Governor appoints Bunnell to the Seventh District Juvenile Court
SALT LAKE CITY (June 13, 2016) – Gov. Gary R. Herbert has appointed Craig Bunnell as a judge to fill a vacancy on the Seventh District Juvenile Court.
“Craig Bunnell’s experience working with the juvenile system spans decades. He has a proven record of being a dedicated public servant devoted to helping Utah families, and I have every confidence that he will provide valuable perspective to the Seventh District Juvenile Court,” Gov. Herbert said.
Bunnell has served as a Managing Guardian ad Litem in St. George since June of 2013. Prior to this service, he served as Deputy Director for the state office for Utah Office of Guardian ad Litem from 2009-2013, and in other capacities within this office since 2001. In this role he as observed and worked in juvenile courts across the state. Bunnell has also worked as an instructor for the University of Phoenix.
“I am deeply honored by this appointment. I look forward to serving in the communities I hold dear,” Bunnell said.
Subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate, Bunnell will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Scott Johansen.
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Governor to sign ceremonial bill authorizing Real Salt Lake license plate
What: During a special halftime presentation, Gov. Gary R. Herbert will join legislators and RSL fans to sign S.B. 64, Special Group License Plate Modifications. Proceeds from the plate will benefit the RSL Foundation and its mission to strengthen youth soccer programs.
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County commissioners express support for Gov. Herbert
SALT LAKE CITY (June 15, 2016) – County commissioners from across the state came together at the State Capitol today to express their support for Gov. Gary Herbert’s reelection.
“We want this governor back. He’s been a commissioner. He’s been on the ground. He knows what he’s doing,” said Garfield County Commissioner Leland Pollock, who has worked with Gov. Herbert on the Public Lands Initiative. “Believe me, this is the best man for the job. We don’t want to be messing around here; we want this guy back.”
Gov. Herbert expressed his appreciation for the support of the commissioners and the benefit of his own years of service as a Utah County Commissioner.
“I can tell you that I’m a better governor because I was first a county commissioner. It gives me insight and training and preparation that I would not find anyplace else,” Gov. Herbert said. “It is humbling and certainly an honor for me and the lieutenant governor to have the endorsement and support of people we’ve worked with over these number of years. I appreciate in a profound way the work of our county commissioners. In particular, those working in rural Utah with different challenges than we have along the Wasatch Front. The public land issue is certainly top of mind for them.”
Many of the county commissioners referenced their firsthand experiences, seeing the governor’s leadership in action, as a reason for their support.
“I’ve worked a long time with him and appreciated his leadership,” Alan Gardner, Washington County commissioner, said. “He’s been very supportive of rural issues for all of that time. I was very impressed when he served as lieutenant governor with the effort that he made to get to each county throughout the state every year, and I’ve seen that continue as he’s been governor. Our economy is doing great and we just offer our appreciation to him and all the support we can to him and to Lt. Gov. Cox.”
Several of the commissioners expressed their support for the governor’s approach to pushing for local control of public lands.
“When you're in a county like Sevier County, most of your land belongs to the federal government,” said Gordon Topham, Sevier County commissioner. “So anytime we get involved in the economic development process, it always involves the resources on the public lands, and the governor has been very supportive of helping us. We strongly support the governor and lieutenant governor in their campaign for reelection.”
“Whenever we have a problem with any land issue, the governor and the lieutenant governor have understanding to know how to help us, and that has been a tremendous benefit,” Tooele County Commissioner Wade Bitner said. “Having a commissioner become a governor and lieutenant governor is significant because they know what’s going on from the ground up. And that’s a tremendous opportunity for us, as well as a tremendous benefit for the whole state of Utah.”
Many of the local officials who spoke emphasized the governor and lieutenant governor’s relationship with rural Utah as a significant advantage to the state.
“I can think of no two better leaders to help us as counties and county officials than the great governor, and Lt. Governor Spencer Cox,” Beaver County Commissioner Mark Whitney said. “We need them on our team, not only as a state do we need them, but as county commissioners and counties.”
“Actions really do speak louder than words and with Gov. Herbert and Lt. Gov. Cox, when they talk about rural Utah, they really know what they’re doing,” said Carbon County Commissioner Jae Potter. “It’s because of that support that we as commissioners feel so strongly that we need this leadership back as our governor and lieutenant governor. I have seen them answer our calls, take a real concern about the issues that rural Utah has as far as economic development and the opportunities that our energy industries face. We just can’t say enough good about the support that we receive.”
“A couple of years ago when a new lieutenant governor needed to be chosen, we sat at a table in Bicknell, Utah and pleaded with him to choose somebody from a rural county,” Wayne County Commissioner Newell Harward said. “We have been so pleased that he chose to have Lt. Gov. Cox come on board, “He knows our situations and it’s a great help to us.”
“We’re very appreciative of the governor and lieutenant governor for their support in the issues that face the [Uinta] Basin,” Duchesne County Commissioner Ron Winterton said. “I want to publicly throw my support behind the governor and lieutenant governor.”
“It’s my pleasure to stand here and represent the Davis County commission in our support of the governor and the lieutenant governor,” Bret Millburn, Davis County commissioner said. “The governor and lieutenant governor have established a fantastic team and they cover every issue that’s important to this state.”
County commissioners announcing their support of Gov. Herbert and Lt. Gov. Cox today include the following with additional announcements coming as the governor spends the next few days touring rural Utah.
Dale LeFevre - Garfield
Dave Tebbs - Garfield
Leland Pollock - Garfield
Mike Dalton - Beaver
Mark Whitney - Beaver
Tammy Pearson - Beaver
Dale Brinkerhoff - Iron
Alma Adams - Iron
Alan Gardner - Washington
Victor Iverson - Washington
Zac Renstrom - Washington
Jim Matson - Kane
Dirk Clayson - Kane
LaMont Smith - Kane
Bruce Adams - San Juan
Newell Harwood - Wayne
Tooter Ogden - Sevier
Gordon Topham - Sevier
Gary Mason - Sevier
Ken Burdick - Duchesne
Gregory Todd - Duchesne
Jack Lytle - Daggett
Karen Perry - Daggett
Shawn Milne - Tooele
Rick Blackwell - Piute
Mike Mckee - Uintah
Myron Bateman - Tooele
Shawn Milne - Tooele
Wade Bitner - Tooele
Clyde Slaugh - Daggett
Ron Winterton - Duchesne
William Talbot - Piute
Bret Milburn - Davis
John Petroff - Davis
Jae Potter - Carbon
The Republican primary is less than two weeks away, June 28. Already 20 counties are casting ballots by mail.
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Nominees announced for 4th District Juvenile Court vacancy
SALT LAKE CITY – The 4th District Judicial Nominating Commission has selected nominees for a vacancy on the 4th District Juvenile Court. This vacancy was created by the Legislature during the 2016 Legislative Session. The 4th Judicial District includes Juab, Millard, Utah, and Wasatch counties.
The nominees for the vacancy are: Joshua Faulkner, commissioner, Fourth District Juvenile Court; Margaret Lindsay, supervising attorney, Utah County Public Defender Association; R. John Moody, managing attorney, Utah Office of Guardian ad Litem; Douglas Nielsen, owner, Douglas J. Nielsen Law; Deborah Wood, assistant attorney general, Utah Attorney General’s Office.
Written comments can be submitted to the 4th District Judicial Nominating Commission Chair Dale Whitlock at judicialvacancies@utah.gov or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330. The deadline for written comments is noon Jun. 24, 2016. The Nominating Commission may request further information or conduct an investigation of the nominees after reviewing public comments. After the public comment period, the names will be sent to Gov. Gary R. Herbert, who will have 30 days to make an appointment. Gov. Herbert’s appointee is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.
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Utah Leaders Announce Formation of Juvenile Justice Working Group
SALT LAKE CITY (June 16, 2016) – Governor Gary R. Herbert, Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, House Speaker Greg Hughes, and Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Durrant today announced the formation of the interbranch Utah Juvenile Justice Working Group that will conduct a data-driven examination of Utah’s juvenile justice system and issue a comprehensive set of policy recommendations aimed at protecting public safety, holding youth accountable, containing costs, and improving outcomes for youth, families, and communities. The working group, which will report to the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ), will submit its findings and policy recommendations in a report to state leadership on December 1, 2016 for consideration during the 2017 legislative session.
The launch of the working group builds on the successful 2015 passage of the adult Justice Reinvestment Initiative bill, HB 348. With implementation of HB 348 underway, the launch of the Utah Juvenile Justice Working Group marks the next step in a comprehensive review of the state’s justice system.
“My administration is committed to producing better outcomes from our state’s juvenile justice system,” Gov. Gary Herbert said. “I look forward to recommendations that use data, research, and input from Utahns across the state to build upon what is working and provide a path forward to improve what is not.”
“I am encouraged that we are continuing our justice reform efforts and working to develop comprehensive initiatives for our juvenile justice system,” said House Speaker Greg Hughes. “This working group will give us the ability to examine the entire system, which will provide a pathway to help troubled juveniles avoid a future of incarceration and instead become productive members of society.”
Formation of the working group comes amid concerns about improving the public safety return on taxpayer investments in Utah’s juvenile justice system. Despite high costs for placing youth in state custody, recidivism rates remain stubbornly elevated: a 2014 legislative audit found just over half of youth released from state custody have a new charge within one year.
The group will conduct a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of the state’s system, reviewing data from the courts and state agencies, collecting input from Utah stakeholders, and examining how the Utah system can better align with research about what works best to improve juvenile justice outcomes as well as innovations from other states.
"We're calling on Utah’s foremost experts from across our state to create a new roadmap for our juvenile justice system," said Senate President Wayne Niederhauser. "We are confident that with this evidence-based process Utah will adopt policies that improve outcomes for our youth, families, and communities, and ultimately achieve a stronger public safety return on investment."
“The working group is charged with examining how we can proactively change our juvenile justice system for the better,” said Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Durrant. “We must examine what works best as we build a more effective and efficient sentencing and juvenile corrections system. If we do this well, we will not only have fewer youth in our juvenile system, but also fewer entering our adult corrections system.”
The 19 member working group, chaired by CCJJ Executive Director Ron Gordon, includes:
Sen. J. Stuart Adams, Senate 22nd District
Sen. Todd Weiler, Senate 23rd District
Rep. Eric Hutchings, House 38th District
Rep. Lowry Snow, House 74th District
Judge Michelle Heward, 2nd Judicial District
Judge James Michie, 3rd Judicial District
Judge Ryan Evershed, 8th Judicial District
Steve Anjewierden, Chief of Police Services, Unified Police Department
Susan Burke, Director of Juvenile Justice Services, Utah Department of Human Services
Charri Brummer, Deputy Director, Division of Child and Family Services, DHS
Darin Carver, Clinical Practice Administrator
Maria Garciaz, Executive Director, NeighborWorks Salt Lake
Carolyn Hansen, Associate Director, Salt Lake County Division of Youth Services
Steve Kaelin, Alternative and Adult Education Specialist, Utah State Office of Education
Troy Rawlings, County Attorney, Davis County
Dawn Marie Rubio, Utah Juvenile Court Administrator
Doug Thomas, Director of Substance Abuse and Mental, DHS
Pam Vickery, Utah Juvenile Defender Attorneys
The state will receive technical assistance from The Pew Charitable Trusts throughout the working group process and the 2017 legislative session.
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Utah Leaders Announce Formation of Juvenile Justice Working Group
SALT LAKE CITY (June 16, 2016) – Governor Gary R. Herbert, Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, House Speaker Greg Hughes, and Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Durrant today announced the formation of the interbranch Utah Juvenile Justice Working Group that will conduct a data-driven examination of Utah’s juvenile justice system and issue a comprehensive set of policy recommendations aimed at protecting public safety, holding youth accountable, containing costs, and improving outcomes for youth, families, and communities. The working group, which will report to the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ), will submit its findings and policy recommendations in a report to state leadership on December 1, 2016 for consideration during the 2017 legislative session.
The launch of the working group builds on the successful 2015 passage of the adult Justice Reinvestment Initiative bill, HB 348. With implementation of HB 348 underway, the launch of the Utah Juvenile Justice Working Group marks the next step in a comprehensive review of the state’s justice system.
“My administration is committed to producing better outcomes from our state’s juvenile justice system,” Gov. Gary Herbert said. “I look forward to recommendations that use data, research, and input from Utahns across the state to build upon what is working and provide a path forward to improve what is not.”
“I am encouraged that we are continuing our justice reform efforts and working to develop comprehensive initiatives for our juvenile justice system,” said House Speaker Greg Hughes. “This working group will give us the ability to examine the entire system, which will provide a pathway to help troubled juveniles avoid a future of incarceration and instead become productive members of society.”
Formation of the working group comes amid concerns about improving the public safety return on taxpayer investments in Utah’s juvenile justice system. Despite high costs for placing youth in state custody, recidivism rates remain stubbornly elevated: a 2014 legislative audit found just over half of youth released from state custody have a new charge within one year.
The group will conduct a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of the state’s system, reviewing data from the courts and state agencies, collecting input from Utah stakeholders, and examining how the Utah system can better align with research about what works best to improve juvenile justice outcomes as well as innovations from other states.
"We're calling on Utah’s foremost experts from across our state to create a new roadmap for our juvenile justice system," said Senate President Wayne Niederhauser. "We are confident that with this evidence-based process Utah will adopt policies that improve outcomes for our youth, families, and communities, and ultimately achieve a stronger public safety return on investment."
“The working group is charged with examining how we can proactively change our juvenile justice system for the better,” said Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Durrant. “We must examine what works best as we build a more effective and efficient sentencing and juvenile corrections system. If we do this well, we will not only have fewer youth in our juvenile system, but also fewer entering our adult corrections system.”
The 19 member working group, chaired by CCJJ Executive Director Ron Gordon, includes:
Sen. J. Stuart Adams, Senate 22nd District
Sen. Todd Weiler, Senate 23rd District
Rep. Eric Hutchings, House 38th District
Rep. Lowry Snow, House 74th District
Judge Michelle Heward, 2nd Judicial District
Judge James Michie, 3rd Judicial District
Judge Ryan Evershed, 8th Judicial District
Steve Anjewierden, Chief of Police Services, Unified Police Department
Susan Burke, Director of Juvenile Justice Services, Utah Department of Human Services
Charri Brummer, Deputy Director, Division of Child and Family Services, DHS
Darin Carver, Clinical Practice Administrator
Maria Garciaz, Executive Director, NeighborWorks Salt Lake
Carolyn Hansen, Associate Director, Salt Lake County Division of Youth Services
Steve Kaelin, Alternative and Adult Education Specialist, Utah State Office of Education
Troy Rawlings, County Attorney, Davis County
Dawn Marie Rubio, Utah Juvenile Court Administrator
Doug Thomas, Director of Substance Abuse and Mental, DHS
Pam Vickery, Utah Juvenile Defender Attorneys
The state will receive technical assistance from The Pew Charitable Trusts throughout the working group process and the 2017 legislative session.
