| Members Present: Sen. Todd D. Weiler, Chair Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore Sen. Luz Escamilla Sen. John D. Johnson Sen. Michael S. Kennedy Rep. Cheryl K. Acton Rep. Kera Birkeland Rep. Karianne Lisonbee Rep. Calvin R. Musselman Rep. Stephanie Pitcher Rep. Judy Weeks Rohner | Rep. V. Lowry Snow Rep. Mark A. Wheatley Members Absent: Rep. Jon Hawkins, Chair Rep. Brady Brammer Rep. Brian S. King Rep. Mike Schultz Staff Present: Jonathan Adams, Policy Analyst Jacqueline Carlton, Associate General Counsel Lorna Wells, Committee Secretary |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Acting Chair Lisonbee called the meeting to order at 8:40 a.m. |
| Chair Lisonbee explained that Agenda Item #7 will not be discussed until the next meeting. |
| 1.Committee Business |
| MOTION:Rep. Snow moved to approve the minutes of the November 17, 2021 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 10-0-7. | |||
| Yeas - 10 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 7 | |
| Rep. K. Birkeland Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. J. Johnson Sen. M. Kennedy Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. C. Musselman Rep. S. Pitcher Rep. J. Rohner Rep. V. Snow Rep. M. Wheatley | Rep. C. Acton Rep. B. Brammer Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. J. Hawkins Rep. B. King Rep. M. Schultz Sen. T. Weiler |
| Open and Public Meetings Act training |
| Jonathan Adams discussed changes to the Open and Public Meetings Act in the 2022 General Legislative Session. |
| 1b-2022 Open and Public Meetings Act Training |
| Required reports to the committee |
| Jonathan Adams gave a brief overview of the required reports due to the committee. |
| 1c-2022 List of Required Reports to Judiciary |
| Jonathan Adams reminded committee members to complete the anonymous survey about OLRGC's performance by May 20, 2022. |
| 2.Judiciary Interim Committee 2022 Study Items |
| Jonathan Adams presented a list of interim study items and provided an overview of the process for approving the study items. |
| 2- Approved 2022 Judiciary Study Item List |
| 2022 Judiciary Study Item Overview |
| MOTION:Rep. Musselman moved to adopt the Interim Study Item List.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Rep. K. Birkeland Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. J. Johnson Sen. M. Kennedy Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. C. Musselman Rep. S. Pitcher Rep. J. Rohner Rep. V. Snow Rep. M. Wheatley | Rep. B. Brammer Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. J. Hawkins Rep. B. King Rep. M. Schultz Sen. T. Weiler |
| 3.Authority to Open Judiciary-Related Bill Files |
| MOTION:Sen. Kennedy moved to grant the chairs authority to independently open bill files on behalf of the committee.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Rep. K. Birkeland Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. J. Johnson Sen. M. Kennedy Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. C. Musselman Rep. S. Pitcher Rep. J. Rohner Rep. V. Snow Rep. M. Wheatley | Rep. B. Brammer Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. J. Hawkins Rep. B. King Rep. M. Schultz Sen. T. Weiler |
| 4.Appellate Decisions that Call for Legislative Action |
| Jacqueline Carlton discussed the recent Utah Appellate Court Decisions. |
| 4- Calls for Legislative Action |
| Several committee members asked questions and Jacqueline Carlton responded. |
| MOTION:Sen. Cullimore moved to refer the State v. Carter case to the Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice Committee.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Rep. K. Birkeland Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. J. Johnson Sen. M. Kennedy Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. C. Musselman Rep. S. Pitcher Rep. J. Rohner Rep. V. Snow Rep. M. Wheatley | Rep. B. Brammer Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. J. Hawkins Rep. B. King Rep. M. Schultz Sen. T. Weiler |
| MOTION:Rep. Musselman moved to include following appellate decisions that call for legislative action (CR.R. England v. Labor Commission; doTerra International v. Kruger, and Diderickson & Bruun v. State) as part of the Interim Study Items List.The motion passed with a vote of 12-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 12 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Rep. K. Birkeland Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. J. Johnson Sen. M. Kennedy Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. C. Musselman Rep. S. Pitcher Rep. J. Rohner Rep. V. Snow Sen. T. Weiler Rep. M. Wheatley | Rep. B. Brammer Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. J. Hawkins Rep. B. King Rep. M. Schultz |
| 5.Preliminary Hearings |
| Salt Lake Legal Defender Association |
| Richard Mauro, Executive Director, Salt Lake Legal Defender's Association gave an overview of the preliminary hearings statute. |
| 5a-Preliminary hearing presentation to Judiciary comm't 5-18-22 |
| Rep. Snow asked several questions and Richard Mauro responded. |
| Sen. Cullimore asked several questions and Richard Mauro responded. |
| Sen. Weiler commented on the discussion. |
| Sentencing Commission |
| Dan Strong, Director, Sentencing Commission gave a historical perspective of the preliminary hearings statute. |
| 5b- Utah Sentencing Commission Preliminary Hearings |
| Sen. Kennedy asked about the Commission's concerns about the proposed bill and Dan Strong responded. |
| Statewide Association of Prosecutors and Public Attorneys of Utah |
| Jeff Buhman, Exectuive Director, Statewide Association of Prosecutors, and Public Attorneys of Utah discussed the preliminary hearings statute. |
| 5c- Preliminary Hearings Presentation.Judiciary Interim Committee.20220518 |
| Several committee members asked questions and Jeff Buhman responded. |
| Utah District Courts |
| Michael Drechsel, Assistant State Court Administrator discussed the preliminary hearings statute. |
| Several committee members asked questions and Michael Drechsel responded. |
| Public Comment |
| Will Carlson, Salt Lake District Attorney's Office, commented on the preliminary hearings statute. |
| Matthew Vanek, Public Defender, Salt Lake Legal Defender Association, commented on the preliminary hearings statute. |
| Steve Burton, Utah Attorney's Defense Association, commented on the public hearings statute. |
| Neal Hamilton commented on the preliminary hearing statute. |
| Heidi Nestel, Criminal Law Attorney, Utah Crime Victims Legal Clinic, commented on the public hearings statute. |
| Bethany Warr, attorney, Utah Crime Victims Legal Clinic commented on the preliminary hearings statute. |
| Matthew Barraza, Executive Director, Office of Indigent Defense Services, commented on the preliminary hearings statute. |
| Michael Misner, Attorney, Salt Lake Legal Defenders, commented on the preliminary hearings statute. |
| MOTION:Rep. Snow moved that an informal workgroup be formed to study the preliminary hearing statute and asked staff to assist in forming this group and to have a Legislator assigned as Chair and that this group would report back to this committee in the fall.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Rep. K. Birkeland Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. M. Kennedy Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. C. Musselman Rep. S. Pitcher Rep. J. Rohner Rep. V. Snow Rep. M. Wheatley | Rep. B. Brammer Rep. J. Hawkins Sen. J. Johnson Rep. B. King Rep. M. Schultz Sen. T. Weiler |
| 6.Justice Court Reform |
| Judge Paul Farr, Chair of Justice Court Reform Task Force assisted by Mike Drechsel and Cathy Dupont gave a summary of the task force report. |
| 6a-Justice Court Reform Proposal Presentation |
| 6b-Justice Court Reform Proposal - August 2021 |
| Sen. Escamilla asked about the financial impacts of these recommendations. Judge Farr responded. |
| Rep. Acton asked how many judges are not attorneys. Judge Farr and Michael Drechsel responded. |
| Sen. Cullimore encouraged the chairs to put this item on a subsequent agenda. |
| MOTION:Rep. Pitcher moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 11-0-6. | |||
| Yeas - 11 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 6 | |
| Rep. C. Acton Rep. K. Birkeland Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. M. Kennedy Rep. K. Lisonbee Rep. C. Musselman Rep. S. Pitcher Rep. J. Rohner Rep. V. Snow Rep. M. Wheatley | Rep. B. Brammer Rep. J. Hawkins Sen. J. Johnson Rep. B. King Rep. M. Schultz Sen. T. Weiler |
| Rep. Lisonbee adjourned the meeting at 11:28 a.m. |