NCJ Number
101011
Date Published
1985
Length
110 pages
Annotation
This task force report on implementing Utah's 1984 revised judicial article focuses on the State supreme court workload and organization, appellate organization and jurisdiction, circuit court appellate jurisdiction, court administration, and relevant legislative revisions.
Abstract
The judicial article was revised to develop a more efficient and effective judicial system, to attract and retain quality judges, and to enhance the judiciary's status as an equal partner with the other two government branches. In developing recommendations for implementing the judicial article, the task force conducted public hearings throughout the State to obtain information on issues most directly affected by the article. To deal with existing and projected appellate delays, the task force recommends the creation of a seven-judge court of appeals to work in conjunction with the supreme court to eliminate case backlog. Other recommended policies and legislation pertain to appellate court jurisdiction; court of appeals, supreme court, and trial court organization; and circuit court jurisdiction. Recommendations pertaining to court administration address judicial nomination, election, and evaluation; the judicial council; the judicial conduct commission; and judicial salaries. Appendixes contain the revised judicial article and tabular data.