Salt Lake City Justice Court - Criminal Defense Attorney
The Salt Lake City Justice Court has jurisdiction to hear criminal and
traffic cases arising within the borders of Salt Lake City. The court's
jurisdiction is limited only to cases at the class B
misdemeanor
level
or lower. Still, these cases carry the potential for significant
jail
sentences and the potential for thousands of dollars in fines.
Collateral consequences of criminal conviction, even at the misdemeanor
level, can be serious. If you have been charged with a crime in the
Salt Lake justice court, it is vital that you have an experienced
criminal defense attorney on
your side. As a Utah criminal lawyer based
in Salt Lake City, Stephen Howard has successfully defended his clients
rights in thousands of serious
felony
and misdemeanor cases.
Contact us
today to arrange for an initial consultation.
Potential Consequences of Conviction in the Salt Lake
Justice Court

The
Salt Lake City Justice Court has jurisdiction to hear class B and
C
misdemeanors
as well as infractions. The maximum penalty for
a class B misdemeanor is 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine (plus 90%
surcharge). A class C misdmeanor carries the potential for up to 90
days in jail and a $750 fine (plus 90% surcharge). Infractions do not
carry a jail sentence, but can still result in jail time under the
court's contempt power. An infraction carries a maximum fine of up to
$750 (plus surcharge).
In addition to jail time and fines, many criminal convictions carry
collateral consequences. Depending on the nature of the charge and the
specific facts of the case, these collateral consequences can be
severe. Legal consequences can include the loss of a driver license,
the loss of the right to carry a firearm, a requirement to install an
ignition interlock device, or a wide variety of probation conditions.
Additionally, a criminal conviction can cause other problems outside
the legal system - such as making it more difficult to find a job, rent
an apartment, and more.
Appeals from the Salt Lake City Justice Court
Since the Salt Lake City Justice Court is not considered to be a "court
of record," an
appeal
from the justice court is typically in the form
of a "de novo" hearing or trial in the district court. These appeals
are heard in the Salt Lake Department of the Third District Court.
The "de novo" nature of a justice court appeal is drastically different
from other appeals. While an ordinary appeal from a district court to
the Utah Court of Appeals or Utah Supreme Court can take many months
and sometimes even years to reach a conclusion, an appeal from the
justice court to the district court is relatively speedy.
A "de novo" appeal can be thought of in many ways as a "do-over." While
in an ordinary appeal the appellant must demonstrate that the
district court commited some reversable error, in a "de novo" appeal
the appellant automatically gets a fresh start in the district court.
Typically, however, the decision of the district court on appeal will
be final and there is no further right of direct appeal from the
district court's decision.
Contact Information for the Salt Lake City Justice Court
The Salt Lake City Justice Court is located at 333 S. 200 E, Salt Lake
City, UT 84111. To contact a judge's clerk or a general court clerk,
call 801-535-6300. Court clerks cannot give legal advice, but can help
in scheduling a court date or other clerical matters. If you need legal
advice or assistance,you should contact an attorney.
Choosing a Utah Criminal Defense Lawyer in Salt Lake
Choosing
the right attorney to handle your Salt Lake City Justice Court
case is an important decision. Having an
experienced criminal
defense
lawyer on your side can be vital to achieving the best results possible.
As a Utah
criminal attorney based in
Salt Lake City, Stephen Howard has
achieved not guilty verdicts and dismissals in cases ranging from
first-degree
felony
aggravated robbery to retail theft. While he has
defended some of the most serious charges on the books in Utah, he also
understands that even "minor" misdemeanor cases need to be taken
seriously, and that the outcome of each case is important to each
client.
To learn how an experienced criminal defense attorney can help in your
case,
contact us
today to arrange for an initial consultation.