The Sixth Judicial District

Garfield, Kane, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, and Wayne Counties

The Sixth Judicial District is bordered on the north by Utah County and on the south by Arizona. Sixth District is the largest, geographically, of all the Utah judicial districts. Travel is a major consideration for this rural district. Each of the three judges in the Sixth District spends as much as 25% of their time in the car, traveling for court. However, travel is not exclusive to judges; it is equally difficult for the public. The worst-case scenario is the person living in Bullfrog needing to attend court in Kanab, the Kane county seat, a whopping 315 miles away. With such a sprawling district and limited resources, coordination is key. Phones, computers, e-mail, and scanners are used to address many interaction and communication needs.

Community Resource Guide for Sixth District

A guide designed for the public, as well as the helping professional. It contains information about various youth programs, mental health providers, counselors, substance abuse interventions, and help-lines.

• Community Resource Guide - PDF

Contracting Court Services

The district and juvenile courts are required, by statute, to hold court in each county. The state does not manage the district court staff or facilities in Garfield, Kane, Piute, and Wayne Counties. The volume of court cases is low in these less populated areas and services are provided through a contract with each of these counties. The district court facilities and staff are managed by the county clerk in those counties. Staff for the juvenile court is housed in only three locations within the district: Kane, Sanpete and Sevier counties.

Mutual Assistance Between Courts

The judges of Sixth District are committed to the concept of mutual assistance. The juvenile court Judge Paul Lyman has agreed to assist the district court by hearing domestic matters and other district court matters as needed. Likewise, district court Judges Lee and Bagley have agreed to hear matters for each other and the juvenile court as needed. Local justice court judges also help in the effort to deliver timely justice by assisting law enforcement with warrants. This level of cooperation increases our ability to assist law enforcement throughout the district with immediate help and attention.

Other Programs:

Truancy Mediation

Effective Truancy mediation negotiates a shared responsibility and ownership by the student, the parents and the school and schools that have embraced this program have seen a high success rate. Truancy mediation is normally offered to the student, parents and school as an intervention prior to a formal referral to the Juvenile Court for truancy. The truancy mediation program has been offered in Sevier County since 2003 with support and training from Alternative Dispute Resolution staff from the Administrative Office of the Courts. Several schools in the Sevier School District and Wayne School District are now participating in this truancy mediation program. Many mediators are trained community volunteers from Sanpete and Sevier counties.

Legal Services

The Sixth District Richfield office offers legal assistance through Utah Legal Services on the fourth Thursday of each month. A representative from Utah Legal Services travels to Richfield and is available to meet with people between 10 and 1 PM. No pre-registration, just come in. Call 896-2700 to check for scheduling changes.

Drug Courts

Sanpete, Sevier, and Kane counties have established successful adult drug courts, with the Sevier Drug Court the oldest in the district, having been set in place since 2000. The rate of relapse with defendants who have successfully completed the programs is approximately 60 percent. The drug court program in all three counties has become the center of a multi-agency effort to provide treatment and assistance to people who face drug and alcohol addiction.

Quick Facts

Sixth District Court Locations

Click on the county for location and contact information.