Lehi needs a new justice court judge after Judge Morgan Cummings announced he will resign in October.

The city is accepting applications for the full-time position, which pays $147,886 to $190,139 per year plus benefits, according to a vacancy notice posted on the city's website. The deadline to apply is Oct. 9 at 11:59 p.m.

Applications must be completed online at justicecourtvacancies.utah.gov before that deadline. No late submissions will be accepted.

The Utah Administrative Office of the Courts announced the vacancy on Wednesday, Sept. 9. The Utah State Bar also posted notice of the opening on Monday, Sept. 14, directing qualified attorneys to apply.

How the selection works

Utah law requires a Judicial Nominating Commission to review applicants and send at least three nominees to Mayor Paul Binns within 45 days of the commission's first meeting. Binns then has 30 days to pick a finalist.

That choice must be ratified by the Lehi City Council and certified by the Utah Judicial Council before the new judge takes the bench.

Once certified, the judge serves at least three years before facing an unopposed retention election, according to the state's nominating procedures. After that first retention vote, the term of office is six years.

Who can apply

Candidates must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen, a Utah resident for at least three years and hold a law degree from a school that would qualify them to apply for bar admission in any state. Applicants must live in Utah County or an adjacent county at the time of appointment or before taking the bench.

What's still unknown

The city's vacancy notice did not specify Cummings' exact departure date or how long he has served on the bench. No public statement from Mayor Binns or the Lehi City Council about the vacancy has appeared as of publication. The Judicial Nominating Commission's first meeting date has not been announced.

Residents with questions about the position can contact Lehi Human Resources Manager David Kitchen at (385) 201-2265 or [email protected]. Questions about the court or the selection process can be directed to Justice Court Administrator Jim Peters at [email protected].