Series 6878

District Court (Seventh District : San Juan County) Criminal case files, 1896-

14 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 Seventh District Court in San Juan 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 Seventh District Court in San Juan 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 ofproperty valued 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 notbe found in 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

Processing of this series was completed after all known microfilm holdings for historic criminal case files were transferred to the Utah State Archives from the Seventh District Court of San Juan County, in April 2013. Original paper files were presumably destroyed after initial filming took place in the court in 1987. Archival processing of the physical records did not take place prior to filming and that should be noted if case files appear missing or out of order.

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

Microfilm holdings for historic criminal case files that were maintained by the court were transferred to the Utah State Archives in April 2013.

Acquisition Information

These records were acquired from the creating agency through established retention schedules.

Processing Information

This series was processed by Jim Kichas in April 2013.

Other Finding Aids

Indexes: Criminal case indexes that can used to access this series are maintained in series 28268.

Related Material

Minute books from the District Court (Seventh District : San Juan County), Series 21847, contains daily minute entries for the court actions upon which these case files are built.
Information and indictment book from the District Court (Seventh District : San Juan County), Series 26194, provides another method for exploring early criminal information recorded by the court.
Criminal registers of action from the District Court (Seventh District : San Juan County), Series 26230, record the date and any action that was taken on a criminal case.
Court order books from the District Court (Seventh District : San Juan County), Series 28250, contain court orders issued by the criminal division of the district court.
Case file indexes from the District Court (Seventh District : San Juan County), Series 28268, contain the criminal case files indexed by this series.

Indexing Terms

Container List

ReelDateDescription
11902-19171-61
21917-194961-168
31924-194468-152
41942-1956153-220
51949-1956169-246
61955-1959221-291
71959-1964292-370
81962-1969346-430
91964-1975371-427
101970-1973431-485
111969-1977428-494
121976-1982495-553
131980-1986554-626
141983-1985627-659