Courts

It’s gotten much harder for immigrants held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to get out on bond. Habeas corpus petitions often work, but there’s a catch: they’re very expensive.

The proposed bill would make it free and easy for the public to access more court documents and stream most hearings. Some lawyers worry about what this means for the people going before the courts.

It’s not a new immigration enforcement tactic for the Trump admin, but a string of recent activity inside Salt Lake City’s courthouse has alarmed public defenders.

Utah lawmakers are considering a bill with a provision to let judges transfer certain juvenile offenders to adult prisons. The proposal has sparked sharp debate among attorneys, advocates, and those who’ve witnessed the dangers young people face behind bars.

The lawsuit argues the approval of the highway near St. George breaks multiple federal laws, including the act that established the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.

The 18-year-old daughter of one of the Utah County prosecutors working the case was at the UVU event where Charlie Kirk was killed. The daughter said she’s “totally fine” now, but the defense argues it muddies the decision to seek the death penalty.

“The merit-based process of judicial selection, of wanting the very best and the most competent judges on the bench, is something that needs to be fought for, and it needs to be protected,” said Bar President Kim Cordova.

In addition to adding two justices to the state’s highest court, the law also adds judges to the Utah Court of Appeals and three of the state’s eight district courts.

A future constitutional court would be where cases challenging the constitutionality of state laws go first, instead of a district court as they do now.

The court of State Street is now in session. We ask the Legislature to approach the bench and unpack their arguments for adding more justices to the Utah Supreme Court.

A bill separate from the Utah Supreme Court proposal wants to add more judges for district courts, the juvenile court and the Court of Appeals. It’s an idea with broader agreement.

Among other judiciary changes, lawmakers will consider expanding the Utah Supreme Court by two justices. “We apply a presumption of good faith to the work you do,” Chief Justice Matthew Durrant told lawmakers. “I hope you will accord us that same presumption.”