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<leg xml:space="preserve" billnum="HB0262" sponsor="Jason B. Kyle" designation="HB" otherSponsor="" otherHouse="Senate" sess="2026GS" fileno="2026FL1151" date="1/14/2026 13:01:710" printDate="01-14 13:41" subVer="0" minVer="0" office="LEGISLATIVE GENERAL COUNSEL" actionDate="" impact="code"><info><nextbuid>3</nextbuid><aminfo anum="0" effdate="05/06/2026"><seclist><sect action="A" src="code" buid="1" uid="C20A-12-S201_2026050620260506" fromuid="C20A-12-S201_2025050720250507" sort="20A12 02010020260506" mtype="section" effdate="05/06/2026">20A-12-201</sect><sect src="uncod" untype="effdate" buid="2" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" mtype="uncod" effdate="05/06/2026"/></seclist></aminfo></info><tbox><sinfo><nextpairid>0</nextpairid></sinfo><st numlevel="1" lineno="1" slineno="0-1">Judicial Election Amendments</st><sessionhead>2026 GENERAL SESSION</sessionhead><statehead>STATE OF UTAH</statehead><sponsorhead>Chief Sponsor: Jason B. Kyle</sponsorhead><otherSponsorhead>Senate Sponsor: </otherSponsorhead></tbox><lt numlevel="1" lineno="2" slineno="0-2"><lthead lineno="3">LONG TITLE</lthead><gdhead lineno="4">General Description:</gdhead><gd numlevel="1" lineno="5" slineno="0-5">This bill addresses judicial retention elections.</gd><hphead lineno="6">Highlighted Provisions:</hphead><hp numlevel="1" lineno="7" slineno="0-7">This bill:<hl numlevel="1" lineno="8" slineno="0-8" level="1">modifies the number of votes required for a justice or judge to be retained in a judicial <ln numlevel="1" lineno="9" slineno="0-9"/>retention election.</hl></hp><moni numlevel="1" lineno="10" slineno="0-10" display="none">Money Appropriated in this Bill:</moni><moniNone lineno="11">None</moniNone><oc numlevel="1" lineno="12" slineno="0-12">Other Special Clauses:</oc><ocNone lineno="13">None</ocNone><sa numlevel="1" lineno="14" slineno="0-14">Utah Code Sections Affected:<saamd numlevel="1" lineno="15" slineno="0-15"><snhead>AMENDS:</snhead><sn num="20A-12-201" src="code" uid="C20A-12-S201_2026050620260506" buid="1" sort="20A12 02010020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="16" slineno="0-16"><bold>20A-12-201</bold>, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 39</sn></saamd></sa></lt><enacthead lineno="17"/><enact numlevel="1" lineno="18" slineno="0-18">Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:</enact><bdy><bsec buid="1" num="20A-12-201" type="amend" src="code" uid="C20A-12-S201_2026050620260506" sort="20A12 02010020260506" numlevel="1" lineno="19" slineno="1-1" sn="1"><section number="20A-12-201" numlevel="1" lineno="20" slineno="1-2" type="amend"><secline lineno="19">Section 1. Section <bold>20A-12-201</bold> is amended to read:</secline><catline lineno="20"><bold>20A-12-201<parens/>. Judicial appointees -- Retention elections.</bold></catline><subsection ssid="1-null-1" dnum="1-o" numlevel="1" lineno="21" slineno="1-3" level="1" placement="noreturn" space="false"><display>(1)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-2" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>Each judicial appointee to a court is subject to an unopposed retention election at <ln numlevel="1" lineno="22" slineno="1-4"/>the first general election held more than three years after the judge or justice was <ln numlevel="1" lineno="23" slineno="1-5"/>appointed.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-3" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="24" slineno="1-6" level="2"><display>(b)</display>After the first retention election:<subsection ssid="1-null-4" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="25" slineno="1-7" level="3"><display>(i)</display>each Supreme Court justice shall be on the regular general election ballot for an <ln numlevel="1" lineno="26" slineno="1-8"/>unopposed retention election every tenth year; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-5" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="27" slineno="1-9" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>each judge of other courts shall be on the regular general election ballot for an <ln numlevel="1" lineno="28" slineno="1-10"/>unopposed retention election every sixth year.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-6" dnum="2-o" numlevel="1" lineno="29" slineno="1-11" level="1" space="false"><display>(2)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-7" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>Each justice or judge of a court of record who wishes to retain office shall, in the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="30" slineno="1-12"/>year the justice or judge is subject to a retention election:<subsection ssid="1-null-8" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="31" slineno="1-13" level="3" tab="1"><display>(i)</display>file a declaration of candidacy with the lieutenant governor, or with the county <ln numlevel="1" lineno="32" slineno="1-14"/>clerk in the candidate's county of residence, within the period beginning on July 1 <ln numlevel="1" lineno="33" slineno="1-15"/>and ending at 5 p.m. on July 15 in the year of a regular general election; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-9" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="34" slineno="1-16" level="3" tab="1"><display>(ii)</display>pay a filing fee of $50.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-10" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="35" slineno="1-17" level="2" space="false"><display>(b)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-11" dnum="i-o" level="3" placement="sameline"><display>(i)</display>Each justice court judge who wishes to retain office shall, in the year the justice <ln numlevel="1" lineno="36" slineno="1-18"/>court judge is subject to a retention election:<subsection ssid="1-null-12" dnum="A-o" numlevel="1" lineno="37" slineno="1-19" level="4" tab="1"><display>(A)</display>file a declaration of candidacy with the lieutenant governor, or with the county <ln numlevel="1" lineno="38" slineno="1-20"/>clerk in the candidate's county of residence, within the period beginning on <ln numlevel="1" lineno="39" slineno="1-21"/>July 1 and ending at 5 p.m. on July 15 in the year of a regular general election; <ln numlevel="1" lineno="40" slineno="1-22"/>and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-13" dnum="B-o" numlevel="1" lineno="41" slineno="1-23" level="4" tab="1"><display>(B)</display>pay a filing fee of $25 for each judicial office.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-14" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="42" slineno="1-24" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>If a justice court judge is appointed or elected to more than one judicial office, the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="43" slineno="1-25"/>declaration of candidacy shall identify all of the courts included in the same <ln numlevel="1" lineno="44" slineno="1-26"/>general election.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-15" dnum="iii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="45" slineno="1-27" level="3"><display>(iii)</display>If a justice court judge is appointed or elected to more than one judicial office, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="46" slineno="1-28"/>filing a declaration of candidacy in one county in which one of those courts is <ln numlevel="1" lineno="47" slineno="1-29"/>located is valid for the courts in any other county.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-16" dnum="3-o" numlevel="1" lineno="48" slineno="1-30" level="1" space="false"><display>(3)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-17" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>The lieutenant governor shall, no later than August 31 of each regular general <ln numlevel="1" lineno="49" slineno="1-31"/>election year:<subsection ssid="1-null-18" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="50" slineno="1-32" level="3" tab="1"><display>(i)</display>transmit a certified list containing the names of the justices of the Supreme Court, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="51" slineno="1-33"/>judges of the Court of Appeals, and judges of the Business and Chancery Court <ln numlevel="1" lineno="52" slineno="1-34"/>declaring their candidacy to the county clerk of each county; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-19" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="53" slineno="1-35" level="3" tab="1"><display>(ii)</display>transmit a certified list containing the names of judges of other courts declaring <ln numlevel="1" lineno="54" slineno="1-36"/>their candidacy to the county clerk of each county in the geographic division in <ln numlevel="1" lineno="55" slineno="1-37"/>which the judge filing the declaration holds office.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-20" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="56" slineno="1-38" level="2"><display>(b)</display>Each county clerk shall place the names of justices and judges standing for retention <ln numlevel="1" lineno="57" slineno="1-39"/>election:<subsection ssid="1-null-21" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="58" slineno="1-40" level="3"><display>(i)</display>in the nonpartisan section of the ballot; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-22" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="59" slineno="1-41" level="3"><display>(ii)</display>in accordance with Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="20A-6-109">20A-6-109</xref>.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-23" dnum="4-o" numlevel="1" lineno="60" slineno="1-42" level="1" space="false"><display>(4)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-24" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>At the general election, the ballots shall contain:<subsection ssid="1-null-25" dnum="i-o" numlevel="1" lineno="61" slineno="1-43" level="3" tab="1" format="full"><display>(i)</display>at the beginning of the judicial retention section of the ballot, the following statement:<eol numlevel="1" lineno="62" slineno="1-44"/><para/>"Visit judges.utah.gov to learn about the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission's <ln numlevel="1" lineno="63" slineno="1-45"/>recommendations for each judge"; and</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-26" dnum="ii-o" numlevel="1" lineno="64" slineno="1-46" level="3" tab="1" format="full"><display>(ii)</display>as to each justice or judge of any court to be voted on in the county, the following question:<eol numlevel="1" lineno="65" slineno="1-47"/><para/>"Shall ______________________________(name of justice or judge) be retained in the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="66" slineno="1-48"/>office of ___________________________? (name of office, such as "Justice of the Supreme <ln numlevel="1" lineno="67" slineno="1-49"/>Court of Utah"; "Judge of the Court of Appeals of Utah"; "Judge of the Business and Chancery <ln numlevel="1" lineno="68" slineno="1-50"/>Court of Utah"; "Judge of the District Court of the Third Judicial District"; "Judge of the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="69" slineno="1-51"/>Juvenile Court of the Fourth Juvenile Court District"; "Justice Court Judge of (name of county) <ln numlevel="1" lineno="70" slineno="1-52"/>County or (name of municipality)")<eol numlevel="1" lineno="71" slineno="1-53"/><para/>Yes ()<eol numlevel="1" lineno="72" slineno="1-54"/><para/>No ()."</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-27" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="73" slineno="1-55" level="2"><display>(b)</display>If a justice court exists by means of an interlocal agreement under Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="78A-7-102" start="0">78A-7-102</xref>, <ln numlevel="1" lineno="74" slineno="1-56"/>the ballot question for the judge shall include the name of that court.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-28" dnum="5-o" numlevel="1" lineno="75" slineno="1-57" level="1" space="false"><display>(5)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-29" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>If <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="4" groupid="5" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">the justice or judge receives more yes votes than no votes</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="2" groupid="3" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">at least 67% of the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="76" slineno="1-58"/>votes cast are "yes" votes</amend>, the justice or judge is retained for the term of office <ln numlevel="1" lineno="77" slineno="1-59"/>provided by law.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-30" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="78" slineno="1-60" level="2"><display>(b)</display>If <amendoutstart style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="erase" pairid="5" groupid="6" style="2" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" deltag="both">the justice or judge does not receive more yes votes than no votes</amend><amendoutend style="2"/><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="3" groupid="4" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both" space="true">fewer than 67% <ln numlevel="1" lineno="79" slineno="1-61"/>of the votes cast are "yes" votes</amend>, the justice or judge is not retained, and a vacancy <ln numlevel="1" lineno="80" slineno="1-62"/>exists in the office on the first Monday in January after the regular general election.</subsection></subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-31" dnum="6-o" numlevel="1" lineno="81" slineno="1-63" level="1"><display>(6)</display>A justice or judge not retained is ineligible for appointment to the office for which the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="82" slineno="1-64"/>justice or judge was defeated until after the expiration of that term of office.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-32" dnum="7-o" numlevel="1" lineno="83" slineno="1-65" level="1" space="false"><display>(7)</display><subsection ssid="1-null-33" dnum="a-o" level="2" placement="sameline"><display>(a)</display>If a justice court judge is standing for retention for one or more judicial offices in <ln numlevel="1" lineno="84" slineno="1-66"/>a county in which the judge is a county justice court judge or a municipal justice <ln numlevel="1" lineno="85" slineno="1-67"/>court judge in a town or municipality of the fourth or fifth class, as described in <ln numlevel="1" lineno="86" slineno="1-68"/>Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="10-2-301" start="0">10-2-301</xref>, or any combination thereof, the election officer shall place the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="87" slineno="1-69"/>judge's name on the county ballot only once for all judicial offices for which the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="88" slineno="1-70"/>judge seeks to be retained.</subsection><subsection ssid="1-null-34" dnum="b-o" numlevel="1" lineno="89" slineno="1-71" level="2"><display>(b)</display>If a justice court judge is standing for retention for one or more judicial offices in a <ln numlevel="1" lineno="90" slineno="1-72"/>municipality of the first, second, or third class, as described in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="10-2-301" start="0">10-2-301</xref>, the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="91" slineno="1-73"/>election officer shall place the judge's name only on the municipal ballot for the <ln numlevel="1" lineno="92" slineno="1-74"/>voters of the municipality that the judge serves.</subsection></subsection></section></bsec><bsec buid="2" type="uncod" untype="effdate" src="uncod" uid="EF0000" sort="UZEFF" langlock="true" numlevel="1" lineno="93" slineno="2-1" sn="2"><section type="uncod" untype="effdate" display="false" src="uncod"><secline lineno="93">Section 2.  <bold>Effective Date.</bold></secline><sectionText lineno="94"><amend anum="0" ea="amend" pairid="1" groupid="1" style="1" owner="jchristopherson" level="1" amendtag="both">This bill takes effect on <effdate uid="code" date="5/6/2026">May 6, 2026</effdate>.</amend></sectionText></section></bsec></bdy><foot><rev><tm>1-14-26 1:41 PM</tm></rev></foot></leg>