Senate Advances Bill Letting Cities Set Justice Court Hours

Senate Bill 136, a measure to restore local control over justice court hours, moved forward on Feb. 8 after a sustained floor debate.

Senator Maine introduced the bill, saying it returns to "exactly what we meant last year" by allowing cities and counties to set justice-court hours to meet citizens’ needs. Maine cited West Valley City’s experiment with a four-day, 12-hour schedule and told colleagues that the Utah Judicial Council had "misled us and even being so bold as to say they lied to us." Supporters argued the change would improve access for residents who cannot take time off during traditional business hours.

Opponents raised constitutional and practical concerns. Senator Hilliard said he "speaks in opposition" and argued that if a court participates in the state system there are expectations for uniform hours and filing deadlines; he warned that nonstandard schedules would impose burdens on users and create counting problems for statutory deadlines. Other senators split on whether local governments — which fund justice courts’ staff and equipment — should retain authority over operational details.

The floor discussion emphasized competing values: access and convenience for citizens versus predictable, uniform court administration. The sponsor framed the bill as a response to local requests and as a way to accommodate citizens’ schedules; critics warned of litigation and administrative complexity.

The Senate advanced the bill to the third-reading calendar after the debate. The measure was described on the floor as restoring local flexibility for jurisdictions that wish to operate extended hours, and the record shows multiple senators questioning the interplay of judicial administrative authority and local funding responsibilities. The bill will return for further consideration on third reading.