Davis County District Courts and Justice Courts
The Davis Justice Complex in Farmington, Utah includes facilities for the Second District Court and Juvenile Court, and also the Davis County Justice Court. Smaller District Court facilities are also located in Layton and Bountiful.
The District Courts in both Layton and Bountiful usually handle criminal matters only at the misdemeanor level as filed by the city prosecutors for the two respective cities. Each court has full jurisdiction to handle felony cases, but as a matter of case and calendar management most felony charges for Davis County are filed in Farmington.
In addition to the Davis County Justice Court, many cities and municipalities operate their own local justice courts. A few of these courts have full-time prosecutors employed by the city, but many use private attorneys on contract to handle criminal prosecutions in the justice courts.
Felony and Misdemeanor
Only a district court can hear felony cases. A district court also has jurisdiction over misdemeanor charges, although most misdemeanor cases are filed in justice court. Class A misdemeanors, however, must be heard in district court.
Classification of a crime as a felony or misdemeanor charge is based the maximum punishment that can be imposed for a conviction. Under Utah law, charges carrying a maximum jail penalty of 364 days or less are misdemeanor charges. Felony charges carry the possibility of more than one year in prison and the potential for a life term.
What cases do we handle?
Our firm has substantial experience defending felony and misdemeanor cases in district courts and justice courts throughout Utah. We have handled criminal defense cases ranging from homicide to shoplifting, and just about everything in between. Here are just a few examples:
- Drug Charges
- Property Crimes
- Violent Crimes
- Sex-Related Offenses
- White-Collar Crime
Finding the Right Attorney
The consequences of a criminal conviction can be very serious – both now and in the long-term future. Having the right defense attorney to protect your rights is vital to getting the outcome you need.
Contact us today to arrange for an initial consultation.
