Category: URAP030

Rules of Appellate Procedure – Comment Period Closed September 10, 2021

URAP023. Motions. Amend. The proposed amendments remove all language regarding form requirements in 23(f) and incorporate that language into Rule 27.

URAP027. Form of briefs. Amend. The proposed amendments: (1) combine form requirements for briefs, motions, and other documents into one rule; (2) incorporate language regarding form requirements from Rule 23(f); and (3) clean up other language for clarity and consistency.

URAP030. Decision of the court: dismissal; notice of decision. Amend. The proposed amendments clarify what constitutes the entry of a decision in 30(d) and (e).
URAP031. Expedited appeals decided after oral argument without written opinion. Amend. The proposed amendments: (1) include language in 31(b)(1) allowing the Court to consider expedited decision upon stipulation of the parties; (2) remove the language in 31(d) regarding appeals ineligible for expedited decision; and (3) clean up other language for clarity and consistency.
URAP054. Transcript of proceedings. Amend. The proposed amendments update instructions for ordering transcripts in 54(a).
URAP055. Petition on appeal. Amend. The proposed amendments: (1) change the deadline in 55(a) for filing the petition on appeal to 15 days from the transmission of the record, rather than from filing the notice of appeal; (2) modify 55(b) to allow appointed appellate counsel to file the petition on appeal; and (3) include a requirement that appellate counsel be appointed within 21 days of the notice of appeal.
URAP056. Response to petition on appeal. Amend. The proposed amendments: (1) replace the page requirement with a word requirement in 56(b); and (2) comport the rule with Standing Order No. 11.
URAP057. Record on appeal; transmission of record. Amend. The proposed amendments update language regarding record transmission in 57(b).
URAP058. Ruling. Amend. The proposed amendments remove the language in 58(b) regarding the remand to juvenile court to appoint appellate counsel.
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Rules of Appellate Procedure – Comment Period Closed September 24, 2017

URAP021. Amended Rule 21 clarifies the “prisoner mailbox rule,” which will promote consistency, clarity, and certainty in inmate litigation. The Advisory Committee on Civil Rules is publishing for public comment a virtually identical amendment to the Utah Rules of Civil Procedure.

URAP025. This is a conforming amendment to amended URAP 25A.

URAP025A. The proposed amendment gives the Attorney General the right to appear at oral argument whenever an amicus brief has been filed pursuant to the rule.

URAP030. The proposal, which deletes the word “dismissal” in the title, corrects an anomaly because nowhere in the rule does it mention the word or provide for dismissing an appeal.

URAP037. The proposed amendment makes several changes to the rule.

Subdivision (a). The changes are intended to clarify and simplify a party’s obligation to bring to the court’s attention those circumstances that render moot one or more issues presented for review on appeal.

Subdivision (b). The amended subdivision provides that if all parties to an appeal agree that the appeal should be dismissed, and if they stipulate to a motion for voluntary dismissal, then the appeal must be promptly dismissed. The committee felt that the proposed change would encourage prompt and efficient settlements. It also felt that dismissal of the appeal is constitutionally appropriate when the parties have agreed to a voluntary dismissal because there is no longer a justiciable case or controversy. Finally, the committee considered deleting the last sentence on fees and costs, but instead it opted to simply rework the sentence to read: “The stipulation must specify the terms of payment of costs and fees, if any.”

Subdivision (c). The proposed amendment provides an efficient way for an attorney who is unable to contact his or her client to obtain the necessary affidavit to support a motion for voluntary dismissal, while still protecting the appellant’s right to appeal. The proposal also requires the attorney to certify that he or she has reasonable grounds to believe that the appellant no longer wishes to pursue the appeal. The committee concluded that a certification from the attorney is appropriate because it safeguards the appellant’s right to an appeal, and it also avoids having the attorney reveal confidential communications with the client in an affidavit.

Subdivision (d). Finally, the committee recommends deleting the current subdivision —“[a] suggestion of mootness or motion for voluntary dismissal shall be subject to the appellate court’s approval”— for the same reasons mentioned in subdivision (b).

URAP055. Amended Rule 55 gives the court discretion to dismiss an untimely filed petition in a child welfare case, rather than requiring dismissal.

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Rules of Appellate Procedure

URAP 12. Transmission of the record. Amend. Creates a process for counsel in civil cases to check out the record from the trial court.
URAP 28A. Appellate Mediation Office. Amend. Restricts disclosure of all mediation communications and documents, except the written agreement.
URAP 30. Decision of the court: dismissal; notice of decision. Amend. States that copies of unpublished decisions need not be supplied, unless the decision was issued before October 1, 1998.
URAP 55. Petition on appeal. Amend. Clarifies that a colored cover isn’t used in child welfare appeals.

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Utah Rules of Appellate Procedure

URAP 04. Appeal as of right: when taken. Amend. The proposed amendments are intended to clarify the status of a notice of appeal filed while certain motions are pending. The notice of appeal will be effective as of the date the motion is resolved, but will only be effective for the underlying judgment
URAP 08A. Emergency relief. New. Creates a new rule to establish a process for managing requests for emergency relief.
URAP 09. Docketing statement. Amend. Contains a technical change to reflect a legislative amendment requiring a motion to withdraw a guilty plea to be made before sentencing.
URAP 11. The record on appeal. Amend. Eliminates the option of a compressed format transcript.
URAP 12. Transmission of the record. Amend. Eliminates the option for a compressed format. Also includes language requiring the clerk transmit the record in post-conviction cases.
URAP 19. Extraordinary writs. Amend. Clarifies the process for resolving petitions for extraordinary relief, and references Rule 8A for other requests for emergency relief. Clarifies that the court?s decision will be based on the petition and the response, unless briefing is requested by the court.
URAP 30. Decision of the court: dismissal; notice of decision. Amend. Technical change.

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