committee to study and develop a one-hour course to be taught in our high schools, emphasizing the role of the three independent branches of government and the importance of an independent judiciary. We are fortunate in Utah that civics is a required course in our high schools. However, in 2011, the American Bar Association in conjunction with the Annenberg Public Policy Center conducted a survey in which only one-third of Americans could name all three branches of government; one-third couldn’t name any. An educated citizenry is critical to good government. To that end, our HSEC developed curriculum for at least one course a year on this topic to be taught on a volunteer basis by attorneys and judges. The co-chairs of this committee are Rich McKeown of Leavitt Partners, Christian Clinger of Advanced Mediation & Problem Solving and Angelina Tsu, Assistant General Counsel at Zions Bank. The HSEC is now in the process of advertising the availability of this program to the high schools and our Education Boards. The pilot programs have been successful. We are now in need of volunteer lawyers and judges to teach the course. We encourage you to volunteer. It will be an enjoyable and worthwhile experience which will not take much of your valuable time. To volunteer, please call or e-mail Angelina Tsu at Angelina.Tsu@zionsbancorp.com or (801) 844-7689. Or you may contact Christy Abad at adminasst@utahbar.org or (801) 297-7031. Thank you!

Contact: Nancy Volmer
(801) 578-3994
Cell: (801) 712-4545

BLUFFDALE CITY JUSTICE COURT JUDICIAL VACANCY POSTED

Bluffdale, Utah—Applications are being accepted for a Justice Court judge position in Bluffdale. The position will replace Judge Darwin Poulsen who is resigning May 1, 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.

Information on judicial retention and performance evaluation is posted on the Utah State Court’s website at www.utcourts.gov under employment opportunities. An application for judicial office form must be completed and is available on the court’s website. The annual salary range for the part-time position is between $11,233 and $20,219, without benefits. For additional information, contact Mark Reid, Bluffdale City manager, at (801) 254-2200.

The deadline for applications is March 15, 2012 at 5 p.m. and should be sent to the attention of Shari Veverka, Administrative Office of the Courts, P.O. Box 140241, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-0241 or faxed to (801) 578-3843. For more information, e-mail shariv@email.utcourts.gov or call (801) 578-3844.

Utah law requires that a local county Justice Court Nominating Commission be created with representatives appointed from the county commission, the municipalities, and the local Bar Association. The Salt Lake County Nominating Commission is tasked with submitting three to five names to Bluffdale City Mayor Derk Timothy for consideration. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Bluffdale City Council and certification by the Utah Judicial Council.

HILDALE CITY JUSTICE COURT JUDICIAL VACANCY POSTED

Hildale, Utah—Applications are being accepted for a Justice Court judge position in Hildale. The position will replace Judge Richard Carr who has been hearing cases the past six years.

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.

NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR HYRUM AND NIBLEY JUSTICE COURT VACANCIES

Cache County, UT—The Cache County Nominating Commission has selected five nominees for upcoming vacancies at the Hyrum Justice Court and Nibley Justice Court. The nominee will replace Judge Jack L. Stevens who is retiring from the Hyrum Justice Court and Nibley Justice Court on July 27, 2012.

Following are the nominees for the vacancies followed by place of employment and residence:

· Trevor L. Cook, Ericson & Shaw, LLP, Nibley

· Honorable Wayne B. Cooper, Clarkston Justice Court, ATK Space Systems, Clarkston

· Dustin D. Ericson, Ericson & Shaw, LLP, North Logan

· Daniel J. King, Daniel J. King Enterprises, Inc., Utah Dispute Resolution, Logan

· Paul K. Larsen, Stevens-Henegar College, Centerplace Enterprises, LLC, Logan

A comment period will be held through April 5, 2012, before a final candidate is selected by Hyrum Mayor W. Dean Howard and Nibley Mayor Gerald Knight, who have 30 days to make an appointment for each court, which is subject to ratification by their respective city councils. The Utah Judicial Council must then certify the appointment. To submit written comments about the candidates, contact Shari Veverka, Administrative Office of the Courts, shariv@email.utcourts.gov.

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