H.B. 424
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies the term of office for a justice court judge.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . changes the term of office for a justice court judge from six to four years.
13 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
14 None
15 Other Special Clauses:
16 None
17 Utah Code Sections Affected:
18 AMENDS:
19 78A-7-203 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 205
20
21 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
22 Section 1. Section 78A-7-203 is amended to read:
23 78A-7-203. Term of office for justice court judge -- Retention.
24 (1) The term of a justice court judge is [
25 January following the date of election.
26 (2) Upon the expiration of a justice court judge's term of office, the judge shall be
27 subject to an unopposed retention election in accordance with the procedures set forth in
28 Section 20A-12-201 :
29 (a) in the county or counties in which the court to which the judge is appointed is
30 located if the judge is a county justice court judge or a municipal justice court judge in a town
31 or city of the fourth or fifth class; or
32 (b) in the municipality in which the court to which the judge is appointed is located if
33 the judge is a municipal justice court judge and Subsection (2)(a) does not apply.
34 (3) Before each retention election, each justice court judge shall be evaluated in
35 accordance with the performance evaluation program established in Title 78A, Chapter 12,
36 Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission Act.
37 (4) Notwithstanding Subsection (3), each justice court judge who is subject to a
38 retention election in 2012, 2014, and 2016, and who is not a full-time justice court judge on
39 July 1, 2012, shall be evaluated by the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission according
40 to the following performance standards:
41 (a) the justice court judge shall have at least 30 annual hours of continuing legal
42 education for each year of the justice court judge's current term;
43 (b) the justice court judge may not have more than one public reprimand issued by the
44 Judicial Conduct Commission or the Supreme Court during the justice court judge's current
45 term; and
46 (c) the justice court judge may not have had any cases under advisement for more than
47 two months.
Legislative Review Note
as of 2-25-14 4:39 PM