Federal court rents space in St. George

ST. GEORGE — Residents in southern Utah will have more access to federal court starting this week.

The U.S. District Court for Utah has held misdemeanor trials and some preliminary felony hearings, along with bankruptcy court hearings and trials, in this area.

Now, federal court judges will be hearing felony cases in this part of the state on a regular basis.

The federal court is renting courtroom space and chambers in Utah's new 5th District Courthouse, which was dedicated Dec. 14. Expectations are the federal courts can rent space in the state building for about the next five to 10 years, after which it will be used entirely by the state courts.

"Increased availability of court services is designed to benefit court users living in southern Utah," U.S. District Clerk of Court Mark Jones said. "In years past, local law enforcement officers, attorneys and defendants would sometimes have to make as many as five or six … round trips to Salt Lake City from St. George in a single case to appear at initial hearings, arraignments, trials and sentencing. Now, all of those proceedings will be held in St. George, at a great savings of time and money for southern Utah residents and agencies. Over time, this will save thousands of dollars."

There were 65 felony cases and 138 misdemeanor cases filed in federal court in southwestern Utah last year.

— Linda Thomson