R. v. Whitmer, in and for Salt Lake County

ELLETT, Justice:

Donald R., a minor under 18 years of age, was accused in the Juvenile Court with the violation of various state statutes. To those accusations he entered pleas of not guilty and demanded to be released on bail. After an evidentiary hearing a judge of the Juvenile Court refused to release Donald to go at large. He then filed a petition in the District Court seeking his release on a writ of habeas corpus. The trial judge dismissed the petition on the ground that the District Court was not the proper forum to consider the petition.

The District Court has power to hear petitions…