Criminal appeals from the District Court are heard in the Court of Appeals, except those involving a criminal conviction of a first degree or capital felony, which are heard in the Supreme Court. All civil appeals from the District Court are heard in the Supreme Court, except for domestic relations cases, which are heard in the Court of Appeals. A district judge may hear small claims cases, but in some areas of the state, the Supreme Court appoints a lawyer as a judge pro tempore to hear the cases. In areas where a judge pro tempore has not been assigned, the district judge may transfer the case to a justice court. Any individual or business may use small claims court, which is usually conducted in the evening for the convenience of the public.
Most litigants appear without an attorney.
The defendant then presents his or her case and the plaintiff may ask questions. The judge usually will make his ruling at the close of the trial. In small claims cases, the plaintiff or defendant may appeal the court's judgment. All small claims matters are not of record, which means no verbatim record is kept of the proceedings. In 1997, the consolidation of Utah's Circuit Courts and District Courts was completed.