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Committee approves bill to add district judge in Bonneville County amid concerns about growth and travel time
Summary
Senate Bill 1029, presented by the Administrative Office of the Courts, would add a district judge in Bonneville County (Seventh Judicial District) to reduce travel burdens and address caseloads; the committee voted to send the bill to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation, though one senator announced opposition.
Jason Spellman, legal counsel for the Administrative Office of the Courts, presented Senate Bill 1029 to create a new district judge position in the Seventh Judicial District, to be chambered in Bonneville County.
Spellman described the Seventh District as covering 10 counties with six district judges and said the district has seen a 22% population increase over the past decade. He told the committee that judges in the Seventh travel extensively between courthouses — an estimated 51 days a year of "windshield time" to move among courthouses — and that Bonneville County serves as a medical hub, generating complex, highly litigated medical-malpractice cases. The bill seeks to add a judge in Bonneville County to reduce travel burdens and to keep cases moving in a timelier fashion.
Senator Shippy asked whether judges are compensated for travel time; Spellman said judges' salaries do not distinguish travel time from other work, though travel expenses are accounted for. Senator Acdy asked for a comparison of judge counts among districts; Spellman gave a high-level summary that the number of judges varies by population centers and reiterated that the court attempts to rotate resource requests to address the greatest needs.
Senator Lent moved to send SB 1029 to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation; Senator Wintrow seconded. Senator Lenny announced for the record that he would vote no on the bill, citing concerns about growth of government and spending; the committee carried the motion by voice vote and the chair directed the bill be sent to the floor with a due pass.
No public testimony was recorded at the hearing.
