Series 18219

District Court (Fifth District : Iron County) Criminal case files, 1896-

6.00 cubic feet and 9 microfilm reels

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

See history of the records' creator.

Summary of Records

Case files are made up of the various documents filed with the Fifth District Court in Iron County pertaining to each specific case. The records usually contain information such as the case number, and the names of the defendants, counsel, jurors, and witnesses. The case file may include complaints, indictments, subpoenas, verdicts, warrants of arrest, execution or confinement, warrant returns, affidavits, orders, judgments, appeal notices. Files rarely include transcripts of testimony.

Scope and Content

Case files are made up of the various documents filed with the Fifth District Court in Iron County pertaining to each specific case. The records usually contain information such as the case number, and the names of the defendants, counsel, jurors, and witnesses. The case file may include complaints, indictments, subpoenas, verdicts, warrants of arrest, execution or confinement, warrant returns, affidavits, orders, judgments, appeal notices. Files rarely include transcripts of testimony.
First, second, and third degree felony cases are the predominant case file type within this series (a major crime for which the maximum imprisonment is more than one year in a state correctional institution). This would include first degree offenses such as murder, rape, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary and robbery, arson, and possession with intent to distribute drugs. Second degree offenses include: manslaughter, robbery, residential burglary, kidnapping, perjury, forgery, theft of propertyvalued over $1,000.00, forcible sexual abuse, and intentional child abuse. Third degree felonies include: burglary of non-dwellings, theft, aggravated assault, forgery, unlawful sexual intercourse, joyriding, possession with intent to distribute marijuana or cocaine, and false or forged prescriptions.
This series also contains misdemeanor cases which are punishable by a county jail term of up to one year and/or a fine. Misdemeanors include: negligent homicide, driving under the influence, theft, assault on a police officer, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, reckless driving, possession of marijuana, shoplifting, trespassing, and possession of a concealed weapon.
Juvenile cases tried prior to 1907 can also be found in this series. In 1907, a separate statewide juvenile court was established allowing juvenile court jurisdiction in all matters involving children 18 years of age and younger, including parents and guardians of juvenile delinquents.
Missing cases should not be foundin appellate court records since the Supreme Court is required by law [Rule 76 (d)] to remit their decision to the District Court "together with such papers transmitted to the Supreme Court on appeal." Furthermore, Rule 75 (n) states that after the appeal has been disposed of, any original papers should be returned to the custody of the district court. Cases which are appealed to the District Court from lower courts will be found in this series.

Research Note

Cases 6, 15, 19, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 39, 44, 47, 58, 59, 60, 61, 64, 67, 68, 73, 94, 99, 149, 175, and 211, are missing from the original arrangement kept between 1896 and 1932. Cases 78, 94, 161, and 172 are missing from the renumbered arrangement kept after 1932.
The court began renumbering case files in 1932. Between 1896 and 1932 researchers can expect to find case files 1 to 294. After case 294 the new renumbering system was implemented beginning with a new case 1.

Arrangement

Numerical by case number.

Additional Forms

This series is available on microfilm.

Access Restrictions

This series is classified as Public.

Use Restrictions

These records are available for reproduction and use.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Custody History

All case files created between 1896 and 1956 were transferred to the Utah State Archives in 2007. For access to case files post-1956 researchers should contact the clerk of the Fifth District Court in Iron County.

Acquisition Information

These records wereacquired from the creating agency through established retention schedules.

Processing Information

This series was archivally processed by Jim Kichas and Emily Gurr in May 2008 as part of a NHPRC grant project designed to preserve the historic records of Utah's Fifth District Courts.

Related Material

Minute books from the District Court (Fifth District : Iron County), Series 1390, contains brief minute book entries for court proceedings on any given day.
Criminal registers of actions from the District Court (Fifth District : Iron County), Series 26629, contain register entries and alphabetical indices which can be used to identify the case file numbers needed to access this series for criminal cases between 1896 and 1990.

Container List

ReelBoxDateDescription
111896-19121-59
121896-191260-65
221912-192166-140
321921-1926141-183
331921-1926184-209
431926-1930210-264
531930-1932265-294
541932-19371-43
641937-194544-100
651937-1945101-112
751945-1949113-170
851949-1953171-177
861949-1953178-214
961953-1956215-263