Category: Utah Appellate Court Opinions
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State v Johnson, 2025 UT App 13
In Utah, when a criminal defendant requests a jury instruction for an affirmative defense, the court must give that instruction if evidence has been presented providing any reasonable basis for…
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Case Brief: In Re K.M., 2025 UT App 17
Under Utah law (Utah Code § 80-3-409), when reunification services are provided, the court must determine whether the child can be safely returned to the parents
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Case Brief: State v Taylor, 2025 UT App 14
Deference is usually given to trial judges but excusing a potential juror is a simple solution when there is concern of improper bias.
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Case Brief: State v Schaefer, 2025 UT App 4
This appeal pertains to whether a suspect’s admission at a police station should have been suppressed due to being made during a custodial interrogation without Miranda warnings being followed. Facts…
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Case Brief: State v Estes, 2025 UT App 10
The Court’s ruling in this appeal pertains to Rules 403 and 404(c) of the Utah Rules of Evidence. Rule 403 requires that evidence of other bad acts by a defendant…
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State v Chadwick, 2024 UT 34
In State v. Chadwick the Utah Supreme Court reviewed whether jury instructions provided by the district court violated the Unanimous Verdict Clause of the Utah Constitution. Facts Chadwick was charged…
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State v Molina, 2024 UT App 172
Facts Mr. Molina was offered a plea deal by the State, entailing a favorable State sentencing recommendation. Before the guilty plea was entered, however, the State withdrew their offer, claiming…
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State v Willden, 2024 UT 37
This appeal pertains to the Utah Rules of Criminal Procedure, specifically rule 16(b)(4) which exempts a defendant from disclosing discovery materials that would be considered attorney work product. Facts In…
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State v Salazar-Lopez, 2024 UT App 61
Facts Mr. Salazar-Lopez “pled guilty to multiple sexual offenses against a child” that were committed while he was also a minor. At the time these offenses occurred Utah Code 76-3-209…
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State v Sparling, 2024 UT App 59
Facts During a lawful traffic stop for various vehicle infractions (a missing license plate, broken brake light, etc.) and “suspicious” driving behavior, officers discovered that the driver, Mr. True Sparling,…
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State v Kufrin, 2024 UT App 86
Facts In 2021, Michael Kufrin was convicted of having murdered his girlfriend Peggy in 1988. The facts leading to the eventual discovery of Peggy’s murder, Kufrin’s conviction, and the current…
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State v Tran, 2024 UT 7
Facts In September, 2015 a grandmother did not arrive to pick up her eight-year old grandson from school despite previously always arriving on time to pick up the child. The…