Author: Jennifer Weaver

Nominees announced for Fourth District Court vacancy

Posted on by Jennifer Weaver

PRESS RELEASE

SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 17, 2024) – The Fourth District Judicial Nominating Commission has selected nominees for a vacancy on the Fourth District Court. This position results from the retirement of Judge James Brady, Dec. 31, 2024. 

The nominees for the vacancy are: Joshua Esplin, Attorney/Chief Counsel, Utah County Public Defender Association; Michael Gadd, Assistant Solicitor General/Assistant Attorney General, Utah Attorney General’s Office; Tony Graf, Deputy County Attorney, Davis County Attorney’s Office, Volunteer Judge Pro Tempore, Salt Lake City Justice Court; Ryan Stack, Deputy County Attorney/Prosecuting Attorney, Summit County; Kasey Wright, Attorney/Owner, Wright Law Firm, P.C.

Written comments can be submitted to the Fourth District Judicial Nominating Commission at judicialvacancies@utah.gov or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330. The deadline for written comments is noon Sept. 27, 2024. The Nominating Commission may request further information or conduct an investigation of the nominees after reviewing public comments. After the public comment period, the names will be sent to Gov. Spencer J. Cox, who will have 30 days to make an appointment. Gov. Cox’s appointee is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.

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Rob Carroll
Office of the Governor
(801) 243-2290, rcarroll@utah.gov 

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Nominees announced for Second District Juvenile Court vacancy

Posted on by Jennifer Weaver

PRESS RELEASE

SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 17, 2024) – The Second District Judicial Nominating Commission has selected nominees for a vacancy on the Second District Juvenile Court. This position results from the retirement of Judge Sharon Sipes, Dec. 16, 2024. 

The nominees for the vacancy are: Ryan Evershed, Judge, Eighth District Juvenile Court; Blake Hills, Board Member, Utah Board of Pardons and Parole; Nicole Lowe McBride, Partner, Hutchinson Cottingham Hall & McBride; Carolyn Perkins, Juvenile Public Defender, Weber County Attorney’s Office; Nathan Roman, Northern Section Director, Assistant Attorney General, Utah Attorney General’s Office.   

Written comments can be submitted to the Second District Judicial Nominating Commission at judicialvacancies@utah.gov or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330. The deadline for written comments is noon Sept. 27, 2024. The Nominating Commission may request further information or conduct an investigation of the nominees after reviewing public comments. After the public comment period, the names will be sent to Gov. Spencer J. Cox, who will have 30 days to make an appointment. Gov. Cox’s appointee is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.

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Rob Carroll
Office of the Governor
(801) 243-2290, rcarroll@utah.gov 

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Gov. Spencer Cox appoints Michael Mathie to the Sixth District Court

Posted on by Jennifer Weaver

PRESS RELEASE

SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 11, 2024) – Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox has appointed Michael Mathie to the Sixth District Court, filling a vacancy created by Judge Marvin D. Bagley’s departure. Judicial appointments are subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.

“I am thankful Michael is willing to serve the people of Utah in this new capacity,” Gov. Cox said. “The Sixth District Court will greatly benefit from Michael Mathie’s experience and wisdom.”

 Mathie is currently associate general counsel at TaxHawk, Inc. Michael also maintains a private practice in estate planning, small business advisement, contracts, water law, real estate and civil litigation with Mathie Law and Mediation. Previously, Mathie was a contract deputy Sevier County attorney handling prosecution of felony and misdemeanor criminal cases in the Sixth District Court and Sevier County Justice Court. Mathie also previously worked as the managing attorney at the Utah Office of Guardian ad Litem in Richfield, Utah.

Mathie received his Bachelor of Science in business management from Utah State University and a juris doctorate from the University of Idaho College of Law, where he received a Dean’s List recognition and was granted a National Institute for Trial Advocacy Certificate. 

“I am humbled and grateful for Governor Cox’s appointment as a District Court Judge in the Sixth District. I have been privileged to live and work in this district throughout my career and am deeply honored to have this opportunity to serve the communities that have given me and my family so much,” Mathie said. “If I’m fortunate enough to be confirmed, I will diligently strive to fulfill my duty to uphold the laws and Constitution of the State of Utah with fairness, respect, and devotion to the law.”

Nic Naylor
Office of the Governor
(385) 602-9159, 
nnaylor@utah.gov

 

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Justice Court vacancy announced for South Salt Lake

Posted on by Jennifer Weaver

South Salt Lake, Utah—Applications are being accepted for a justice court judge position that will serve South Salt Lake, Utah. The position will replace Judge Ryan Richards who will resign his position on or before December 31, 2024.

To be considered for a justice court judgeship in Salt Lake County, candidates must be at least 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a Utah resident for at least three years, and have a degree from a law school that would make one eligible to apply for admission to a bar in any state in the United States. In addition, applicants must be a resident of Salt Lake County, an adjacent county, or the judicial district in which the justice court is located either upon appointment or within a reasonable time following appointment.

Information on judicial retention and performance evaluation is posted on the Utah State Court’s website at www.utcourts.gov under employment opportunities. An application for judicial office form must be completed and is available on the court’s website www.utcourts.gov/admin/jobs). The salary range for the position is $149,730 to $192,510 per year and includes benefits. For additional information about working for South Salt Lake, call Jen Hill at (801) 412-3215.

The deadline for applications is Friday, October 11, 2024, at 5 p.m. and should be sent to the attention of Jim Peters, Administrative Office of the Courts, P.O. Box 140241, Salt Lake City, UT, 84114-0241. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. For questions about the justice courts or the process for filling this position, email Jim Peters, Justice Court Administrator, at jamesp@utcourts.gov.

Utah law requires the Judicial Nominating Commission to submit three to five nominees to the mayor of South Salt Lake, Cherie Wood, within 45 days of its first meeting. Mayor Wood will then have 30 days in which to select a finalist. Her selection must then be ratified by the South Salt Lake City Council and certified by the Utah Judicial Council.

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Get Involved in Utah’s 2025 High School and Jr. High Mock Trial Season

Posted on by Jennifer Weaver

The 2025 Mock Trial season is fast approaching, and we need your help to make it a success! Mock Trial is an incredible opportunity for students in Utah to engage with the legal system, develop essential skills, and be inspired by members of the legal community. With your support, we can continue to provide a transformative experience for these young minds.

Mock Trial allows students to learn about the law in a hands-on way, guided by expert volunteers who serve as judges and attorney coaches. This program wouldn’t be possible without the commitment of legal professionals like you.

Mock trial with Judge

Why Volunteer?

As a Mock Trial volunteer, you’ll help students understand the legal process, sharpen their analytical thinking, and improve their public speaking skills. Whether you serve as a judge or an attorney coach, your involvement will have a lasting impact on the students’ lives. You’ll be a positive role model and offer valuable insights from your experience in the legal field.

Judges

Mock trials require three judges per trial: a presiding judge and two panel judges. The presiding judge rules on objections, while all judges complete ballots and participate in the debriefing session at the end of each trial. Trials typically last around 2.5 hours, and volunteers are needed for both preliminary and elimination rounds.

No prior experience is necessary—first-time judges will have access to training materials and support. To participate in elimination rounds, volunteers must first serve as a judge in a preliminary round. This is a great way to get involved in a flexible role, as anyone 18 or older is eligible to volunteer.

Attorney Coaches

If you’re a practicing attorney, consider volunteering as an attorney coach. Attorney coaches work with a team to help students understand the legal aspects of the case, either virtually or in person. Coaches don’t write material for the students but instead guide them through the case and legal procedures. Your time commitment can vary based on your availability—you can meet with your team once or multiple times throughout the season.

Training and Resources

Judges will receive training videos and all necessary case and competition materials well before trial days. This will give you ample time to familiarize yourself with the process and prepare for your role. Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or new to Mock Trial, you’ll have the resources you need to succeed.

Mock trial students

Important Dates for 2025

Here are the key dates for the 2025 Mock Trial season. Please mark your calendars and plan to arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled trial start time:

  • Saturday, February 22nd: High School Preliminary Rounds 1 & 2 (9:30 am & 2:30 pm)
  • Monday, February 24th: High School Make-Up Round (5:30 pm)
  • Saturday, March 1st: High School Preliminary Rounds 3 & 4 (9:30 am & 2:30 pm)
  • Tuesday, March 4th: High School Quarterfinals & Jr High Preliminary Round 1 (5:30 pm)
  • Thursday, March 6th: High School Semi-Finals & Jr High Round 1 (5:30 pm)
  • Friday, March 7th: Jr High Make-Up Round Option 1 (9:30 am)
  • Monday, March 10th: High School Finals (5:30 pm)
  • Friday, March 14th: Jr High Make-Up Round Option 2 (9:30 am)
  • Saturday, March 15th: Jr High Preliminary Rounds 2 & 3 (9:30 am & 1:30 pm)
  • Tuesday, March 18th: Jr High Round 4 (9:30 am, 1:00 pm & 5:30 pm)
  • Thursday, March 20th: Jr High Quarterfinals (5:30 pm)
  • Monday, March 24th: Jr High Semi-Finals (1:00 pm)
  • Wednesday, March 26th: Jr High Finals (5:30 pm)

Earn MCLE Credit

Volunteering as a judge or attorney coach for Mock Trial can also help you earn up to 4 hours of general MCLE credit. The Utah State Bar allows lawyers and paralegal practitioners to earn credit through community outreach, including participating in mock trials. For more information and to apply for credit, visit MCLE Utah.

Ready to Volunteer?

If you’re ready to make a difference and get involved in the 2025 Mock Trial season, fill out the volunteer form.

For any questions or additional information, feel free to contact Melissa Orton, Utah State Mock Trial Coordinator, at melissamocktrialutah@gmail.com.

Together, we can inspire the next generation of legal minds and give them a hands-on experience they’ll never forget. Your time and expertise are invaluable—thank you for your support!

Students participating in mock trial gather in a circle putting their hands in the middle to show their team spirit
Teenagers preparing for Mock Trial
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Nominees announced for Fourth District Court vacancy

Posted on by Jennifer Weaver

Press Release

SALT LAKE CITY (Sept. 5, 2024) – The Fourth District Judicial Nominating Commission has selected nominees for a vacancy on the Fourth District Juvenile Court. This position was created by the Legislature during the 2024 Legislative Session. 

The nominees for the vacancy are: Jared Anderson, Attorney/Owner, Anderson Law, Conflict Attorney, Utah County; Tyler Berg, Attorney, Parental Defense, Utah County Public Defender’s Association; Michael Howard, Assistant Attorney General, Utah Attorney General’s Office; Erik Jacobson, Attorney, Moody Brown Law; Ryan Petersen, Senior Partner, MacArthur, Heder, and Metler, P.C. 

Written comments can be submitted to the Fourth District Judicial Nominating Commission at judicialvacancies@utah.gov or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330. The deadline for written comments is noon Sept. 15, 2024. The Nominating Commission may request further information or conduct an investigation of the nominees after reviewing public comments. After the public comment period, the names will be sent to Gov. Spencer J. Cox, who will have 30 days to make an appointment. Gov. Cox’s appointee is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.

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RELATED: Fouth District Juvenile Court Vacancy

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Scheduled Website Downtime on Sept. 21-22

Posted on by Jennifer Weaver

We want to inform you of a scheduled maintenance period due to the relocation of our hosting datacenter. Our hosting partner, Rackspace, has notified us that all servers will be moved to a new location in Chicago, which will require some downtime.

Maintenance Window:

  • Start Time: Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 9:00 PM
  • End Time: Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 5:00 AM

During this timeframe, your Euclid database and website will be unavailable to both customers and staff users. Unfortunately, we will not be able to post a maintenance message on the website during this period since the servers will be offline.

Please plan accordingly and inform your team of this scheduled downtime. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding as we work to improve our services.

 

If you need immediate assistance during the outage, please contact us at support@euclidtechnology.co

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Applications being accepted for Second District Court

Posted on by Jennifer Weaver

Applications are now open for a district court judge position in the Second District Court (serving Davis, Morgan, and Weber counties). To apply go to judicialvacancy.utah.gov and complete the online judicial application form. If you have any questions, please contact Monica Taylor at 801-538-1856 or monicataylor@utah.gov. The application is open for a month, and will accept submissions beginning today, August 26, 2024, until September 27, 2024.

This position results from the appointment of Judge Rita Cornish to the Business and Chancery Court on August 21, 2024. This follows her service in the Second District Court which she began in January 2021. We are thankful for Judge Cornish’s service and wish her well in her new position.

RELATED: Gov. Spencer Cox appoints Judge Rite Cornish to new Business and Chancery Court

Qualifications: To be considered for a judgeship under Article VIII Sec. 7 of the Utah Constitution, candidates must be at least twenty-five years old, be a United States citizen, and be a Utah resident for at least three years preceding selection. All candidates must be admitted to practice law in Utah but need not currently engage in the practice of law.

Information on judicial retention and performance evaluation is posted on the Utah State Court’s website at www.utcourts.gov under employment opportunities. An application for judicial office form must be completed and is available on the court’s website. The annual salary for the position is $213,900 in addition to other benefits.

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Fourth District Juvenile Court Vacancy

Posted on by Jennifer Weaver

Applications are now open for the position of Juvenile Court Judge in the Fourth District Juvenile Court (serving Juab, Millard, Utah, and Wasatch counties). To apply go to judicialvacancy.utah.gov and complete the online judicial application form. If you have any questions, please contact Monica Taylor at 801-538-1856 or monicataylor@utah.gov. The application is open for a month and will accept submissions beginning today, August 26, 2024, until September 27, 2024. 

This position results from the retirement of Judge D. Scott Davis, who served for six years on the bench following his appointment by Gov. Gary R. Herbert. We are thankful for Judge Davis’ service and wish him well in his retirement. 

🔗: judicialvacancy.utah.gov

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Qualifications: To be considered for a judgeship under Article VIII Sec. 7 of the Utah Constitution, candidates must be at least twenty-five years old, be a United States citizen, and be a Utah resident for at least three years preceding selection. All candidates must be admitted to practice law in Utah but need not currently engage in the practice of law.

Information on judicial retention and performance evaluation is posted on the Utah State Court’s website at www.utcourts.gov under employment opportunities. An application for judicial office form must be completed and is available on the court’s website. The annual salary for the position is $213,900 in addition to other benefits. 

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Nominees announced for Third District Court vacancy

Posted on by Jennifer Weaver

NEWS RELEASE

SALT LAKE CITY (Aug. 23, 2024) – The Third District Judicial Nominating Commission has selected nominees for a vacancy on the Third District Court. This position was created by the Legislature during the 2024 Legislative Session.

The nominees for the vacancy are: Darcy Goddard, Shareholder/Attorney, Strong & Hanni, P.C.; Todd Hilbig, Assistant Attorney, United States Attorney’s Office; Kyle Kaiser, Judge Pro Tempore, Salt Lake City Justice Court, Assistant Attorney General, Utah Attorney General’s Office; Thaddeus May, Assistant Attorney, United States Attorney’s Office; John Nielsen, Partner, Schaerr Jaffe LLP. 

Written comments can be submitted to the Third District Judicial Nominating Commission at judicialvacancies@utah.gov or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330. The deadline for written comments is noon Sept. 2, 2024. The Nominating Commission may request further information or conduct an investigation of the nominees after reviewing public comments. After the public comment period, the names will be sent to Gov. Spencer J. Cox, who will have 30 days to make an appointment. Gov. Cox’s appointee is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.

Contact:
Emma Williams 
Office of the Governor
(385) 303-4383, ewilliams@utah.gov

 

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