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Utah House unanimously approves expedited-jury-trial pilot (HB349)
Summary
The House voted 70–0 to approve first substitute HB349, creating a voluntary expedited civil jury-trial pilot intended to lower costs and speed cases when both parties agree. Supporters emphasized access to jury trials and cost savings.
The Utah House on Feb. 25 unanimously passed first substitute House Bill 349, an expedited jury-trial pilot designed to make civil jury trials more accessible and less costly when all parties agree.
Supporters, including Representative McKiff and Representative Ivory, described the measure as a voluntary pilot that streamlines jury trials by shortening preparation and by allowing parties to opt into a condensed process. “The Seventh Amendment gives us the right to trial by jury, and yet it’s become quite inaccessible,” Representative King said while explaining the bill’s intent to reduce time and expense.
Representative McKiff told the chamber the bill “returns us to an earlier era where jury trials were not as costly” and that judicial counsel would adopt rules to govern the new process. Several members noted similar programs elsewhere and emphasized that participation would be voluntary and subject to agreed parameters.
After brief discussion and waived summation, the measure passed 70–0 and was referred to the Senate for consideration.
