Ford v. State

On Certification from the Utah Court of Appeals

DURHAM, Chief Justice:

INTRODUCTION

T1 This appeal poses two questions. First, whether, in 1998, court commissioners were authorized to conduct preliminary hearings binding defendants over for trial. Second, whether defendants who succeed in vacating their convictions in a post-conviction relief proceeding are entitled to paid counsel to represent them during the State's appeal. We hold that court commissioners were entitled to conduct preliminary hearings binding defendants over for trial in 1998. We also hold that impecunions defendants who are…