78A-7-203.  Term of office for justice court judge — Retention — Reduction in force — Addition of a justice court judge position.

(1)  The term of a justice court judge is six years beginning the first Monday in January following the date of election.

Terms Used In Utah Code 78A-7-203

(2)  Upon the expiration of a justice court judge’s term of office, the judge shall be subject to an unopposed retention election in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 20A-12-201:

(a)  in the county or counties in which the court to which the judge is appointed is located if the judge is a county justice court judge or a municipal justice court judge in a town or city of the fourth or fifth class; or

(b)  in the municipality in which the court to which the judge is appointed is located if the judge is a municipal justice court judge and Subsection (2)(a) does not apply.

(3)  Before each retention election, each justice court judge shall be evaluated in accordance with the performance evaluation program established in Chapter 12, Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission Act.

(4)  A municipality or county that has more than one justice court judge and the weighted caseload per judge is lower than 0.60 as determined by the Administrative Office of the Courts may, at the municipality’s or county’s discretion and at the end of a judge’s term of office, initiate a reduction in force and reduce, lay off, terminate, or eliminate a judge’s position in accordance with the municipality’s or county’s employment policies.

(5)  A municipality or county may only add a new justice court judge position if the Judicial Council, after considering the caseload of the court, approves creation of the position.

Amended by Chapter 52, 2020 General Session

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