H.B. 241 Enrolled

JURISDICTION AMENDMENTS
2001 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Scott Daniels
This act modifies the Judicial Code to clarify that the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals
have jurisdiction to hear appeals involving a charge of a first degree felony or capital felony.
This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
AMENDS:
78-2-2, as last amended by Chapter 159, Laws of Utah 1996
78-2a-3, as last amended by Chapters 159 and 198, Laws of Utah 1996
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 78-2-2 is amended to read:
78-2-2. Supreme Court jurisdiction.
(1) The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction to answer questions of state law certified
by a court of the United States.
(2) The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction to issue all extraordinary writs and
authority to issue all writs and process necessary to carry into effect its orders, judgments, and
decrees or in aid of its jurisdiction.
(3) The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction, including jurisdiction of interlocutory
appeals, over:
(a) a judgment of the Court of Appeals;
(b) cases certified to the Supreme Court by the Court of Appeals prior to final judgment
by the Court of Appeals;
(c) discipline of lawyers;
(d) final orders of the Judicial Conduct Commission;
(e) final orders and decrees in formal adjudicative proceedings originating with:
(i) the Public Service Commission;
(ii) the State Tax Commission;
(iii) the School and Institutional Trust Lands Board of Trustees;

(iv) the Board of Oil, Gas, and Mining;
(v) the state engineer; or
(vi) the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources reviewing actions of the
Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands;
(f) final orders and decrees of the district court review of informal adjudicative proceedings
of agencies under Subsection (3)(e);
(g) a final judgment or decree of any court of record holding a statute of the United States
or this state unconstitutional on its face under the Constitution of the United States or the Utah
Constitution;
(h) interlocutory appeals from any court of record involving a charge of a first degree or
capital felony;
(i) appeals from the district court involving a conviction or charge of a first degree felony
or capital felony;
(j) orders, judgments, and decrees of any court of record over which the Court of Appeals
does not have original appellate jurisdiction; and
(k) appeals from the district court of orders, judgments, or decrees ruling on legislative
subpoenas.
(4) The Supreme Court may transfer to the Court of Appeals any of the matters over which
the Supreme Court has original appellate jurisdiction, except:
(a) capital felony convictions or an appeal of an interlocutory order of a court of record
involving a charge of a capital felony;
(b) election and voting contests;
(c) reapportionment of election districts;
(d) retention or removal of public officers;
(e) matters involving legislative subpoenas; and
(f) those matters described in Subsections (3)(a) through (d).
(5) The Supreme Court has sole discretion in granting or denying a petition for writ of
certiorari for the review of a Court of Appeals adjudication, but the Supreme Court shall review

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those cases certified to it by the Court of Appeals under Subsection (3)(b).
(6) The Supreme Court shall comply with the requirements of Title 63, Chapter 46b,
Administrative Procedures Act, in its review of agency adjudicative proceedings.
Section 2. Section 78-2a-3 is amended to read:
78-2a-3. Court of Appeals jurisdiction.
(1) The Court of Appeals has jurisdiction to issue all extraordinary writs and to issue all
writs and process necessary:
(a) to carry into effect its judgments, orders, and decrees; or
(b) in aid of its jurisdiction.
(2) The Court of Appeals has appellate jurisdiction, including jurisdiction of interlocutory
appeals, over:
(a) the final orders and decrees resulting from formal adjudicative proceedings of state
agencies or appeals from the district court review of informal adjudicative proceedings of the
agencies, except the Public Service Commission, State Tax Commission, School and Institutional
Trust Lands Board of Trustees, Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands actions reviewed by the
executive director of the Department of Natural Resources, Board of Oil, Gas, and Mining, and the
state engineer;
(b) appeals from the district court review of:
(i) adjudicative proceedings of agencies of political subdivisions of the state or other local
agencies; and
(ii) a challenge to agency action under Section 63-46a-12.1 ;
(c) appeals from the juvenile courts;
(d) interlocutory appeals from any court of record in criminal cases, except those involving
a charge of a first degree or capital felony;
(e) appeals from a court of record in criminal cases, except those involving a conviction or
charge of a first degree felony or capital felony;
(f) appeals from orders on petitions for extraordinary writs sought by persons who are
incarcerated or serving any other criminal sentence, except petitions constituting a challenge to a

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conviction of or the sentence for a first degree or capital felony;
(g) appeals from the orders on petitions for extraordinary writs challenging the decisions of
the Board of Pardons and Parole except in cases involving a first degree or capital felony;
(h) appeals from district court involving domestic relations cases, including, but not limited
to, divorce, annulment, property division, child custody, support, visitation, adoption, and paternity;
(i) appeals from the Utah Military Court; and
(j) cases transferred to the Court of Appeals from the Supreme Court.
(3) The Court of Appeals upon its own motion only and by the vote of four judges of the
court may certify to the Supreme Court for original appellate review and determination any matter
over which the Court of Appeals has original appellate jurisdiction.
(4) The Court of Appeals shall comply with the requirements of Title 63, Chapter 46b,
Administrative Procedures Act, in its review of agency adjudicative proceedings.

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