Utah Court of Appeals
From Judgepedia
The Court of Appeals hears all appeals from the Juvenile and District Courts, except those from the small claims department of a District Court. It also hears appeals from Utah District Court involving domestic relations cases, including divorce, annulment, division of property, child custody, child support, visitation, adoption and paternity, and some criminal]matters (those which are not first degree felonies or capital cases). The Court also hears appeals from administrative proceedings by state agencies] including the Utah Industrial Commission and the Department of Employment Security Career Service Review Board. It also hears cases transferred to it by the Utah Supreme Court.[citation needed]
Procedure
The panels hear oral arguments in cases during the third and fourth week of the month. After hearing arguments, the judges confer together to discuss the issues raised in the case. One of the judges on the panel is assigned to write the opinion of the court. In addition to its oral argument panels, the court designates three judges to sit on the law and motion panel. This panel determines procedural and substantive motions and hears cases on one day per month.
Court of Appeals sessions usually are conducted in Salt Lake City, but the court travels several times per year, holding court in different geographical regions of the state. The court sits and renders judgment in rotating panels of three judges. It is prohibited by statute from sitting en banc (all seven members at once).[citation needed]
Judges
The court consists of seven judges who are subject to a retention election every six years. A presiding judge is elected by majority vote to serve for two years.
Judges are chosen using a gubernatorial commission process. The Utah appellate judicial nominating commission has eight members. Seven of the members are appointed by the governor. The eighth member of the commission is the state's chief justice or someone chosen by the chief justice. This member of the commission is a non-voting member.[citation needed]
Qualifications
In order to be a judge on the court:
- A candidate must be a United States citizen.
- Must have been a resident of Utah for at least three years.
- Must be at least 25 years old.
- Must be admitted to practice law in Utah.[1]
Current judges
The seven judges on the court as of November 2008 are:
- Pamela Greenwood (presiding judge)
- William Thorne (associate presiding judge)
- Russell Bench
- Judith Billings
- James Davis
- Carolyn McHugh
- Gregory Orme
External links
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