Series 23738
District Court (Fifth District : Washington County) Minute Books
Dates: 1896-1974.
1.00 cubic foot and 3 microfilm reels
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
Scope and Content
This series contains the minute books from the Fifth District Court in Washington County, with actions from the criminal, civil, and probate divisions appearing throughout. Minute books contain the documentation of daily proceedings of the court but are not transcripts of court cases. Business matters include court site and officers present, jury selection, judicial appointments, expense claims, as well as entries noting the day's proceedings on various cases. A typical case will span multiple dates and will include an indictment or indication of the filed complaint, procedural issues, presentation of the case, witnesses' names, the verdict, and precise sentencing or settlement.
Arrangement
Chronological by date.
Research Note
More detailed information for the Fifth District Court may be found in case files, transcripts, commitment records, and information and indictment records. Blotters provide the minutes in an abbreviated fashion. Judgment books and civil case decisions record the outcome of cases. Naturalization books show further documentation of naturalizations. For appeals to the district courts the lower court records should be checked, as should the supreme court for appeals from the district courts. Registers of action can be used to identify the specific dates for actions recorded in these minute books.
Access Restrictions
This series is primarily classified as Public. The secondary classification is Exempt: UCA 78-30-15 (2008). As of 1 July 1999, adoptions become public after 100 years; until then they are sealed and only obtainable through the court. These books include occasional reference to adoptions..
Preferred Citation
Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.
Processing Note
This series was archivally processed by Jim Kichas in September 2007 as part of a NHPRC grant project designed to preserve the historic records of Utah's Fifth District Courts.
Indexing Terms
Page Last Updated October 18, 2012.