Chief Justice Gordon Hall urges modernization, warns of juvenile court crisis

Chief Justice Gordon Hall told the Utah State Senate that the courts must remain independent and professionally qualified while modernizing operations to meet rising demands.

"In a democratic society, our judicial decision makers must meet high standards," Hall said, urging continued efforts to preserve impartiality while increasing efficiency. He reviewed recent reforms, including publishing judges’ background and performance evaluations to inform voters and consolidating circuit and district courts to better use judicial resources across the state.

Hall described technology pilots already in place — video arraignment systems in four locations and a touch-screen small-claims filing pilot in Murray — and said a new statewide open-systems computer information network is being installed, with roughly three-quarters of new computers in place. He said the upgrades will allow faster access to court information and support strategic planning for the entire justice system.

On facilities, Hall said a planning report recommends collocating appellate courts, the state law library, the administrative office and the Salt Lake District juvenile court on Block 39 west of Washington Square to reduce long-term leasing and staffing costs; acquisition of the property was "nearly complete," he said, and the judiciary seeks to proceed to the architectural design phase.

Hall dedicated significant attention to juvenile courts, calling them the single area now "in a state of crisis." He warned that, "Delays of six months between the time a crime is committed and the date the case becomes before a judge are not unusual in Salt Lake juvenile courts," and urged early-intervention programs. He described a coordinated juvenile program with early evaluations suggesting a recidivism rate of about 5 percent for participants.

He also highlighted family-court pilots that require divorcing parents to take classes and, in one district, to meet with a mediator before going to court. Hall said initial evaluations of those programs look positive and that the judicial council will propose bills to improve access for lower-income spouses and simplify procedures for domestic-violence victims.

Hall closed by noting the 1993 annual report had been delivered to senators and that the court administrator, Ron Gibson, and legislative liaison staff would be available throughout the session to discuss court issues.

The Senate thanked Hall, voted to record his remarks in full in the Senate journal and proceeded with the day's business.