The Utah Supreme Court has approved certain revisions to Rule 11 and Rule 22 of the Utah Rules of Appellate Procedure. The amendments affect the inclusion of exhibits in the record on appeal, access to sealed portions of the record on appeal, and motions for extension of time. These amendments take effect May 1, 2024. […]
Summit County Jail, Utah
The Summit County Jail typically houses individuals who have been recently arrested, who are waiting for trial or resolution on a pending case, or who have been ordered to serve jail time as part of their sentence for a misdemeanor conviction or as a condition of probation on a felony conviction. Here are a few […]
Second District Court in Farmington, Utah
The Second District Court in Farmington, Utah is Davis County’s largest trial court and has general jurisdiction over a full range of criminal cases from misdemeanors to serious felonies. The courthouse for the District Court is located south of Station Park and is part of the complex that also houses the Second District Juvenile Court […]
Utah SB 23 – 2024 General Session
Senate Bill 23, 2024, proposes certain changes to Utah’s sex and kidnap offender registry, and child abuse offender registry. The chief purpose of the bill is to combine the different registries into a single, consolidated registry that would be called the “Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registry.” One of the sections affected by the […]
Interlocutory Appeals in Utah Criminal Cases
An interlocutory appeal is one that is filed prior to a final judgment is entered. In most criminal cases, this will mean filing a petition for permission to appeal an order entered prior to either the trial court’s sentencing order or an order dismissing the case. Permission to appeal an interlocutory order is not automatically […]
Second District Court in Ogden, Utah
The Second District Court in Ogden, Utah is Weber County’s largest court. The district court has exclusive jurisdiction over felony and class A misdemeanor and handles a wide range of criminal cases from misdemeanors to serious felonies. The district court also handles de novo appeals from the Ogden City Justice Court. An Overview Location and Contact […]
General Intent or Specific Intent in Utah Criminal Cases
The terms “general intent” and “specific intent” are used commonly in discussing the mens rea (mental state) elements of various crimes. The terminology has a long history in American courts and English common law can be useful in informal discussions. As a defense attorney, keep in mind that Utah law no longer makes use of […]
Attorney Resources – Utah Criminal Defense
The resources and guides provided here are intended for use by criminal defense attorneys practicing in Utah’s district courts and justice courts, to broaden their knowledge base and improve legal strategy in Utah defense cases. These materials should be considered in context of relevant procedural rules, appellate case opinions, statutes, and constitutional protections – both […]
What is the maximum penalty for a second-degree felony?
Utah law provides a minimum prison term of one year and a maximum of 15 years for most second-degree felony convictions. The Board of Pardons and Parole ultimately determines how much of that prison term is served. In most cases, the judge has the option of suspending the prison term and placing the person instead […]
Will a prosecutor make an offer at the arraignment?
Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. But the more important issue is whether you should accept an offer made at an arraignment hearing. Purpose of the Arraignment Hearing In Utah’s justice courts, the first scheduled hearing in a misdemeanor case is the arraignment. Two main purposes of the arraignment are: 1) giving formal notice of the charges […]