Utah divides its court caseload between different types of courts depending on the type of crime and its seriousness. The system is likely confusing to those who have never had to go to court before. This information is designed to try to help you understand what a “justice court” is, what it does, and where you need to go.
Justice courts are the courts that Utah uses to handle is less-serious crimes. Class C and Class B misdemeanors are the main cases handled in the justice courts, so if you are facing a Class A misdemeanor or a felony charge, you will go to a “district court” instead. More information can be found about district courts in Utah County here (link to: district court RP, to be written).
What Cases are Tried in Utah Justice Courts?
Utah’s crimes code has different classifications for different crimes. The lowest level of crime is an “infraction,” which is similar to a traffic ticket in nature. The next level of crime is called a “misdemeanor,” and then the worst level of crime is a “felony.” The main distinction between a felony and a misdemeanor is that a felony is punished, usually, by more than one year in prison, and misdemeanors by less than one year in jail.
These can be broken down more specifically into “classes” of misdemeanors and “degrees” of felonies (ranked with highest level of crime on top):
Felonies
- Capital: punished by life in prison or the death penalty
- First Degree: punished by five years to life in prison and fines up to $10,000
- Second Degree: punished by one to fifteen years in prison and fines up to $10,000
- Third Degree: punished by zero to five years in prison and fines up to $5,000
Misdemeanors
- Class A: up to one year in jail and fines up to $2,500
- Class B: up to six months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines
- Class C: up to ninety days in jail and fines up to $750
These are general rules and may change depending on the facts of each case and the specific considerations of the case when it reaches the sentencing stage.
If you are unsure what level of crime you have been charged with, it can usually be found on the paperwork given to you at court or upon arrest. The justice courts in Utah handle Class C misdemeanors and Class B misdemeanors, as well as anything below that (like infractions). Additionally, justice courts are where preliminary hearings and arraignments occur after arrest.
Different charges have different degrees, and so cases are usually tried according to the rules of the highest crime charged. So, if a defendant is charged with multiple crimes, a mix of Class A and Class B misdemeanors, the defendant will be tried in district court. If the charges are a mix of Class B and Class C misdemeanors, then the defendant will be tried in justice court. Some crimes may be charged as different levels depending on factors like how much money was taken or whether a weapon was used. Regardless, the case goes to the district court if the crime is charged as a Class A misdemeanor or higher, based on its facts.
Just because district court crimes are “less serious” than other crimes does not mean that they should be treated as such. Even Class B and Class C misdemeanors have potentials for time in jail. Because of this, it is still important to have an attorney review your case.
The last thing of note is that with justice courts, if a defendant is not satisfied with the outcome, then the defendant can get a new trial at the district court level. That means that if you lose your trial at the district court level, you can get a new trial at the district court. This does not mean that your first trial in justice court should be taken lightly – it is still a serious proceeding.
Justice Court Locations in Utah County
Utah County has fifteen different justice courts which handle cases from their jurisdictions. Each justice court has at least one judge. Below, you can find the names, judges, addresses, and phone numbers for each of the fifteen justice courts in Utah County. Note that some of these judges, addresses, and phone numbers are the same. This is because of agreements between the jurisdictions to combine the courts or because one judge may cover two courts.
(“J.” is the abbreviation for Judge.)
- Alpine Justice Court
- Judges – J. Douglas Nielsen
- Address – 5400 West Civic Center Dr.
Suite 4
Highland, UT 84003 - Phone – (801) 772-4525
- Genola Justice Court
- Judges – J. Sharla Williams
- Address – 275 West Main
Santaquin, UT 84655 - Phone – (801) 754-5376
- Goshen Justice Court
- Judges – J. Sharla Williams
- Address – 275 West Main
Santaquin, UT 84655 - Phone – (801) 754-5376
- Highland Justice Court
- Judges – J. Kelly N. Shaeffer-Bullock
- Address – 5400 West Civic Center Dr.
Suite 4
Highland, UT 84003 - Phone – (801) 756-5751
- Lehi City Justice Court
- Judges – J.Morgan Laker Cummings
- Address – 154 North Center
Lehi, UT 84043 - Phone – (801) 768-7160
- Lindon City Justice Court
- Judges – J.W. Brent Bullock
- Address – 100 North State Street
Lindon, UT 84042 - Phone – (801) 785-1971
- Mapleton Justice Court
- Judges – J. Sherlynn W. Fenstermaker
- Address – 125 West 400 North
Mapleton, UT 84664 - Phone – (801) 489-7445
- Orem Justice Court
- Judges – J.Reed S. Parkin
- Address – 97 E Center
Orem, UT 84057 - Phone – (801) 724-3900
- Payson Justice Court
- Judges – J.David C. Dahlquist
- Address – 439 West Utah Ave.
Payson, UT 84651 - Phone – (801) 465-5210
- Pleasant Grove Justice Court
- Judges – J.W. Brent Bullock
- Address – Public Safety Building
70 South 100 East
Pleasant Grove, UT 84062 - Phone – (801) 785-9461
- Provo City Justice Court
- Judges – J.Vernon F. Romney
- Address – 75 E 1700 S
Suite 100
Provo, UT 84606 - Phone – (801) 852-6878
- Santaquin Justice Court
- Judges – J.Sharla Williams
- Address – 275 West Main
Santaquin, UT 84655 - Phone – (801) 754-5376
- Saratoga Springs Justice Court
- Judges – J.Carolyn E. Howard
- Address – 1307 North Commerce Drive
Suite 200
Saratoga Springs, UT 84043 - Phone – (801) 766-9793
- Springville Justice Court
- Judges – J. Sherlynn W. Fenstermaker
- Address – 110 S Main Street
Springville, UT 84663 - Phone – (801) 489-2707
- Utah County Justice Court
- Judges – J.Scott J. Cullimore
J. Stevan W. Ridge - Address – 151 South University Ave.
Suite 3300
Provo, UT 84061 - Phone – (801) 851-7200
- Judges – J.Scott J. Cullimore
For driving directions, fax numbers, or justice court websites (where available), you can use the Utah Court System’s Utah County court directory here.
Trust Our Utah Criminal Defense Lawyers for Help With Your Case
If you have been charged with a Class B or Class C misdemeanor in Utah County, and you need a Utah criminal defense lawyer to help you with your case, call Darwin Overson. Darwin Overson is currently accepting new clients who have been charged with crimes in Utah County and other counties in Utah. For a consultation, call (801) 758-2287.
