The United States District Court for the District of Utah (in case citations, D. Utah) is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Utah. The court is based in Salt Lake City with another courtroom in Ogden.
Appeals from the District of Utah are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).
The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Utah represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. The current US Attorney is John W. Huber, serving since June 2015.
According to 28 U.S.C. § 133(a), the District of Utah is allowed five active district judges. These include: Chief Judge David Nuffer, Judge Clark Waddoups, who was confirmed on September 26, 2008, Judge Robert J. Shelby who was confirmed on September 22, 2012, and Judge Jill Parrish who was confirmed on May 21, 2015.
Federal judicial districts are also allowed to utilize “Senior†Judges in addition to the limit set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 133(a). Currently the active Senior Judges within the District of Utah include: Bruce S. Jenkins, David Sam, Dale A. Kimball, who assumed senior status on November 30, 2009, and Tena Campbell, who assumed senior status on January 1, 2011, Dee Benson, who assumed senior status on January 1, 2014 and Ted Stewart who assumed senior status on September 1, 2014.
Current judges
Bill Gates enters U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City - Novell vs. Microsoft (11/22/2011) - Microsoft Co-founder and former CEO Bill Gates enters the U.S. District Court building in Salt Lake City, Utah. Gates testified for the second day in a row in the Novell vs. Microsoft antitrust case.
Vacancies and pending nominations
Former judges
Chief judges
Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court, and preside over any panel on which they serve unless circuit judges are also on the panel. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge. A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.
When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire on what has since 1958 been known as senior status or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.
Succession of seats
See also
- Courts of the United States
- List of United States federal courthouses in Utah
Notes
External links
- United States District Court for the District of Utah Official Website
- District of Utah Federal Court Practice blog
