WASHINGTON CITY — Applications are being accepted for a justice court judge who will serve the Washington City area. The person hired for the position will replace Judge Jake Graff who will resign in June.
Judge Jake Graff presides over court at Santa Clara Town Hall, Santa Clara, Utah, Dec. 5, 2023 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News
As previously reported by St. George News, in 2021, Graff was named initially as a temporary judge in Washington City after the presiding judge Thad Seegmiller changed robes to become the city’s attorney.
For the last several years, Graff has presided over court in Hildale on Wednesdays, Washington City on Thursdays and more recently Santa Clara’s court proceedings on Tuesdays.
According to a media release, to be considered for a justice court judgeship in Washington County, candidates must be at least 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a Utah resident for at least three years and have a degree from a law school that would make one eligible to apply for admission to a bar in any state in the United States.
In addition, applicants must be a resident of Washington County, an adjacent county or the judicial district in which the justice court is located either upon appointment or within a reasonable time following appointment.
Photo shows Washington City Hall, March 22, 2023 | Photo by Haven Scott, St. George News
Information on judicial retention and performance evaluation is posted on the Utah State Court website under the employment opportunities section. An application for judicial office form must be completed and is available on the court’s website.
The salary range for the position is $71,865 to $92,398 per year. For additional information about working for Washington City, email Jeremy Redd, citymanager@washingtoncity.org or call (435) 656-6313.
The deadline for applications is Monday, April 1, at 5 p.m. and should be sent to the attention of Jim Peters, Administrative Office of the Courts, P.O. Box 140241, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84114-0241.
Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. For questions about the justice courts or the process for filling this position, email Peters at jamesp@utcourts.gov.
Utah law requires the Judicial Nominating Commission to submit three to five nominees to Washington City Mayor Kress Staheli within 45 days of its first meeting. Staheli will then have 30 days in which to select a finalist. His selection must then be ratified by the Washington City Council and certified by the Utah Judicial Council.
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