Utah Court of Appeals
The Utah Court of Appeals is the intermediate-level appellate court for the state of Utah. It began operations in 1987.
Jurisdiction
The court's jurisdiction is complementary to that of the Utah Supreme Court. 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 determines appeals from District Court involving domestic relations cases, including divorce, annulment, division of property (Utah is an "equitable distribution" state), child custody, child support, visitation, adoption and paternity, and some criminal matters (those that 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 Supreme Court.
Procedure
The panels hear oral arguments in cases during the second, 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.
Judges
The court consists of seven judges who serve six-year renewable terms. A presiding judge is elected by majority vote to serve for two years. 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).
The seven judges on the court as of 2014 are:
- J. Frederic Voros, Jr. (presiding judge)
- Gregory K. Orme (associate presiding judge)
- Stephen L. Roth
- Michele M. Christiansen
- John A. Pearce
- Kate A. Toomey
Judge Toomey was appointed in August 2014 by Governor Gary Herbert.
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