An Overview of the Utah District Courts

The District Court is the state trial court of general jurisdiction. There are 71 full-time district judges serving in the state's eight judicial districts. You can learn more about the judges in each district in the Gallery of Judges. The District Court has original jurisdiction to try all civil cases, all criminal felonies, such as homicides, assaults, sex and drug offenses, forgery, arson, and robbery, and misdemeanors in certain circumstances. An important part of the District Court caseload is domestic relations cases, such as divorces, child custody and support, adoption, and probate. District judges also have the power to issue extraordinary writs. In addition, the Court serves as an appellate court to review informal adjudicative proceedings from administrative agencies