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House restores preponderance standard for permanent protective orders, approves SB 208
Summary
After hours of debate over access to protection and potential abuses, the Utah House adopted an amendment replacing a corroboration requirement with a preponderance-of-evidence standard for permanent protective orders and passed first substitute Senate Bill 208 38-31. Supporters said the change safeguards victims; opponents warned of potential misuse and fiscal impacts.
The Utah House on March 2 adopted an amendment and passed first substitute Senate Bill 208, altering evidence rules for protective orders in domestic-abuse cases.
Representative Goodfellow introduced the amendment, saying it would delete a corroboration requirement in permanent protective orders and restore a "preponderance of evidence" standard. "A preponderance of evidence is not just hearsay," Goodfellow said during debate, adding it must be "credible" and "convincing." He argued the change preserves victims' access to court protection while preventing permanent orders from being…
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