1     
PRELIMINARY HEARING AMENDMENTS

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2022 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Todd D. Weiler

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House Sponsor: ____________

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill addresses preliminary hearings.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     addresses a preliminary hearing for certain offenses;
13          ▸     addresses the right of a defendant in relation to a preliminary hearing; and
14          ▸     addresses the function of a preliminary hearing.
15     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16          None
17     Other Special Clauses:
18          None
19     Utah Code Sections Affected:
20     ENACTS:
21          77-1-9, Utah Code Annotated 1953
22     

23     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24          Section 1. Section 77-1-9 is enacted to read:
25          77-1-9. Preliminary hearing -- Rights of defendant.
26          (1) In all cases for a class A misdemeanor or felony offense, the defendant has a right
27     to have a preliminary hearing as described in this section.

28          (2) A preliminary hearing is an adversarial hearing where the prosecuting attorney must
29     present evidence that is sufficient to establish probable cause that:
30          (a) a criminal offense has been committed; and
31          (b) the defendant committed the criminal offense.
32          (3) For a probable cause showing at a preliminary hearing, the prosecuting attorney
33     must establish a prima facie case against the defendant.
34          (4) At a preliminary hearing, the defendant shall be:
35          (a) advised of the nature of the charges against the defendant;
36          (b) allowed to conduct discovery;
37          (c) allowed to testify;
38          (d) allowed to cross-examine any witness, including any witness expected to testify
39     against the defendant;
40          (e) allowed to cross-examine a witness on any matter that will aid the defense,
41     including the credibility of the witness; and
42          (f) except as provided in Subsection (5), allowed to subpoena witnesses.
43          (5) At a preliminary hearing, a defendant may not subpoena a child who is an alleged
44     victim of any offense for which the defendant is charged.
45          (6) Upon a preliminary hearing, the magistrate or judge may:
46          (a) determine whether evidence or allegations presented at the preliminary hearing are
47     credible and establish probable cause in accordance with Subsections (2) and (3); and
48          (b) decline to bind a defendant over for trial if, after careful consideration of the
49     evidence, the court determines that the evidence is insufficient to establish probable cause.