Criminal charges bring defendants into a legal system that can feel very confusing and overwhelming. In an effort to help defendants and their family members better understand Utah’s criminal court system, Overson & Bugden has compiled this short informational guide to Salt Lake City District Court. It covers important topics such as:
- What types of cases are heard in Utah’s district courts.
- The hours, address, and contact information for Salt Lake City District Court.
- Directions to Salt Lake City District Court by car or public transit.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime, or if a family member was recently arrested in Salt Lake City and is being held in custody at the Salt Lake County Jail, you need skilled legal representation immediately. Call the law offices of Overson & Bugden at (801) 758-2287 for a free legal consultation with an experienced Salt Lake City criminal defense attorney.
What Types of Criminal Cases Do Utah’s District Courts Handle?
In Utah, there are two types of criminal courts for adult defendants (defendants age 18 or older). If you have been charged with a crime, your case will be heard in either a justice court or a district court, depending on what you have been charged with.
Justice courts have jurisdiction, or legal authority, over Class C misdemeanors and Class B misdemeanors. District courts have jurisdiction over Class A misdemeanors, which are more serious than Class C or B misdemeanors. District courts also have jurisdiction over all three types of felony charges in Utah, which are third degree felonies, second degree felonies, and first degree felonies.
If you have been charged with a Class A misdemeanor, or with a felony of any kind, your case will be heard in district court. Examples of Utah crimes that can be charged as felonies, or Class A misdemeanors, include:
- Aggravated Assault
- Aggravated Burglary
- Aggravated Kidnapping
- Aggravated Robbery
- Aggravated Sexual Assault
- Assault
- Burglary
- Carrying a Concealed Firearm
- Child Abuse and Abandonment
- Child Pornography (Sexual Exploitation of a Minor)
- Drug Possession (Possession of Controlled Substances)
- Exploiting Prostitution
- Felony Discharge of a Firearm
- Forcible Sexual Abuse
- Identity Theft (Identity Fraud)
- Kidnapping
- Manslaughter
- Mayhem
- Murder
- Possession of a Weapon with Criminal Intent
- Possession with Intent to Distribute
- Rape
- Reckless Endangerment
- Revenge Porn (Distribution of an Intimate Image)
- Robbery
- Shoplifting (Retail Theft)
- Stalking
- Theft
- Vandalism (Criminal Mischief)
- Vehicular Homicide (Automobile Homicide)
If you were charged with a Class B misdemeanor or Class C misdemeanor, please refer to our article on Salt Lake County justice courts, which you can find in our selection of free legal resources.
Courts only have jurisdiction over criminal charges in their geographic area. For instance, a court located in southwest Utah would not have jurisdiction over cases arising in northeast Utah. Together, Salt Lake City District Court and West Jordan District Court have jurisdiction over felony and Class A misdemeanor cases in Salt Lake County.
Salt Lake City District Court Address, Directions, Hours, and Contact Information
Salt Lake County is home to over a dozen justice courts, but only two district courts: the Salt Lake City District Court, and the West Jordan District Court. For information about the latter, please refer to our article on West Jordan District Court, available in our free library of legal resources. The information below is specific to Salt Lake City District Court.
Salt Lake City District Court is located at the following address:
Matheson Courthouse
450 South State Street
P.O. Box 1860
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
If you’re driving north or south on I-15, follow these directions to the Matheson Courthouse:
- Take the 600 South exit.
- Make a left turn on 300 West.
- Make a right turn on 400 South. Please be advised there is a $2 hourly fee to use the parking garage beneath the courthouse.
If you plan on taking TRAX, you can:
- Get off at the University Line Library stop, which will let you off a block east of the courthouse.
- Get off at the Salt Lake/Sandy Line Courthouse stop, which will let you off a block west of the courthouse.
You can also take the bus to the courthouse. Routes 451 and 200 both stop at the court’s east entrance.
You’ll find the courthouse entrance on 400 South between State Street and Main Street. For geographical reference, the courthouse is located across from and to the west of Washington Square, between University Boulevard to the north and Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard to the south.
The main telephone number for the court is (801) 238-7300. You can also call (801) 238-7321, which is the phone line for criminal matters. However, you should talk to your Salt Lake City defense lawyer before contacting the court. Your attorney will be able to handle communications most efficiently.
The court is open from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday.
Call for a Free Consultation in Salt Lake City
If you or one of your family members has been charged with a felony or Class A misdemeanor in Salt Lake County, it is critical that you contact a Utah defense attorney for legal help as soon as possible. Representing yourself against an experienced prosecutor is virtually guaranteed to yield a poor result. Skillful representation by a knowledgeable and aggressive defense lawyer gives you a better likelihood of receiving reduced penalties, being charged with a lesser offense, or having your case dismissed.
Darwin Overson is a 24-hour criminal lawyer in Salt Lake City with over 16 years of experience handling thousands of cases, including a wide range of felonies and serious misdemeanors. He serves all of Salt Lake County, including West Valley City, West Jordan, South Jordan, Sandy, Taylorsville, Murray, Riverton, Cottonwood Heights, Midvale, Holladay, South Salt Lake, Herriman, Bluffdale, and Alta.
Darwin Overson can help you with bail issues, make visits to county jails, and assist you and your loved ones with other matters related to the charges. For a free legal consultation, call the law offices of Overson & Bugden at (801) 758-2287 today.
