Farmington is the county seat and home to the Davis County Attorney’s Office, Sheriff, Jail, and AP&P offices, as well as both the Farmington District Court and the Davis County Justice Court. Farmington is the center of legal activity for criminal defense and prosecution in Davis County.
Will my case be heard in district court or justice court?
The question of district court or justice court is determined by two factors: the level (severity) of the charge, and the location of the incident.
The Farmington District Court is a court of general jurisdiction, with authority to hear felony and misdemeanor cases at all levels. All felony and class A misdemeanor cases must be handled in a district court. While Davis County has two other smaller district court locations (Layton and Bountiful), almost all felony prosecutions are initiated in Farmington. Most felony cases will be heard from start to finish in Farmington.
If the most severe charge in a case is a class B misdemeanor or lower-level charge, then the case will normally by filed in a justice court. The Davis County Justice Court handles misdemeanor prosecutions for cases arising in unincorporated areas of the county, and also for cities including Farmington, Kaysville, Fruit Heights, and West Point.
Appeals from the Davis County Justice Court take the form of a “de novo” hearing or trial in the Farmington District Court.
Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney for Farmington, Utah
Our criminal defense team is ready to assist you in felony or misdemeanor case defense in Farmington, Utah. Our nearby main office in Layton allows easy access to the Farmington District Court and Davis County Justice Court. For clients incarcerated at the Davis County Jail, our location also makes in-person consultations at the jail much easier.
Talk to us today to see how our attorneys can help you.