UtahUtah requires prosecutors to report criminal charges against judges
Prosecutors and court officials must file complaints with Utah's Judicial Conduct Commission when they charge judges with crimes or order certain leave for suspected crimes.
What it does
Prosecutors must file complaints when they bring formal criminal charges against judges. Court officials must also file complaints when Supreme Court leaders order leave for suspected crimes without a commission referral.
Public access to records created, submitted, or kept for Judicial Conduct Commission investigations is limited if a government agency properly classifies them as protected.
The Judicial Conduct Commission must give lawmakers yearly complaint totals and descriptions of case outcomes. Reports cannot identify judges unless that information appears in a final Supreme Court order.
Argument forImmediate complaints could help the Judicial Conduct Commission learn promptly when judges face criminal charges or leave tied to suspected crimes.
Argument againstProtecting investigation records could make it harder for the public to examine how complaints about judges are handled.
More detail
Prosecutors who file formal criminal charges against judges must immediately file complaints with the Judicial Conduct Commission. These duties cover judges, including the chief justice. The Administrative Office of the Courts must immediately file a complaint when the chief justice places a judge on leave for suspected crimes without a commission referral. The same duty applies when two Supreme Court justices place the chief justice on such leave. The commission need not refer allegations to the corresponding Supreme Court leaders when the court office filed the complaint under these rules, or to a prosecutor when a prosecutor filed the complaint after bringing charges. Complaints are due immediately after the charges are filed or the covered leave is ordered.
Government agencies may classify Judicial Conduct Commission investigation records as protected, limiting public access. The provision covers records created, submitted, or kept for a Judicial Conduct Commission investigation. This protection applies only if a government agency properly classifies the records as protected.
The Judicial Conduct Commission must report each year to the Legislature's Judiciary Interim Committee. Reports cover complaints received and resolved, descriptions of informal resolutions and final Supreme Court orders, and publication of an annual activities report. Reports cannot include information identifying judges unless it is available in a final Supreme Court order. Reports are due before November 1 each year and cover the previous fiscal year. The law took effect May 6, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 23Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 12House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 10House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 10Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Feb 18Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Feb 18Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Feb 17House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Feb 17House/ received from SenateMinor
- Feb 13Senate/ to House
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Feb 13Senate/ passed 3rd readingPassed Senate
- Feb 13Senate/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 12Senate/ passed 2nd readingMinor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 12Senate/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 10Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 10Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 10Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 6Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 4Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 3Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 3House/ to Senate
- Feb 3House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 3House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Jan 27LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0186S01
- Jan 27LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0186S01
- Jan 26House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Jan 26House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Judiciary Committee]
- Jan 23House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Jan 23House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Judiciary Committee]Major
- Jan 23LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0186S01
- Jan 23LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0186S01
- Jan 22House/ to standing committee [House Judiciary Committee]Minor
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 20House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 16LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0186
- Jan 16LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0186
- Jan 14House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 7LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0186
- Jan 7LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0186
- Jan 7Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 7Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Government & EthicsCriminal Justice