Navigating the Court System UTAH SUPREME COURT Five Justices: 10-year terms The Supreme Court is the “court of last resort” in Utah. It hears appeals from capital and first degree felony cases and all district court civil cases other than domestic relations cases. The Supreme Court also has jurisdiction over judgments of the Court of Appeals, proceedings of the Judicial Conduct Commission, lawyer discipline, and constitutional and election questions. COURT OF APPEALS Seven Judges: 6-year terms The Court of Appeals hears all appeals from the Juvenile Courts and those from the District Courts involving domestic relations and criminal matters of less than a first-degree felony. It also may hear any cases transfered to it by the Supreme Court. DISTRICT COURT JUVENILE COURT Seventy-one Judges / Nine Court Commissioners Twenty-eight Judges / One Court Commissioner District Court is the state trial court of general jurisdiction. Juvenile Court is the state court with jurisdiction over youth Among the cases it hears are: under 18 years of age, who violate a state or municipal law. s#IVILCASESs$OMESTICRELATIONSCASESs0ROBATECASES The Juvenile Court also has jurisdiction in all cases involving a s#RIMINALCASESs3MALLCLAIMSCASESs!PPEALSFROM*USTICE#OURTS child who is abused, neglected, or dependent. JUSTICE COURT One hundred and eight Judges Located throughout Utah, Justice Courts are locally-funded and operated courts. Justice Court cases include: s-ISDEMEANORCRIMINALCASESs4RAFlCANDPARKINGINFRACTIONSs3MALLCLAIMSCASES 1 Case Types and Initiating Documents in Justice Courts Case Types in Justice Courts January 2017 GENERAL CIVIL CASES A case filed on the court's own motion. May involve a juror or witness who refuses to Contempt testify or obey a subpoena or an attorney who fails to appear at a court hearing. Small Claims A case filed to collect monies owed not exceeding $10,000. (Utah Code 78A‐8‐101 to 109) A case filed by a government agency to collect monies owed not exceeding $10,000. Small Claims Gov’t (Utah Code 78A‐8‐101 to 109) CRIMINAL CASES AND ACTIONS A violation of Utah driving under the influence statutes punishable by a fine and/or Misdemeanor DUI confinement in a local jail, but not by imprisonment in the Utah State prison system. (Utah Code 76‐3‐104) A crime punishable by a fine and/or confinement in a local jail, but not by imprisonment Other Misdemeanor in the Utah State prison system. (Excludes misdemeanor violations of DUI statutes.) (Utah Code 76‐3‐104) A violation of a statute, local ordinance or regulation punishable by a fine, but not of Infraction confinement or imprisonment. (Utah Code 76‐3‐105) TRAFFIC AND PARKING CASES Parking Citation A case in which a parking citation is resolved. Parking Court Case A case in which a parking citation is contested and resolved. Traffic Citation A violation related to the operation of a motor vehicle, usually punishable by fine. A case generated out of a citation related to the operation of a motor vehicle or in which Traffic Court Case the defendant contests the citation and a hearing is set, or the defendant fails to appear and a warrant is issued. Case Initiating Documents in Justice Courts January 2017 CASE INITIATING DOCUMENTS All Criminal Information/Indictment Small Claims Small Claims Affidavit Small Claims Gov’t Small Claims Affidavit Expungement Filings This document should be efiled to the existing criminal case. Expungement Petition eFiling Exception: File in paper if for arrest only, or the case is not available in efiling. 2 Small Claims Trial and Appeal Flow Chart Justice Court District Court Plaintiff starts case in justice court. Appeal in district court is a trial de novo, with or Case is tried by a judge. without a jury. Rules of Small Claims Procedure apply. Rules of Small Claims Procedure apply. Appeal is to district court. No further appeals. Plaintiff starts case in justice court. Case is tried by a judge or jury in the District Court. Defendant removes case to district court (URSCP Rules of Civil Procedure apply. 4A). Appeal is to the Court of Appeals. Case is tried in justice court by a judge. Plaintiff starts case in district court. Rules of Small Claims Procedure apply. Defendant and plaintiff agree to remove case to Appeal is to the district court. justice court (Utah Code Section 78A-8-102(2) & URSCP 2A). Plaintiff starts case in district court. Court of Appeals Rules of Civil Procedure apply. Case is tried by a judge or jury. Appeal is to the Court of Appeals. Small Claims Trial and Appeal Flow Chart See https://www.utcourts.gov/howto/smallclaims/ for more Small Claims information Revised August 2016 3 Checklist for Appealing a Small Claims Judgment Keep a copy of all documents for your records. Attend all court hearings. (1) Notice of Appeal Print your name and contact information at the top of the first page. Check whether you are the plaintiff or defendant or the attorney for the plaintiff or defendant. Complete the heading exactly as it appears in the Affidavit and Summons. Omit any private or protected information. When filed, this document is a public record. Code of Judicial Administration Rule 4-202.09(9) requires that you omit from a public record any information that is not itself public information. For a list of records, data and information classified as public, private, and protected, see Rule 4-202.02. Date and sign the form. Complete the Certificate of Service. Serve the form on the other party. File the form with the trial court clerk. 2010.10 4 Checklist for Removing a Case from Justice Court to District Court You must complete a form before you file it. These instructions will help you complete the forms. Court staff cannot complete a form for you. Attach a copy of any document referred to in the form. Keep a copy of all documents for your records. Attend all court hearings. Some forms may not apply in your case. Contact the Self-Help Center if you need more help: http://www.utcourts.gov/selfhelp/contact/. (1) Notice of Removal from Justice Court First file this document in the district court. Print your name and contact information at the top of the first page. Check whether you are the defendant or the attorney for the defendant. Print the judicial district number, the county name and the court address in the blank lines. Complete the heading exactly as it appears in the complaint. Paragraph (1): This is a requirement. Make sure that it is true before signing the document. Paragraph (2): Either you (defendant) must reside in the jurisdiction of the district court or at least one of the events in the case must have happened in the jurisdiction of the justice court. Check one or both boxes, but at least one of the statements must be true. Paragraph (3): Print the name of the justice court on the blank line. File the original form with the court clerk. (2) Notice of Removal to District Court After you file the Notice of Removal from Justice Court form (described in paragraph (1)) in the district court and have a case number and trial date, file the Notice of Removal to District Court form in the justice court. Print your name and contact information at the top of the first page. Check whether you are the defendant or the attorney for the defendant. Checklist for Removing a Case from Justice Court Rev. November 2017 Page 1 to District Court 5 Print the judicial district number, the county name and the court address in the blank lines. Complete the heading exactly as it appears in the complaint. Paragraph (1): Print the name of the district court on the blank line. Paragraph (2): Either you (defendant) must reside in the jurisdiction of the district court or at least one of the events in the case must have happened in the jurisdiction of the district court. Check one or both boxes, but at least one of the statements must be true. Paragraph (3): Print the district court case number and trial date on the blank lines. Paragraph (5): You have 15 days from the date you were served with the complaint to file this Notice in the justice court and to file this Notice with the district court. File the original form with the court clerk. (3) Notice of Hearing When you file the Notice of Removal from Justice Court, the district court clerk will schedule the case for trial. Select a date that is convenient for you, the other party and the court. Print your name and contact information at the top of the first page. Check district court. Print the judicial district number, the county name and the court address on the blank lines. Complete the heading exactly as it appears in the complaint/petition. Identify plaintiff and defendant by name and address. Print “Trial” on the blank line. Print the date and time of the trial. Print also the judge’s name and courtroom number for the hearing. Date and sign the form. Complete the Certificate of Service. Serve the form and any attachments on the other party by one of the methods described in the certificate of service. URCP 5 governs service. File the original form with the court clerk. Checklist for Removing a Case from Justice Court Rev. November 2017 Page 2 to District Court 6 What is Juvenile Court? What are Juvenile Courts like? Established in 1905, Utah’s Juvenile Court serves Juvenile Courts are different in some ways from many purposes. The court has jurisdiction over juve- adult courts. Attempts are made to protect the juve- niles under the age of 18 who have committed an nile’s privacy, so many of the hearings are closed to Utah’s the public.