Series 21847
District Court (Seventh District : San Juan County) Minute books
Dates: 1896-1989.
2.50 cubic feet and 4 microfilm reels
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Scope and Content
This series contains minute books from the Seventh District Court in San Juan County, with actions from the criminal, civil, and probate divisions appearing throughout. Minute books contain the documentation of daily proceedings of the court but are not transcripts of court cases. Business matters include court site and officers present, jury selection, judicial appointments, expense claims, as well as entries noting the day's proceedings on various cases. A typical case will span multiple dates and will include an indictment or indication of the filed complaint, procedural issues, presentation of the case, witnesses' names, the verdict, and precise sentencing or settlement.
Gaps in Series
Researchers should be aware that Volume A is only available on microfilm. The physical copy of the record is presumed lost. There is also a gap between 1922 and 1955 that presumably corresponds to missing volume books B, C, D, and E. These record books were not found in the court office and are also presumed lost.
Research Note
More detailed information for the Seventh District Court may be found in case files, transcripts, commitment records, and information and indictment records. Blotters provide the minutes in an abbreviated fashion. Judgment books and civil case decisions record the outcome of cases. Naturalization books show further documentation of naturalizations. For appeals to the district courts the lower court records should be checked, as should the supreme court for appeals from the district courts. Registers of action can be used to identify the specific dates for actions recorded in these minute books.
Research Note
More detailed information for the Seventh District Court may be found in case files, transcripts, commitment records, and information and indictment records. Blotters provide the minutes in an abbreviated fashion. Judgment books and civil case decisions record the outcome of cases. Naturalization books show further documentation of naturalizations. For appeals to the district courts the lower court records should be checked, as should the supreme court for appeals from the district courts. Registers of action can be used to identify the specific dates for actions recorded in these minute books.
Access Restrictions
This series is primarily designated as Public. The secondary designation is Exempt: UCA 78-30-15 (2008). As of 1 July 1999, adoptions become public after 100 years; until then they are sealed and only obtainable through the court. These books include occasional reference to adoptions..
Reproduction and Use
These records are available for reproduction and use.
Finding Aids
Indexes: Alphabetical indexes are located at the beginning of each minute book.
Related Records
Criminal case files from the District Court (Seventh District : San Juan County), Series 6878, contain the criminal cases that are documented in this series.
Civil case files from the District Court (Seventh District : San Juan County), Series 7074, contain the civil cases that are documented in this series.
Probate case files from the District Court (Seventh District : San Juan County), Series 13467, contain the probate cases that are documented in this series.
Probate registers of action from the District Court (Seventh District : San Juan County), Series 26200, more fully document court proceedings as they relate to individual cases.
Criminal registers of action from the District Court (Seventh District : San Juan County), Series 26230, contains register entries for court proceedings on any given day.
| REEL | VOLUME | DESCRIPTION |
| 1 | A | 1896 - 1921 |
| 2 | F | 1956 Apr - 1962 Sep |
| 2 | G | 1962 Oct - 1974 Jul |
| 3 | H | 1974 Aug - 1985 Mar |
| 4 | 1 | 1985 Apr - 1987 Sep |
| 4 | 2 | 1987 Oct - 1989 Apr |