Judge Stoney announces retirement amid complaints
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September 19, 2012
Utah: Utah Justice Court Judge Keith L. Stoney announced his retirement last Monday after making an agreement with the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission.[1] A group of Saratoga Springs residents have been calling for Judge Stoney's removal for the past few years, comparing the judge to "Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde" and accusing him of violating civil rights and judicial procedure.[2] Much of the discontent came from 2010 after Judge Stoney jailed Elaine Damron of Saratoga Springs for 24 hours after she was caught recording a portion of a court hearing of her son. Damron argued that Judge Stoney had not given her the right of due process. In August 2012 the Damron's record was cleared when 4th District Judge Claudia Laycock ruled that Stoney had violated Damron's due process. Judge Laycock said, "Judge Stoney’s error was egregious and its consequences were severe."[3]
Prosecutor Lindsay Jarvis defended the 3rd District judge dismissing the residents as disgruntled defendants.[4]
| “ | "When they're ready to have the information come out, we'll sit down and have a discussion. They have slandered us for two years without us saying a word."[4] - Prosecutor Lindsay Jarvis[5] | ” |
Judge Stoney said his retirement was not related to the residents complaints saying, "These people say what they want to say. I’m just a lowly justice court judge. They make it seem like I’m the king of the hill and they’ve toppled the king."[1]
Judge Stoney will retire, effective December 31, 2012.[1]
See also
- News: Residents Call for Removal of Third District Judge, April 13, 2011
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Salt Lake Tribune, "Amid complaints, Utah justice court judge will retire," September 17, 2012
- ↑ The Salt Lake Tribune, "Saratoga residents want justice court judge ousted," September 11, 2010
- ↑ The Salt Lake Tribune, "Ruling: Justice court judge’s jailing of woman ‘egregious’," August 2, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Salt Lake Tribune, "Residents say Saratoga Judge Stoney abusing power," April 19, 2011
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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Federal courts:
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Utah • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Utah
State courts:
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State resources:
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