First and foremost is this Tim Gurrister headline story, suggesting a fundamental legislative overhaul may be in store in the Utah justice courts system:
Sweeping changes are in store for Utah’s justice courts.We at Weber County Forum have been griping about justice courts since the summer of 2005. We've complained about them here, here, here and here.
Under proposals that could go to the next session of the Legislature, the small-town courts could require that judges be full time, college educated and paid as state appointees. They would no longer be appointed by — or suspected of bowing to — a mayor, city council or county commission.
And all would face re-election.
We are thus delighted to read that a Utah Judicial Council Committee is studying the problems inherent the Utah justice court system; and we strongly urge the legislature to place these courts under the jurisdiction of the State Supreme Court where they logically belong, thereby eliminating the disgraceful separation of powers municipal "cash cow" problem.
Secondly, we find two front-page articles in this morning's Std-Ex edition, on a subject near and dear to our hearts. Peewee's Playhouse -- and various and sundry other monuments to Boss Godfrey's ego -- will be opening to the public, starting in June. Read the latest hoopla here and here.
This is happening none too soon, we say. The downtown mall site has been an economic albatross for what seems like years. We'll soon find out whether outfits like Fatcats and Gold's Gym can carry their own weight. We'll soon learn whether a downtown site, whose use throughout most of the history of our town depended upon a foundation of retail commerce, can survive on a business model predicated upon fun and games.
Who will be the first comment?
