CJA 1-205

Court rules

Ask Donna

What actually matters in this document.

Text

CJA 1-205

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

DRAFT: July 17, 2026

Rule 1-205. Standing and Ad Hoc Committees.

Intent:

To establish standing and ad hoc committees to assist the Council and provide

recommendations on topical issues.

To establish uniform terms and a uniform method for appointing committee members.

To provide for a periodic review of existing committees to assure that their activities are

appropriately related to the administration of the judiciary.

Applicability:

This rule applies to the internal operation of the Council.

Statement of the Rule:

(1) Standing Committees.

(1)(A) Establishment. The following standing committees of the Council are hereby

established:

(1)(A)(i) Uniform Fine Committee;

(1)(A)(ii) Ethics Advisory Committee;

(1)(A)(iii) Judicial Branch Education Committee;

(1)(A)(iv) Committee on Children and Family Law;

(1)(A)(v) Committee on Resources for Self-represented Parties;

(1)(A)(vi) Language Access Committee;

(1)(A)(vii) Guardian ad Litem Oversight Committee;

(1)(A)(viii) Committee on Model Utah Civil Jury Instructions;

(1)(A)(ix) Committee on Model Utah Criminal Jury Instructions;

(1)(A)(x) Committee on Court Forms;

(1)(A)(xi) Committee on Fairness and Accountability;

CJA 1-205

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

87

88

DRAFT: July 17, 2026

(1)(A)(xii) Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders

(WINGS); and

(1)(A)(xiii) Tribal Liaison Committee.

(1)(B) Composition.

(1)(B)(i) The Uniform Fine Committee performs the duties described in Rule 4302 and will consist of:

(1)(B)(i)(a) one district court judge who has experience with a criminal

docket; and

(1)(B)(i)(b) two justice court judges.

(1)(B)(ii) The Ethics Advisory Committee performs the duties described in Rule

3-109 and will consist of:

(1)(B)(ii)(a) one judge from the Court of Appeals;

(1)(B)(ii)(b) one district court judge from Judicial Districts 2, 3, or 4;

(1)(B)(ii)(c) one district court judge from Judicial Districts 1, 5, 6, 7, or 8;

(1)(B)(ii)(d) one juvenile court judge;

(1)(B)(ii)(e) one justice court judge; and

(1)(B)(ii)(f) an attorney from either the Bar or a college of law.

(1)(B)(iii) The Judicial Branch Education Committee performs the duties

described in Rule 3-403 and will consist of:

(1)(B)(iii)(a) one judge from an appellate court;

(1)(B)(iii)(b) one district court judge from Judicial Districts 2, 3, or 4;

(1)(B)(iii)(c) one district court judge from Judicial Districts 1, 5, 6, 7, or 8;

(1)(B)(iii)(d) one juvenile court judge;

(1)(B)(iii)(e) the education liaison of the Board of Justice Court Judges;

(1)(B)(iii)(f) one court level administrator;

CJA 1-205

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

113

114

115

116

117

118

119

120

121

122

123

124

125

126

127

128

129

130

131

DRAFT: July 17, 2026

(1)(B)(iii)(g) the Human Resources Director;

(1)(B)(iii)(h) one court executive;

(1)(B)(iii)(i) one juvenile court probation representative;

(1)(B)(iii)(j) two court clerks from different levels of court and different

judicial districts;

(1)(B)(iii)(k) one data processing manager; and

(1)(B)(iii)(l) one adult educator from higher education.

(1)(B)(iii)(lm) The Human Resources Director and the adult educator will

serve as a non-voting members. The court level administrator and the

Human Resources Director will serve as permanent Committee members.

(1)(B)(iv) The Committee on Children and Family Law performs the duties

described in Rule 4-908 and will consist of:

(1)(B)(iv)(a) one Senator appointed by the President of the Senate;

(1)(B)(iv)(b) the Director of the Department of Health and Human

Services or designee;

(1)(B)(iv)(c) one attorney of the Executive Committee of the Family Law

Section of the Utah State Bar;

(1)(B)(iv)(d) one attorney with experience in abuse, neglect and

dependency cases;

(1)(B)(iv)(e) one attorney with experience representing parents in abuse,

neglect and dependency cases;

(1)(B)(iv)(f) one representative of a child advocacy organization;

(1)(B)(iv)(g) the ADR Program Director or designee;

(1)(B)(iv)(h) one professional in the area of child development;

(1)(B)(iv)(i) one mental health professional;

CJA 1-205

132

133

134

135

136

137

138

139

140

141

142

143

144

145

146

147

148

149

150

151

152

153

154

155

156

157

158

159

160

161

162

163

164

165

166

167

168

169

170

171

172

173

174

175

DRAFT: July 17, 2026

(1)(B)(iv)(j) two community representatives who are knowledgeable about

the needs of self-represented litigants;

(1)(B)(iv)(k) the Director of the Office of Guardian ad Litem or designee;

(1)(B)(iv)(l) the Director of the Self-Help Center and Law Library or

designee:

(1)(B)(iv)(m) one court commissioner;

(1)(B)(iv)(n) two district court judges; and

(1)(B)(iv)(o) two juvenile court judges.

(1)(B)(iv)(p) One of the district court judges and one of the juvenile court

judges will serve as co-chairs to the committee. In its discretion, the

committee may appoint non-members to serve on its subcommittees.

(1)(B)(v) The Committee on Resources for Self-represented Parties performs

the duties described in Rule 3-115 and will consist of:

(1)(B)(v)(a) two district court judges;

(1)(B)(v)(b) one juvenile court judge;

(1)(B)(v)(c) two justice court judges;

(1)(B)(v)(d) three clerks of court – one from an appellate court, one from

an urban district and one from a rural district;

(1)(B)(v)(e) one representative from a social services organization

providing direct services to underserved communities;

(1)(B)(v)(f) one representative from the Utah State Bar;

(1)(B)(v)(g) two representatives from legal service organizations that

serve low-income clients;

(1)(B)(v)(h) one private attorney experienced in providing services to selfrepresented parties;

(1)(B)(v)(i) two law school representatives;

(1)(B)(v)(j) the state law librarian; and

CJA 1-205

176

177

178

179

180

181

182

183

184

185

186

187

188

189

190

191

192

193

194

195

196

197

198

199

200

201

202

203

204

205

206

207

208

209

210

211

212

213

214

215

216

217

218

DRAFT: July 17, 2026

(1)(B)(v)(k) two community representatives who are knowledgeable about

the needs of self-represented litigants.

(1)(B)(vi) The Language Access Committee performs the duties described in

Rule 3-306.02 and will consist of:

(1)(B)(vi)(a) one district court judge;

(1)(B)(vi)(b) one juvenile court judge;

(1)(B)(vi)(c) one justice court judge;

(1)(B)(vi)(d) one trial court executive;

(1)(B)(vi)(e) one court clerk;

(1)(B)(vi)(f) one interpreter coordinator;

(1)(B)(vi)(g) one probation officer;

(1)(B)(vi)(h) one prosecuting attorney;

(1)(B)(vi)(i) one defense attorney;

(1)(B)(vi)(j) two certified interpreters;

(1)(B)(vi)(k) one approved interpreter;

(1)(B)(vi)(l) one expert in the field of linguistics;

(1)(B)(vi)(m) one American Sign Language representative; and

(1)(B)(vi)(n) two community representatives who are knowledgeable

about the needs of self-represented litigants.

(1)(B)(vii) The Guardian ad Litem Oversight Committee performs the duties

described in Rule 4-906 and will consist of:

(1)(B)(vii)(a) seven members appointed by the Council, including:

(1)(B)(vii)(a)(i) a current or former juvenile court judge;

CJA 1-205

219

220

221

222

223

224

225

226

227

228

229

230

231

232

233

234

235

236

237

238

239

240

241

242

243

244

245

246

247

248

249

250

251

252

253

254

255

256

257

258

259

260

261

DRAFT: July 17, 2026

(1)(B)(vii)(a)(ii) an attorney with experience representing parents

in child welfare cases;

(1)(B)(vii)(a)(iii) an attorney with experience representing the

Division of Child and Family Services in child welfare cases;

(1)(B)(vii)(a)(iv) a behavioral or mental health clinical provider with

experience working with families involved in child welfare cases;

(1)(B)(vii)(a)(v) an individual with experience working with or

advocating for youth in foster care;

(1)(B)(vii)(a)(vi) an individual with lived experience as a parent

involved with the child welfare system; and

(1)(B)(vii)(a)(vii) an individual with lived experience as a child or

youth involved with the child welfare system;

(1)(B)(vii)(b) two members appointed by the Administrative Office,

including:

(1)(B)(vii)(b)(i) a current or former court administrator; and

(1)(B)(vii)(b)(ii) a current internal court auditor;

(1)(B)(vii)(c) a member of the Senate, whom the president of the Senate

appoints;

(1)(B)(vii)(d) a member of the House of Representatives, whom the

speaker of the House of Representatives appoints; and

(1)(B)(vii)(e) the guardian ad litem director or the director's designee.(1)(B)(viii)

The Committee on Model Utah Civil Jury Instructions performs the duties

described in Rule 3-418 and will consist of:

(1)(B)(viii)(a) two district court judges;

(1)(B)(viii)(b) four lawyers who primarily represent plaintiffs;

(1)(B)(viii)(c) four lawyers who primarily represent defendants; and

(1)(B)(viii)(d) one person skilled in linguistics or communication.

CJA 1-205

262

263

264

265

266

267

268

269

270

271

272

273

274

275

276

277

278

279

280

281

282

283

284

285

286

287

288

289

290

291

292

293

294

295

296

297

298

299

300

301

302

303

304

305

DRAFT: July 17, 2026

(1)(B)(ix) The Committee on Model Utah Criminal Jury Instructions performs

the duties described in Rule 3-418 and will consist of:

(1)(B)(ix)(a) two district court judges;

(1)(B)(ix)(b) one justice court judge;

(1)(B)(ix)(c) four prosecutors;

(1)(B)(ix)(d) four defense counsel; and

(1)(B)(ix)(e) one person skilled in linguistics or communication.

(1)(B)(x) The Committee on Court Forms performs the duties described in Rule

3-117 and will consist of:

(1)(B)(x)(a) two district court judges;

(1)(B)(x)(b) one court commissioner;

(1)(B)(x)(c) one juvenile court judge;

(1)(B)(x)(d) one justice court judge;

(1)(B)(x)(e) one court clerk;

(1)(B)(x)(f) one appellate court staff attorney;

(1)(B)(x)(g) one representative from the Self-Help Center;

(1)(B)(x)(h) the State Law Librarian;

(1)(B)(x)(i) the district court administrator or designee;

(1)(B)(x)(j) one representative from a legal service organization that

serves low-income clients;

(1)(B)(x)(k) one paralegal;

(1)(B)(x)(l) one educator from a paralegal program or law school;

(1)(B)(x)(m) one person skilled in linguistics or communication;

(1)(B)(x)(n) one representative from the Utah State Bar;

CJA 1-205

306

307

308

309

310

311

312

313

314

315

316

317

318

319

320

321

322

323

324

325

326

327

328

329

330

331

332

333

334

335

336

337

338

339

340

341

342

343

344

345

346

347

348

DRAFT: July 17, 2026

(1)(B)(x)(o) the Licensed Paralegal Practitioner (LPP) administrator; and

(1)(B)(x)(p) two community representatives who are knowledgeable about

the needs of the self-represented litigants.

(1)(B)(xi) The Committee on Fairness and Accountability performs the duties

described in Rule 3-420. The committee will include members who demonstrate

an interest in or who have experience with issues of diversity, equity, and

inclusion and will consist of:

(1)(B)(xi)(a) one district court judge;

(1)(B)(xi)(b) one juvenile court judge;

(1)(B)(xi)(c) one justice court judge;

(1)(B)(xi)(d) one appellate court judge;

(1)(B)(xi)(e) two former judges from any court level;

(1)(B)(xi)(f) the General Counsel or designee;

(1)(B)(xi)(g) two community representatives who are knowledgeable

about the needs of self-represented litigants;

(1)(B)(xi)(h) the Director of the Office of Fairness and Accountability;

(1)(B)(xi)(i) the Director of Data and Research or designee; and

(1)(B)(xi)(j) up to two additional qualified individuals.

(1)(B)(xii) The Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship

Stakeholders (WINGS) performs the duties described in Rule 3-421, and will

consist of:

(1)(B)(xii)(a) Judiciary representatives:

(1)(B)(xii)(a)(i) two or more district court judges;

(1)(B)(xii)(a)(ii) two or more district court judicial support staff with

experience in guardianship matters;

CJA 1-205

349

350

351

352

353

354

355

356

357

358

359

360

361

362

363

364

365

366

367

368

369

370

371

372

373

374

375

376

377

378

379

380

381

382

383

384

385

386

387

388

389

390

391

DRAFT: July 17, 2026

(1)(B)(xii)(a)(iii) one representative from the Guardianship

Reporting and Monitoring Program (GRAMP); and

(1)(B)(xii)(a)(iv) one representative from the Court Visitor Program.

(1)(B)(xii)(b) Community stakeholder representatives:

(1)(B)(xii)(b)(i) one representative from Adult Protective Services;

(1)(B)(xii)(b)(ii) one representative from Disability Law Center;

(1)(B)(xii)(b)(iii) one representative from Adult and Aging Services;

(1)(B)(xii)(b)(iv) one representative from Office of Public Guardian;

(1)(B)(xii)(b)(v) one representative from the Utah State Bar;

(1)(B)(xii)(b)(vi) one representative from Office of the Attorney

General;

(1)(B)(xii)(b)(vii) one representative from the Utah legislature;

(1)(B)(xii)(b)(viii) one representative from the Utah Commission on

Aging;

(1)(B)(xii)(b)(ix) one representative from Utah Legal Services; and

(1)(B)(xii)(b)(x) the Long-Term Care Ombudsman or designee.

(1)(B)(xii)(c) Individual community representatives. Three or more

community stakeholders representing:

(1)(B)(xii)(c)(i) mental health community;

(1)(B)(xii)(c)(ii) medical community;

(1)(B)(xii)(c)(iii) private legal community that specializes in

guardianship matters;

(1)(B)(xii)(c)(iv) aging-adult services community;

(1)(B)(xii)(c)(v) educator from a legal program or law school;

CJA 1-205

392

393

394

395

396

397

398

399

400

401

402

403

404

405

406

407

408

409

410

411

412

413

414

415

416

417

418

419

420

421

422

423

424

425

426

427

428

429

430

431

432

433

434

435

DRAFT: July 17, 2026

(1)(B)(xii)(c)(vi) organization serving low-income, minorities, or

marginalized communities;

(1)(B)(xii)(c)(vii) citizens under or involved in guardianship; and

(1)(B)(xii)(c)(viii) other organizations with a focus including, but not

limited to guardianship, aging, legal services, or disability.

(1)(B)(xiii) The Tribal Liaison Committee performs the duties described

in Rule 3-422 and will consist of:

(1)(B)(xiii)(a) one district court judge;

(1)(B)(xiii)(b) one juvenile court judge;

(1)(B)(xiii)(c) one justice court judge;

(1)(B)(xiii)(d) one appellate court judge;

(1)(B)(xiii)(e) one federal district court judge or magistrate;

(1)(B)(xiii)(f) one tribal court judge;

(1)(B)(xiii)(g) two representatives of Utah’s Indian Tribes or

affiliated community groups;

(1)(B)(xiii)(h) the Tribal Liaison;

(1)(B)(xiii)(i) one trial court executive;

(1)(B)(xiii)(j) one clerk of court or designee;

(1)(B)(xiii)(k) one representative from the Utah State Bar Indian

Law Section;

(1)(B)(xiii)(l) one representative from the United States Attorney’s

Office;

(1)(B)(xiii)(m) one representative from the Indigent Defense

Commission; and

(1)(B)(xiii)(n) one representative from the Guardian ad Litem’s

Office.

CJA 1-205

436

437

438

439

440

441

442

443

444

445

446

447

448

449

450

451

452

453

454

455

456

457

458

459

460

461

462

463

464

465

466

467

468

469

470

471

472

473

474

475

476

477

478

479

DRAFT: July 17, 2026

(1)(C) Standing committee meetings and chairs. The Council will designate the chair

of each standing committee. Standing committees will meet as necessary to accomplish

their work. Except for the Committee on Fairness and Accountability, Council members

may not serve, participate or vote on standing committees. Standing committees may

invite participation by others as they deem advisable, but only members designated by

this rule may make motions and vote. All members designated by this rule may make

motions and vote unless otherwise specified. Standing committees may form

subcommittees as they deem advisable.

(1)(D) Committee performance review. This subsection (1)(D) does not apply to the

Guardian ad Litem Oversight Committee.

(1)(D)(i) Council. Standing committees will report to the Council as necessary,

but at least annually.

(1)(D)(ii) Committee assessment. At least once every three years, the chair of

each standing committee will conduct a performance assessment. Chairs should,

at a minimum, consider:

(1)(D)(iii)(a) whether there is a more efficient way to accomplish the

committee’s work;

(1)(D)(iii)(b) whether there are any redundancies that would allow for

consolidation with other committees or working groups; and

(1)(D)(iii)(c) whether the committee continues to serve its purpose or

could be dissolved.

(1)(D)(iii) Management Committee. Committee chairs will report the results of

the performance assessment in paragraph (1)(D)(ii) to the Management

Committee. If the Management Committee determines that the committee

continues to serve its purpose, the Management Committee will recommend to

the Council that the committee continue. If the Management Committee

determines that modification of a committee is warranted, it may so recommend

to the Council.

(1)(E) Guardian ad Litem Oversight Committee. The Guardian ad Litem Oversight

Committee will meet at least quarterly and will not be dissolved. Meetings will be

conducted in accordance with Utah Code section 78A-2-104.5(6). On or before

November 1st of each year, the committee will provide an annual report to the Council

regarding the committee’s activities, findings, and recommendations.

(2) Ad hoc committees. The Council may form ad hoc committees or task forces to consider

topical issues outside the scope of the standing committees and to recommend rules or

CJA 1-205

480

481

482

483

484

485

486

487

488

489

490

491

492

493

494

495

496

497

498

499

500

501

502

503

504

505

506

507

508

509

510

511

512

513

514

515

516

517

518

519

520

521

522

523

DRAFT: July 17, 2026

resolutions concerning such issues. The Council may set and extend a date for the termination

of any ad hoc committee. The Council may invite non-Council members to participate and vote

on ad hoc committees. Ad hoc committees will keep the Council informed of their activities. Ad

hoc committees may form sub-committees as they deem advisable. Ad hoc committees will

disband upon issuing a final report or recommendation(s) to the Council, upon expiration of the

time set for termination, or upon the order of the Council.

(3) General provisions.

(3)(A) Appointment process.

(3)(A)(i) Administrator's responsibilities. The state court administrator will

select a member of the administrative staff to serve as the administrator for

committee appointments. Except as otherwise provided in this rule, the

administrator will:

(3)(A)(i)(a) announce expected vacancies on standing committees two

months in advance and announce vacancies on ad hoc committees in a

timely manner;

(3)(A)(i)(b) for new appointments, obtain an indication of willingness to

serve from each prospective appointee and information regarding the

prospective appointee's present and past committee service;

(3)(A)(i)(c) for reappointments, obtain an indication of willingness to serve

from the prospective reappointee, the length of the prospective

reappointee's service on the committee, the attendance record of the

prospective reappointee, the prospective reappointee's contributions to

the committee, and the prospective reappointee's other present and past

committee assignments; and

(3)(A)(i)(d) present a list of prospective appointees and reappointees to

the Council and report on recommendations received regarding the

appointment of members and chairs.

(3)(A)(ii) Council's responsibilities. The Council will appoint the chair of each

committee. Whenever practical, appointments will reflect geographical, gender,

cultural, and ethnic diversity.

(3)(B) Terms. Except as otherwise provided in this rule, standing committee members

will serve staggered three-year terms. Standing committee members may not serve

more than two consecutive terms on a committee unless the Council determines that

exceptional circumstances exist which justify service of more than two consecutive

terms.

CJA 1-205

524

525

526

527

528

529

530

531

532

533

DRAFT: July 17, 2026

(3)(C) Expenses. Members of standing and ad hoc committees may receive

reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the execution of their

duties as committee members. Members of the Guardian ad Litem Oversight Committee

will be compensated in accordance with Utah Code section 78A-2-104.5.

(3)(D) Secretariat. The Administrative Office will serve as secretariat to the Council's

committees.

Effective: May 19, 2026November 1, 2026

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

A word about cookies

We need a few to keep you signed in and the library working. The rest help us see which pages people use and where they get stuck. They stay off unless you say yes.