Ogden Asks for Justice Court

Standard-Examiner
Via NewsBank
June 22, 2005

OGDEN -- The verdict is in.

After discussions spanning several years, the Ogden City Council approved a resolution Tuesday night to establish a municipal justice court to handle some misdemeanor cases.

In addition, the resolution asks the state to reduce the time frame for establishing the court from two years to one year, enabling it to begin operating in July 2006.

The court would have jurisdiction over class B and class C misdemeanors, traffic violations and small claims. The courts operate in numerous cities throughout the state, including Clearfield, Roy, South Ogden and Riverdale.

Ogden City Council Chairman Rick Safsten said he is confident the justice court would be a financial success and would improve the efficiency of the judicial process.

The court would be housed in the vacant Weber-Morgan County Health Department building, adjacent to the municipal complex located downtown.

It would cost $500,000 to $600,000 to renovate the building and expenses could be spread out over 15 years, Mark Johnson, management services director for the city, said Tuesday night.

The justice court would provide more focus on lower-profile cases that can slow the state-operated 2nd District Court, which handles misdemeanor offenses, Johnson said.

"District court judges do a wonderful job, but their caseloads are heavy," he said.

The justice court could also be financially beneficial, enabling the city to retain all fines and bail fees, 20 percent of a security surcharge, and revenues generated from small-claims filing fees.

During the first year, it is estimated the court would generate about $1 million in revenue, but the court would operate at an overall loss of about $58,000 due to startup costs arising from salaries and benefits for a dozen employees, operating expenses and debt service for renovations to the Weber-Morgan County Health Department building.

In another matter Tuesday night, the City Council approved a resolution to enable the city's Redevelopment Agency to pledge about $200,000 in excess tax increment funds for several proposed cultural and recreational facility projects.

The City Council has not decided which projects will be funded.

Copyright 2005 Standard-Examiner