2022 Utah Code
Title 78A - Judiciary and Judicial Administration
Chapter 7 - Justice Court
Part 2 - Judges and Administration
Section 209.5 - Presiding judge -- Associate presiding judge -- Election -- Powers -- Duties.

Universal Citation: UT Code § 78A-7-209.5 (2022)
Effective 5/4/2022
78A-7-209.5. Presiding judge -- Associate presiding judge -- Election -- Powers -- Duties.
  • (1)
    • (a) In judicial districts having more than one justice court judge, the justice court judges shall elect one judge of the district to the office of presiding judge.
    • (b) The presiding judge shall receive an additional $2,000 per annum as compensation from the Justice Court Technology, Security, and Training Account described in Section 78A-7-301 for the period served as presiding judge.
  • (2)
    • (a) In judicial districts having more than two justice court judges, the justice court judges may elect one judge of the district to the office of associate presiding judge.
    • (b) The associate presiding judge shall receive an additional $1,000 per annum as compensation from the Justice Court Technology, Security, and Training Account described in Section 78A-7-301 for the period served as associate presiding judge.
  • (3) The presiding judge has the following authority and responsibilities, consistent with the policies of the Judicial Council:
    • (a) working with each justice court judge in the district to implement policies and rules of the Judicial Council;
    • (b) exercising powers and performing administrative duties as authorized by the Judicial Council;
    • (c) if there is no other appointed justice court judge in that court available, assigning a justice court judge to hear a case in which a judge has been disqualified in accordance with rules of the Supreme Court;
    • (d) if a justice court judge of the district cannot perform the justice court judge's duties in a case or cases due to illness, death, or other incapacity, and the governing body has not appointed a temporary justice court judge in accordance with Section 78A-7-208:
      • (i) assigning, on an emergency basis, a justice court judge to hear a case or cases; and
      • (ii) facilitating judicial coverage with the appointing municipal or county authority until a temporary justice court judge can be appointed, in accordance with Section 78A-7-208, or a new justice court judge is formally appointed and takes office, in accordance with Section 78A-7-202; and
    • (e) entering orders of expungement in cases expunged in accordance with Section 77-40a-201.
  • (4)
    • (a) When the presiding judge is unavailable, the associate presiding judge shall assume the responsibilities of the presiding judge.
    • (b) The associate presiding judge shall perform other duties assigned by the presiding judge.


Enacted by Chapter 276, 2022 General Session
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