District Court Records

The district court is the state trial court of general jurisdiction. The district court has original jurisdiction for 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 have the power to issue extraordinary writs. Also, naturalizations were often handled by the courts. Beginning in 1896, the records for each county were kept separately. There are now eight judicial districts, but it is important to consult the historical jurisdictional chart to know the districts that counties fell under in times past. 

Court Records Preservation Project

A grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commmission (NHPRC) has provided funding to arrange, describe, and microfilm the historic records of district courts from three counties in Utah from 1852-1955.

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission, a statutory body affiliated with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), supports a wide range of activities to preserve, publish, and encourage the use of documentary sources, created in every medium ranging from quill pen to computer, relating to the history of the United States.

This page was last updated May 13, 2008.