Series 4126

District Court (Seventh District : Emery County) Criminal case files

Dates: 1896-

0.35 cubic foot and 11 microfilm reels

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Scope and Content

Case files are made up of the various documents filed with the Seventh District Court in Emery County pertaining to each specific case. The records usually contain information such as the case number, and the names of the defendants, counsel, jurors, and witnesses. The case file may include complaints, indictments, subpoenas, verdicts, warrants of arrest, execution or confinement, warrant returns, affidavits, orders, judgments, appeal notices. Files rarely include transcripts of testimony.

First, second, and third degree felony cases are the predominant case file type within this series (a major crime for which the maximum imprisonment is more than one year in a state correctional institution). This would include first degree offenses such as murder, rape, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary and robbery, arson, and possession with intent to distribute drugs. Second degree offenses include: manslaughter, robbery, residential burglary, kidnapping, perjury, forgery, theft of property valued over $1,000.00, forcible sexual abuse, and intentional child abuse. Third degree felonies include: burglary of non-dwellings, theft, aggravated assault, forgery, unlawful sexual intercourse, joyriding, possession with intent to distribute marijuana or cocaine, and false or forged prescriptions.

This series also contains misdemeanor cases which are punishable by a county jail term of up to one year and/or a fine. Misdemeanors include: negligent homicide, driving under the influence, theft, assault on a police officer, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, reckless driving, possession of marijuana, shoplifting, trespassing, and possession of a concealed weapon.

Juvenile cases tried prior to 1907 can also be found in this series. In 1907, a separate statewide juvenile court was established allowing juvenile court jurisdiction in all matters involving children 18 years of age and younger, including parents and guardians of juvenile delinquents.

Missing cases should not be found in appellate court records since the Supreme Court is required by law [Rule 76 (d)] to remit their decision to the District Court "together with such papers transmitted to the Supreme Court on appeal." Furthermore, Rule 75 (n) states that after the appeal has been disposed of, any original papers should be returned to the custody of the district court. Cases which are appealed to the District Court from lower courts will be found in this series.

Arrangement

Numerical by case number.

Related Records

Minute books from the District Court (Seventh District : Emery County), Series 12427, contains brief minute book entries for court proceedings on any given day.

Criminal registers of actions from the District Court (Seventh District : Emery County), Series 21843, contain register entries for criminal cases between 1896 and 1976.

Access Restrictions

This series is classified as Public.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Processing Note

The container list was drafted and preliminary processing completed by Allen Clark in 2008. Final finding aid was drafted by Jim Kichas in June 2008.

Indexing Terms

Container List

REEL	DESCRIPTION
1	Case Files: 1 - 15; 1896-1897
2	Case Files: 16 - 95; 1897-1910
3	Case Files: 95 - 175; 1910-1921
4	Case Files: 175 - 232; 1921-1926
5	Case Files: 233 - 311; 1926-1936
6	Case Files: 311 - 376; 1936-1952
7	Case Files: 376 - 431; 1952-1968
8	Case Files: 432 - 464; 1968-1976
9	Case Files: 465 - 628; 1976-1978
10	Case Files: 629 - 672; 1978-1980
11	Case Files: 673 - 680; 1981

BOX	DESCRIPTION
1	1896-1924