Part-time justice court judges standing for retention in 2014 are required to meet three minimum performance standards adopted by the judicial branch and enacted by the legislature.

Judge Birch met these standards:

1. He participated annually in no less than 30 hours of continuing legal education for each year of his current term;
2. He held no cases under advisement for more than two months; and
3. He has not been the subject of any public reprimands issued by the Judicial Conduct Commission or the Utah Supreme Court during his term of office.

Based solely on compliance with these standards, the commission recommends retention for Judge Birch.

Judge Randy B. Birch was appointed to the Heber City Justice Court in September 2010. He received a B.A. from Utah State University and a J.D. from the University of Utah College of Law in 1984. Judge Birch previously practice law in Salt Lake City, served as in-house counsel with a federal contractor, and currently maintains a solo practice. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Birch served for more than 25 years as a small claims judge pro tempore in Salt Lake and Summit counties and on the Board of the Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (UACDL)