Case Assignment.
(1) Except as provided in this rule or general order, an automated system
randomly assigns civil cases to active district judges and full-time
magistrate judges for the purpose of maintaining work parity among these
judges. Active district court judges approve this system, and the clerk
manages and maintains it under the direction of the Chief Judge to
accomplish this purpose.
(2) The Chief Judge may assign or reassign a case for the efficient
administration of justice.
(3) A majority of active district judges may adjust the Chief Judge’s caseload
as necessary for the performance of the duties of that office.
(4) The Chief Judge and a senior district judge must inform the clerk of
the percentage of a full caseload and type of cases that the senior judge
elects to be assigned.
(b) Judicial Recusal or Disqualification.
In the event of a judicial recusal or disqualification, another judge will be assigned
to the case through the automated system described in DUCivR 83-2(a). If all
judges recuse or are disqualified, the Chief Judge will request that the Chief Judge
of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals assign the case to a judge from another
district.
(c) Emergency Circumstances.
In an emergency, if the assigned judge is unavailable, the clerk may request any
available judge to act for the assigned judge.
Special Assignment.
(1) Unrepresented Party. If an unrepresented plaintiff in a new case is already
a plaintiff in a pending case or a case that was terminated within the year
Local Rules of Civil Practice - District of Utah Eff. December 2025
previous to the filing of the new case, the clerk will notify the judge
assigned to the lowest-numbered case of the new case who may enter an
order reassigning the new case.
(2) Bankruptcy Case. If multiple cases arising out of a single bankruptcy case
are filed in this court, the first case will be randomly assigned to a judge.
All subsequent cases arising out of the same bankruptcy case will be
assigned to the same judge.
(3) Civil Forfeiture. If a civil forfeiture case is related to a pending criminal
case, the civil forfeiture case will be assigned to the judge in the criminal
case.
(4) Removed Case. If a case that has been remanded is removed again, the
case will be reassigned to the same judge.
(5) Post-Conviction Relief. If a petitioner files multiple cases for post-
conviction relief or other relief under 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241 or 2254, all
subsequent cases will be assigned to the judge in the lowest-numbered
case.
(6) Section 2255 Motions. All motions under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 will be assigned
to the sentencing judge.
(7) Supplemental Proceedings. If a party files a motion for supplemental
proceedings, the district judge may enter a referral under 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b)(1)(A) to:
(A) the magistrate judge initially assigned; or
(B) a randomly assigned magistrate judge, if one was not previously
assigned.
Transfer of Related Case.
(1) Motion. If cases involve a common question of law or fact and are pending
before different judges, any party to a later-filed case may file a motion
Local Rules of Civil Practice - District of Utah Eff. December 2025
and proposed order to transfer the case to the judge with the lowest-
numbered case.
(2) Filing the Motion and Notice. The motion must be filed in the lowest-
numbered case even if that case is on consent with a magistrate judge
presiding. The movant must also file a notice of the motion in all other
cases proposed for transfer with the assistance of the Clerk’s Office. The
judges assigned to the cases will confer about the appropriateness of the
request. The judge assigned to the lowest-numbered case will decide the
motion.
(3) Transfer Without a Motion. The court may enter an order of transfer on its
own. An order entered is effective 14 days after service unless an
objection is filed within that time. If a timely objection is filed, no transfer
will occur until the judge assigned to the lowest-numbered case rules on
the objection.
Unavailable Judge.
If there is activity in a case assigned to a judge who no longer serves in the
district, the case will be randomly reassigned.
