Amending Title United States Code, to Authorize Holding Court for the Central Division of Utah in Moab and Monticello

Floor Speech

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Ms. MALOY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 8666, to amend title 28, United States Code, to authorize the holding of court for the Central Division of Utah in Moab and Monticello, Utah.

I start by thanking my colleagues for their comments and support.

Madam Speaker, allowing the Federal court to meet in Monticello and Moab allows all types of civil and criminal court proceedings in southeastern Utah, particularly jury trials.

Jury summonses for Utahns in this part of the State require a five- hour drive one way from places like Blanding to Salt Lake City, and that is a little over 300 miles.

Some criminal cases have to be heard more than four hours from where the crime occurred, and then witnesses, law enforcement, and victims bear the burden of that travel, as do the U.S. marshals when they transport defendants in criminal cases for jury trials.

This area would also serve the Navajo Nation in the Four Corners part of Utah, where Federal courts have special jurisdiction. Important civil cases require the same kind of travel arrangements.

Madam Speaker, last week in southwestern Utah, I personally was able to witness the investiture of the first Federal judge dedicated specifically to southwestern Utah. I have seen how much that means to those communities in my district, where they can have their day in court and where they have a court in their community. They feel like they have a connection to the judicial system, and that is a really important part of maintaining faith in our institutions and faith in our judicial system. I love to see us working toward getting southeastern Utah the same opportunity.

Our courts are an indispensable part of our Constitution for peacefully resolving our disputes and for administering justice. I am proud to say that this bill helps ensure that rural Utahns have ready access to justice, the judicial branch of their government, and the court system.

Madam Speaker, I thank my fellow Utahns for their support and urge my House colleagues to pass H.R. 8666.

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