NCJ Number
72599
Date Published
1977
Length
75 pages
Annotation
Findings and recommendations are reported from a study designed to assist the Utah Supreme Court in meeting the increasing demands of its workload.
Abstract
The study analyzed the overall appellate process in Utah, internal supreme court procedures, the clerk's office, court facilities and equipment, appellate statistics, and alternatives for handling the present and projected appellate caseloads. In order to increase court efficiency, the following recommendations are offered: (1) employ two full-time research attorneys for each Utah Supreme Court Justice; (2) establish an intermediate appellate court of general jurisdiction; (3) give authority to the supreme court and intermediate appellate court to review all justiciable controversies and proceedings regardless of subject matter or amount involved; (4) the judges of the intermediate appellate court should elect one judge to serve as chief judge for a term of 4 years; and (5) the supreme court should have authority to reeview any case already determined by the intermediate appellate court. Addtionally, (6) prehearing memoranda should be prepared for every appeal in the supreme court after respondent's brief or a reply brief has been filed; (7) the supreme court should adopt new procedures for reviewing and deciding motions and writs; (8) the current system for duplicating final opinions should be modified; and (9) the State must develop long-range plans for adequate facilities for its appellate court system, because the supreme court does not have enough space for needed staff and library expansion. Also, there is no space available for an intermediate appellate court. Utah Supreme courtprocedures and a pay scale for attorneys are appended. Tabular and graphic data are provided.