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Utah House approves option for jury trials in parental-rights termination cases, 46-27
Summary
After hours of debate, the Utah House passed first substitute House Bill 3 18 on March 3, 2014, allowing accused parents the option to request jury trials in termination proceedings; supporters cited audits and fairness, opponents warned of trauma to children and added costs.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House on March 3 approved first substitute House Bill 3 18, a contentious measure that would give accused parents the option to request a jury trial in proceedings to terminate parental rights. The measure passed 46-27 and now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Representative Paul Christiansen, the bill sponsor, framed the legislation as an effort to restore a layer of process to what he called an accelerated system that can permanently sever parent-child relationships before a full defense can be mounted. "It's about limited government, limited government representatives, and family preservation," Christiansen said in opening remarks, citing audits that show roughly 700 parental-rights terminations…
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