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City prosecutors, courts clash over scheduling; committee advances bill to restore city calendars
Summary
HB 366 would require courts to accommodate city prosecutors by restoring or preserving city calendars for class A misdemeanors and de novo appeals. West Valley prosecutor Ryan Robinson described current scheduling as "an impossible task;" the judiciary warned the measure would intrude on court administration under Article VIII §12. Committee voted to favorably recommend the bill, with one dissenting vote.
Representative Tuscher sponsored HB 366, which would direct district courts to preserve or restore city calendars and other scheduling practices that city prosecutors say have allowed efficient handling of class A misdemeanors and de novo appeals.
Ryan Robinson, West Valley City prosecutor, told the committee that for decades city cases were scheduled on single calendars "and it worked perfectly," and described the recent change as creating an impossible logistical burden: "We're now being asked to be in 2 different buildings in front of 30 different judges, 5 days a week. It's an impossible task." Multiple city prosecutors and municipal attorneys from Saratoga Springs, Orem and other cities described travel burdens, scheduling conflicts and harms to victims and witnesses.
Michael Drexel, assistant state court administrator, testified in opposition and urged the committee not to use statute to administer the judiciary, citing Article VIII, §12 of the Utah Constitution and explaining courts had made a multi‑year administrative effort to distribute calendars more evenly across judges.
Committee members discussed competing interests — access and convenience for victims and prosecutors versus courts' administrative obligations. After extended testimony from cities and the judiciary, the committee voted to favorably recommend HB 366 to the House floor; the roll call recorded one negative vote (Representative Abbott).
Next steps: The bill will proceed to the House calendar; proponents encouraged continued negotiation with the courts.
