There are several types of courts in Utah that handle criminal cases. District courts, for example, have jurisdiction over all types of felonies and certain types of misdemeanors. Justice courts, which will be the focus of this informational guide, hear the cases of defendants who have been accused of committing Class C misdemeanors and Class B misdemeanors.
Utah’s judicial system can be confusing for defendants and their loved ones, particularly if they have never before been charged with a crime. This guide for defendants and their family members will explain some important information about Salt Lake County’s justice courts, including:
- What types of misdemeanor cases are heard in Utah’s justice courts.
- Where the Salt Lake County justice courts are located.
- Hours and contact information for each of the county’s justice courts.
What Types of Criminal Cases Are Heard in Utah’s Justice Courts?
Salt Lake County Justice Court Addresses, Hours, and Contact Information
Salt Lake City Defense Lawyer Handling Class B and C Misdemeanor Charges
What Types of Criminal Cases Are Heard in Utah’s Justice Courts?
Utah’s justice courts, including those that are located in Salt Lake County, have jurisdiction (authority) over criminal cases involving Class B misdemeanors and Class C misdemeanors. Class A misdemeanors, which are more serious, are prosecuted in Utah’s district courts. If you have been charged with a Class A misdemeanor or a felony of any kind, your case will be tried in a district court, not a justice court.
Though a Class C misdemeanor is the least serious type of misdemeanor you can be convicted of under Utah’s criminal laws, a conviction will still give you a criminal record. You can also be fined up to $750, and/or be sentenced to up to three months in jail. The fine may be larger if there are additional fees or surcharges. Examples of Class C misdemeanors include, but are not limited to:
- Disorderly Conduct
- Public Intoxication
- Reckless Burning
- Wrongful Appropriation
Class B misdemeanors are more serious than Class C misdemeanors. If you are convicted of a Class B misdemeanor, you can be fined as much as $1,000 and/or be sentenced to up to six months in jail. Again, the fine may be larger if there are additional fees or surcharges. Examples of Class B misdemeanor charges include, but are not limited to:
- Arson
- Bail-Jumping
- Carrying a Concealed Firearm
- Carrying a Loaded Firearm on the Street
- Child Abuse
- Criminal Mischief (Vandalism/Property Destruction)
- Criminal Trespass (Trespassing)
- Drug Possession
- DUI (Driving Under the Influence)
- Flag-Burning
- Graffiti
- Harassment
- Issuing a Bad Check
- Lewdness
- Prostitution
- Reckless Burning
- Shoplifting (Retail Theft)
- Simple Assault
- Sodomy
- Theft
- Threat of Terrorism (Terroristic Threats)
- Threat of Violence
- Unlawful Sexual Activity with a Minor
- Wrongful Appropriation
Keep in mind that many crimes can fall into more than one category. For example, assault may be prosecuted as a Class B misdemeanor, but in some situations, it can be prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor, in which case the defendant would have to go to a district court. The severity of a charge depends on the factors that were involved in the alleged crime.
If you have been charged with two or more offenses, you would go to the type of court that has jurisdiction over the most serious charge. For instance, imagine that a defendant has been charged with both burglary, which is a felony, and possession of burglar’s tools, which is a Class B misdemeanor. The defendant’s case would be heard in a district court, because justice courts cannot hear felony cases. Your Salt Lake County misdemeanor lawyer can explain the nature of the charges against you, and information about your court venue, in detail.
Salt Lake County Justice Court Addresses, Hours, and Contact Information
There is more than one justice court in Salt Lake County. In fact, Salt Lake County presently contains no fewer than 16 justice courts. The court that will hear your case depends on where the crime was allegedly committed. For example, the Riverton City Justice Court handles crimes that allegedly took place within the city limits of Riverton.
Salt Lake County justice courts are located at the following addresses below, listed alphabetically by town or city.
- Alta Justice Court
Town of Alta Municipal Offices (Town Offices)
10201 East Highway 210
Alta, UT 84092- Phone – (801) 742-2407, (801) 742-3522
- Hours – 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M., Monday – Friday
You can also send documents to the Alta Justice Court at P.O. Box 8016.
- Bluffdale Justice Court
14175 South 1700 West (South Redwood Road)
Bluffdale, UT 84065- Phone – (801) 446-9219
- Hours – 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday, Wednesday, Friday
8:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, Thursday
Court is in session at the Bluffdale Justice Court from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. each Wednesday.
- Draper Justice Court
1020 East Pioneer Road
Draper, UT 84020- Phone – (801) 576-6544
- Hours – 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday – Friday
Court is in session at the Draper Justice Court on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If the court has a particularly heavy caseload, sessions may be held on additional days. In addition to the number listed above, you may contact the court by emailing the Draper Justice Court Manager at jonna (dot) crump (at) draper (dot) ut (dot) us.
- Herriman City Justice Court
13011 South Pioneer Street (6000 West)
Herriman, UT 84096- Phone – (801) 446-5323
- Hours – 7:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M., Monday – Friday
Criminal cases are heard in the Herriman City Justice Court during the first three Tuesdays of each month. Court is normally in session from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M., but the court may change the hours depending on its caseload.
- Holladay Justice Court
4580 South 2300 East
Holladay, UT 84117- Phone – (801) 273-9731
- Hours – 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday – Friday
You can also reach the Holladay Justice Court by sending an email to court (at) cityofholladay (dot) com. If you intend to request an interpreter, you must make your request at least 72 hours before your hearing.
- Midvale Justice Court
7505 South Holden Street
Midvale, UT 84047- Phone – (801) 255-4234
- Hours – 8:00 A.M. to 5:30 P.M., Monday – Friday
If you need to contact the Midvale Justice Court with a quick question after 5:30 P.M., you may be in luck: the court has extended phone hours from 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., giving you an extra half hour.
- Murray City Municipal Justice Court
688 East Vine Street
Murray, UT 84107- Phone – (801) 284-4280
- Hours – 7:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday – Friday
- Riverton City Justice Court
12830 South 1700 West (South Redwood Road)
Riverton, UT 84065- Phone – (801) 208-3131
- Hours – 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., Monday – Thursday
8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Friday
- Salt Lake City Justice Court
333 South 200 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84111- Phone – (801) 535-6300
- Hours – 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday – Friday
Phone hours for the Salt Lake City Justice Court are shorter than the building hours. You may call the court from 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on weekdays.
- Sandy City Justice Court
Sandy City Justice Center, Second Floor
210 West Sego Lily Drive
Sandy, UT 84070- Phone – (801) 568-7160
- Hours – 8:45 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday – Friday
- South Jordan Justice Court
South Jordan Municipal Court
1600 West Towne Center Drive
South Jordan, UT 84095- Phone – (801) 446-HELP, (801) 254-6381
- Hours – 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday – Friday
Though open until 5:00 P.M., please note that the South Jordan Justice Court does not accept any payments after 4:45 P.M.
- South Salt Lake Justice Court
220 East Morris Avenue (2430 South)
South Salt Lake, UT 84115- Phone – (801) 483-6072
- Hours – 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday – Friday
- Taylorsville Municipal Justice Court
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard
Taylorsville, UT 84118- Phone – (801) 963-0268, (801) 963-5400
- Hours – 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday – Friday
- West Jordan Justice Court
8040 South Redwood Road
West Jordan, Utah 84084- Phone – (801) 256-2290
- Hours – 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday – Friday
- West Valley Justice Court
3590 South 2700 West
West Valley City, UT 84119- Phone – (801) 963-3590
- Hours – 8:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., Monday – Thursday
The primary justice court in Salt Lake County is the Salt Lake County Justice Court, which is located at the following address:
2001 South State Street, S4200
South Building, Fourth Floor
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
To reach the justice court located at 2001 South State Street, you can:
- Call (385) 468-8200
- Send a fax to (385) 468-8223
- Send an email to SLCOJusticecourt (at) slco (dot) org
The court is open from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday. However, all payments must be made by 4:30 P.M. at the latest. Payments will be refused after 4:30 P.M.
Salt Lake City Defense Lawyer Handling Class B and C Misdemeanor Charges
If you are reading these words because you or one of your loved ones has been charged with a Class C misdemeanor or Class B misdemeanor in Salt Lake County, skilled legal representation is essential. You will be up against an experienced prosecutor, and will be expected to understand and abide by complex legal rules. It is simply not in your best interests to attempt to defend yourself.
Allow Overson Law to provide you with the benefit of a vigorous, aggressive defense. Utah misdemeanor attorney Darwin Overson has more than 16 years of experience representing defendants in Utah’s justice courts and district courts, and is deeply familiar with the procedures unique to each venue. He has worked on thousands of criminal cases, and may be able to have your charges reduced or even have the case dismissed.
Overson Law handles criminal cases and matters related to arrest, police custody, and bail throughout Salt Lake County and the surrounding area, including Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan, South Jordan, Sandy, Taylorsville, Murray, Draper, Riverton, Cottonwood Heights, Midvale, Holladay, South Salt Lake, North Salt Lake, Herriman, Bluffdale, and Alta. Darwin Overson is available for attorney visits to holding centers and jails throughout the county, including Salt Lake County Metro Jail and Salt Lake County Oxbow Jail. To arrange a free, confidential legal consultation with Darwin Overson, call the law offices of Overson Law at (801) 758-2287 today.
