Court Opinion

ID: 9553043
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 19:21:08.14669+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:29:36.212244
License: Public Domain

BENCH, Judge
(concurring in the result only):
I would affirm the trial court’s ruling using the proper standard of review, as explained in State v. Pena, 869 P.2d 932, 936-39 (Utah 1994). The trial court’s determinations that the decedent was both competent and not unduly influenced involve application of law to fact, and therefore, are entitled to “some deference.” See id. The main opinion attempts to restrict Pena by enlarging appellate review on application questions when there are specific factual findings. I do not believe the existence of specific factual findings should modify our standard of review on application questions.