Mission & Governance
Three Government Branches
We extend a warm and excited greeting to you as a new team member of the State of Utah's Judicial Branch. You will find that your service to the Utah Judiciary, and thereby being part of an organization that produces a dynamic and essential public service, is a fulfilling and rewarding career.
The mission of the Utah Judiciary is to provide the people an open, fair, efficient, and independent system for the advancement of justice under the law. Your contributions will play an integral part in fulfilling this mission.
The Utah Judiciary plays an important and unique government role in bettering society. The courts work together with the other branches of government to serve the people of Utah. To accomplish this, the State of Utah has three distinct branches of government: the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judicial. Each of these branches perform different functions. Learn about them below.
Executive Branch
The executive branch is responsible to enforce the laws and policies created by the legislature and is headed by the Governor. The Governor is elected and serves a four-year term. His cabinet consists of heads of Executive Branch state agencies.
Legislative Branch
The legislative branch is charged with creating law and is composed of two bodies – the House and the Senate. Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate are democratically elected and select their own leaders.
Judicial Branch
The judicial branch interprets and applies state laws to resolve conflicts. State judges are appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate, then are retained in public elections for additional terms. The Judiciary is governed by the Judicial Council chaired by the Chief Justice.
Separation of Powers
This basic structure of governance is known as the separation of powers, with each branch of government independent in authority while maintaining a strong working relationship. As an employee of the Utah State Courts, it is important to recognize that the administration of the courts is separate from that of other state agencies. For instance, the Governor of Utah cannot hire or fire employees of the Utah Courts. Similarly, the Judicial Council cannot determine the Department of Transportation’s policies.