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Senate approves option for four‑day justice‑court schedules after debate over local control
Summary
Senate Bill 219 would allow some municipal justice courts to operate four days a week with 11‑hour days (a model piloted in West Valley City). Debate focused on whether judicial councils, judges, or local legislative bodies should decide hours; the bill passed to third reading.
Senate Bill 219, seeking to allow justice courts (typically handling misdemeanors and small claims) to operate on a four‑day, 11‑hour schedule in place of a five‑day week, was advanced to the Senate’s third‑reading calendar after floor debate on Feb. 12.
Senator Maine said the bill responds to a pilot program in West Valley City that consolidated municipal services and extended daily hours to improve public access without increasing the number of workdays. "When they asked for that to be re‑upped... the judicial commission said they were not allowed to do that because the code was strict," Maine said, and the bill would allow local courts to adopt a 4‑day, 11‑hour schedule with Judicial Council oversight.
Several senators expressed concern about who would decide the schedule. Senator Thomas argued such decisions should rest with the city or county legislative body rather than an individual justice‑court judge, noting potential conflicts when judges act independently of county personnel policies. Senator Hilliard warned that limiting access by closing a court one weekday could inconvenience citizens who take time off work to attend court.
Senator Maine said he visited the West Valley court and heard from residents that extended daily hours helped them avoid taking time off work for court business. He asked for bipartisan assistance to amend the bill if needed and called for the question. The Senate recorded a roll call: the bill received 21 ayes, 2 nays and 6 absentees and was placed on the third‑reading calendar.
What’s next: Sponsors indicated intent to clarify whether the Judicial Council or local legislative bodies set hours before final passage on third reading.
