Courtroom Observer - State of Utah

Hi! My name is Julie, and I work with the Utah Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission (JPEC). Our commission relies on trained volunteers to observe court hearings and help evaluate judges.
We would love for you to be part of providing judges with constructive feedback for improvementand helping keep Utah voters informed about judges on the ballot.
Volunteer observers evaluate judges based on

procedural fairness principles , such as neutrality, respect, and giving people a voice in court. Research shows that when people perceive courts as fair, it improves trust in the justice system and benefits the community as a whole.
What Our Volunteers Do
Complete a short training on court structure, calendaring, and procedural fairness
Observe judges in court (virtually or in person) for about

2 hours per observation
Reflect on their experience by answering

six open-ended questions
Complete

six or more observations per year

(very flexible scheduling)
What Our Reports Do
Volunteer observations focus on procedural fairness principles, including:
Neutrality
Respect
Voice
These reports are shared with judges, the commissioners who make judicial performance recommendations, and voters. See

judges.utah.gov.
Benefits of Volunteering
Flexible scheduling—court hearings occur

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. , but you choose the day and time you observe
Learn more about

how the Utah court system works
Promote democratic values through

citizen participation
Help support

evidence-based practices that improve the justice system
Mileage reimbursement for travel

more than 15 miles from home