Comprehensive Overview of Utah’s Judicial Districts
Understanding the Utah District Courts: A Comprehensive Overview
Utah’s District Court serves as the state’s upper trial court, reminiscent of the days when judges rode the circuits. In southern Utah, many district court judges cover multiple counties and often commute long distances to hold court sessions. This unique structure reflects the vast geographic spread of Utah’s judicial districts.
Breakdown of Utah’s Judicial Districts
Utah is divided into eight judicial districts, each encompassing several counties. The first four districts are primarily located in Northern Utah along the I-15 corridor, while the remaining four districts cover rural southern Utah. Here’s a detailed look at each district along with their filing statistics from 2022.
1st Judicial District
Counties: Box Elder County, Cache County, Rich County
Filings in 2022: 12,051
2nd Judicial District
Counties: Davis County, Morgan County, Weber County
Filings in 2022: 42,009 (Third most filings in Utah)
3rd Judicial District
Counties: Salt Lake County, Summit County, Tooele County
Filings in 2022: 105,076 (Most filings by far)
4th Judicial District
Counties: Juab County, Millard County, Utah County, Wasatch County
Filings in 2022: 45,324
5th Judicial District
Counties: Beaver County, Iron County, Washington County
Filings in 2022: 14,781
6th Judicial District
Counties: Garfield County, Kane County, Piute County, Sanpete County, Sevier County, Wayne County
Filings in 2022: 4,443
7th Judicial District
Counties: Carbon County, Emery County, Grand County, San Juan County
Filings in 2022: 4,191
8th Judicial District
Counties: Daggett County, Duchesne County, Uintah County
Filings in 2022: 5,400
Key Takeaways
Judicial Coverage: Judges in southern Utah often commute significant distances to serve multiple counties, emphasizing the importance of accessibility in the judicial system.
Filing Statistics: The 3rd Judicial District, covering Salt Lake County, leads in filings, indicating higher legal activity compared to other districts.
By understanding the structure and operations of Utah’s District Courts, residents can better navigate the legal landscape. For more information on court services and procedures, visit the Utah State Courts website.