Rule 11-201 Senior Judge. This rule establishes the qualifications, terms, authority, appointment, and assignment for senior judges.

Rule 3-104 Presiding Judges. Section (3)(C) defines the authority to appoint senior judges in courts of record.

Rule 3-501 Insurance Benefits Upon Retirement. Section (5) provides information for courts of record Active Senior Judges' incentive benefits.

Rule 1-305 Board of Senior Judges. This rule establishes a Board of Senior Judges consisting of senior justices and senior judges of courts of record.

Rule 3-113 Senior Judges. This rule establishes the responsibility to provide support services for active senior judges and the compensation for active senior judges in courts of record.

Rule 3-108 Judicial Assistance. Section (2) defines the criteria for transferring or assigning judges in courts of record.

Rule 3-403 Judicial Branch Education. Section (3) provides education requirements for Active Senior Judges.

Judges may apply for senior judge status at any time after submitting a letter of retirement. (Judicial Officer Retirement)

To apply for active senior judge status, the applicant must:

• Complete the Active Senior Judge Application and declare on the application whether the applicant meets all qualifications outlined in UCJA Rule 11-201(a). 

• Submit results of the most recent JPEC judicial performance evaluation before retirement by emailing Hilary Wood at hilaryw@utcourts.gov.

To apply for inactive senior judge status, the applicant must:

• Complete the Inactive Senior Judge Application and declare on the application whether the applicant meets all qualifications as outlined in UCJA Rule 11-201(a)(1).

• If an active senior judge who receives the incentive benefit changes to inactive status, the senior judge will notify the state court administrator or designee and the Human Resources Department in writing that the active senior judge has converted to inactive status and is receiving the incentive benefit. Human Resources will notify PEHP of the change in status.

The completed and signed application is automatically routed to the AOC.

**When a senior judge is appointed, they must complete a new W-4 Form and Direct Deposit Form. Please contact HR for more information.

There are two levels of compensation for active senior judges:

• At an hourly rate equal to the hourly rate of trial court judges and paid in half-day increments for:

  • • Case assignments, including preparation time for cases and time in hearings.

    • Service on a grand jury panel

    • Service on court committees

    • Service on court projects, rules, and policies

    • Mentoring of a new judge

• At a rate of $50 per half day (0-4 hours) and $100 per full day (over 4 hours) for:

  • • Attendance at the annual judicial conference and other educational functions required by court rules

    • Attendance at senior judge Board or Bench meetings

Payment for work hours must be submitted using the Senior Judge Payment form. The form is automatically routed to the AOC for approval. Senior judges should not enter their time in ESS. All work hours should be submitted using the Senior Judge Payment form. Payments for senior judge work will appear as deposits from the State of Utah in your bank account.

Active senior judges may be eligible for incentive benefits. (UCJA Rule 3-501(4)) outlines the required qualifications and benefits. Incentive benefits are subject to the availability of funds and are only available to active senior judges who:

• Comply with qualifications for reappointment as set forth in UCJA Rule 11-201; and 

• Have exhausted earned benefits (see UCJA Rule 3-501(2) for more information on the calculation and duration of earned benefits).

Earned benefits are benefits a sitting judge earns for each year of full-time employment that a judge uses less than four days of sick leave in a calendar year. For each qualifying year, a judge earns eight months of medical, dental, prescription drug, and employer-funded life insurance benefits paid by the courts upon retirement. Dental and employer-funded life insurance coverage terminates when the judicial officer is eligible for Medicare (age 65). Earned benefits cannot exceed seven years.

Active senior judges who qualify for and are interested in receiving incentive benefits must submit a letter of interest to the Deputy State Court Administrator.

Upon approval, the incentive benefits will entail:

• For active senior judges under the age of 65, the Courts will pay 50% of the cost of medical and dental insurance premiums for the active senior judge and spouse. 

• For active senior judges age 65 or older, the Courts will pay 50% of the cost of the PEHP Medicare Supplement and Enhanced Pharmacy plans for the senior judge and spouse. Note: The incentive benefits do not cover dental and employer-funded life insurance benefits.

The active senior judge is responsible for their portion of insurance premium deductions and will coordinate with PEHP as applicable.

For questions specific to individual circumstances regarding incentive benefits, please contact HR.