The Justice Courts have limited jurisdiction as to the types of cases they may hear. Specifically, Justice Courts hear minor criminal cases and traffic citations. Justice Courts do have the authority to hear cases involving Class B or Class C Misdemeanors. They also listen to cases involving: Small Claims, Violations of Ordinances, and Infractions. Counties and municipalities establish Utah Justice Courts. You may be surprised to learn that Justice Court judges do not need to be licensed attorneys. Justice Courts are the first tier in Utah’s Judiciary System.

In contrast to Justice Courts, District Courts have general jurisdiction. District Courts hear all civil cases, all criminal felonies, and under some circumstances, higher-level misdemeanor cases and family and domestic violence cases. Criminal felonies include murder, rape, burglary, homicide, kidnapping, and arson – to name a few. District Courts also have jury trials and the ability to hear appeals from the limited jurisdiction courts. Currently, there are eight judicial districts in Utah. They are the second

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg served for 27 years in our nation’s highest court. However, she took a stand for women’s rights and gender equality, beginning in the 1970s. Justice Ruth Bader, along with her husband, attended law school at Harvard, where she was 1 of 9 women in 500. During law school, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s husband was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg cared for him, attended to their toddler, and somehow managed to keep up with her studies. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg eventually transferred to Columbia, where she graduated with honors. Despite having graduated with honors, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg found it extremely difficult to obtain a job in the legal field as she was a woman. 

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg eventually landed a job as a law school professor at Rutgers Law School. This is where she began her advocacy of gender equality. In 1971 Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote her first Supreme Court Brief in a case entitled Reed v. Reed. The constitutional issue being looked at was whether or not a state could automatically prefer a male over a female executor of an estate. The answer, from an all-male Supreme Court, was a resounding, no.

Justice Ruth Bader went on to become the first female tenured professor at Columbia Law School. She also founded the Women’s Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union. Over the course of her career, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg filed numerous briefs to persuade the courts that the equal protection rights of the 14th Amendment apply not only to race and ethnicity but also to women. 

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter named Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Then, in 1993, President Bill Clinton nominated her to the Supreme Court. She was the second woman appointed to this position and was confirmed by a 96 to 3 vote by the Senate.

In 2006 after the retirement of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dissents came more frequently and more assertively, especially on issues involving women’s rights.   

There are many stories (which I implore you to research) advocacies for justice and triumphs during Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life that strike all of our hearts. However, it was the true grit, determination, and perseverance of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg that I admire the most and will remember her for.    

In-custody Defendants. The court will continue to perform all mission-critical functions for in-custody defendants, including, but not limited to:

• Probable cause review of warrantless arrests,

• Bail hearings,

• Bench warrant hearings,

• Arraignments,

• Appearances mandated by statute, and

• Sentencing hearings.

During the red phase, all hearings set for in-custody defendants will be re-set on video-conferencing calendars to minimize the risk to vulnerable populations, meaning all transports during that period are canceled. The parties are directed to immediately inform the court if this court is holding any in-custody defendants so the court can reconsider the defendant’s custody status. This process intends to supplement the court’s ongoing review of its records of in-custody defendants.

Out-of-custody Defendants. • Exigent Circumstances Hearings. All exigent circumstances hearings that cannot be accommodated by teleconference or video-conference will be handled in-person on Wednesday mornings at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 1. No other in-person hearings will be conducted in the red phase. • Arraignments. i. Traffic. Defendants who are issued a traffic citation during the red phase are ordered to pay or schedule an arraignment within 14 days of the date of the citation using this link:

https://doodle.com/mm/saltlakejusticecourtarraignments/bookablecalendar.

You may pay by mail, in person, or visit our website at www.slcgov.com/courts. ii. Misdemeanor/Criminal. Defendants who are issued a misdemeanor/criminal citation during the red phase are ordered to schedule an arraignment within 14 days of the date of the citation using this link: https://doodle.com/mm/saltlakejusticecourtarraignments/bookablecalendar.

This is simply a small excerpt from the court’s website. However, I encourage you to go in and explore it for yourself. You will be able to find out how to attend a Court hearing remotely, view the FAQ section, find out how to file documents and pay fines, and view the color-coded Court map.

• Reporting regularly to a probation officer;
• Paying fines assessed by the court;
• Paying restitution ordered by the court;
• Appearing at required court appearances;
• Obeying the law;
• Not having contact with victims and co-defendants;
• Attending treatment classes for alcohol and drug abuse, mental health, parenting, or anger management/domestic violence;
• Community service;
• Drug and alcohol testing; and
• Not traveling or moving out of state unless approved in advance

Some things you might not think about are loitering around businesses, jaywalking, leaving the state you reside in, or even just leaving the city could be a direct violation of your probation, depending on restrictions the judge has laid out for you. You will want to ensure that you are keeping in close contact with your probation officer and attending all of the scheduled meetings for you. Some advice would be to make sure you have a reliable ride to all of your appointments. If you are driving yourself, make sure you keep your vehicle in good working conditions. You wouldn’t want to break down on the roadway when you have a scheduled appointment with your parole officer or a court hearing to be. Always make sure you have a backup plan in case the first one falls through. It might be a good idea to keep a written calendar for all of your appointments and court hearings if your phone fails to remind you or your device breaks. Keeping a log of everything in multiple places will help keep you on track. We are human, so we are bound to make a mistake here and there.

In most cases, your probation officer has a good understanding of that and maybe lenient on you. However, do not use that as an excuse to make it a habit of breaking your parole. While you might have a parole officer who works well with you, the judge may not understand. Even though we have all been encouraged to social distance in these weird, unprecedented times, it is essential to remember that there are specific individuals and places you may not be allowed in or around. If you believe something could violate your probation, you may want to consult with your probation officer before participating in the act. If you have broken your parole, you should contact your criminal defense attorney to review your options.