This bill makes changes related to the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
The Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, the independent panel that reviews Utah judges' performance and provides voters with retention-election ratings, would see its governing law reorganized and updated under this bill. The measure spells out clearer rules for commission meetings and votes, including requirements that votes on whether a judge meets performance standards happen in open, public sessions while individual commissioners' votes remain confidential, and it guarantees a judge the right to appear and speak before the commission if the judge fails to pass certification standards. It also overhauls the judicial performance survey used to gather feedback on judges — expanding who can be surveyed to include, where practical, individuals who appeared in court as a party (not just attorneys, jurors, and court staff) — and restructures the survey questions into new categories covering a judge's legal competence, impartiality, communication skills, temperament, and administrative effectiveness. Finally, the bill directs the commission to study by October 2026 whether a judge's rate of being overturned on appeal should factor into performance evaluations, with a report due to the Legislature's Judiciary Interim Committee by November 2026.
Current version: SB0233S01 (Substitute)
Introduction
Feb 3
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Feb 9
Senate 2nd Reading
Feb 23
Senate 3rd Reading
Feb 24
House Rules
Feb 26
House Committee
Feb 26
House Floor Vote
Mar 4
Governor Signed
Mar 23
IntroductionFeb 3
Senate Rules
Senate CommitteeFeb 9
Senate 2nd ReadingFeb 23
Senate 3rd ReadingFeb 24
House RulesFeb 26
House CommitteeFeb 26
House Floor VoteMar 4
Governor SignedMar 23
This bill makes changes related to the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
The Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, the independent panel that reviews Utah judges' performance and provides voters with retention-election ratings, would see its governing law reorganized and updated under this bill. The measure spells out clearer rules for commission meetings and votes, including requirements that votes on whether a judge meets performance standards happen in open, public sessions while individual commissioners' votes remain confidential, and it guarantees a judge the right to appear and speak before the commission if the judge fails to pass certification standards. It also overhauls the judicial performance survey used to gather feedback on judges — expanding who can be surveyed to include, where practical, individuals who appeared in court as a party (not just attorneys, jurors, and court staff) — and restructures the survey questions into new categories covering a judge's legal competence, impartiality, communication skills, temperament, and administrative effectiveness. Finally, the bill directs the commission to study by October 2026 whether a judge's rate of being overturned on appeal should factor into performance evaluations, with a report due to the Legislature's Judiciary Interim Committee by November 2026.
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Governor Signed
Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
Senate/ to Governor
Executive Branch - Governor
Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
Senate Secretary
Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
Senate Secretary
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Senate Secretary
Last updated Aug 29, 2026, 5:26 PM