Series 25939
Territorial Supreme Court Record of opinions books
Dates: 1877-1894.
3.00 cubic feet and 3 microfilm reels
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
Scope and Content
These record books contain handwritten abstracts of the opinions rendered by Utah's Territorial Supreme Court for the period between 1877 and 1894. Cases heard by the Territorial Supreme Court were appealed from lower Territorial District Courts throughout the state. Every case heard before the Supreme Court contains a respondent and appellant, while every opinion in the entry book ends with a notice of filing by the court clerk. Cases are both civil and criminal. There are a number of high profile cases throughout including US versus the LDS Church, the People versus Lorenzo Snow, and the People versus John D. Lee.
Gaps in Series
There is a gap in the record books covering the year 1882.
Access Restrictions
This series is designated as Public.
Reproduction and Use
These records are available for reproduction and use.
Finding Aids
Indexes: Record books A, B, and F have indexes appearing in the front of each volume which index the contents of those particular volumes. There are no known indexes for record books C, D, or E.
Related Records
Record of opinions index from the Supreme Court, Series 1461, can be used to locate specific opinions issued by the Supreme Court.
Utah Reporter from the Supreme Court, Series 1481, contains the official, published version opinions issued by the Supreme Court.
Opinions from the Supreme Court, Series 1487, contains the written opinions of Supreme Court justices.
Indexing Terms
Courts--Utah--Records and correspondence
| REEL | VOLUME | DESCRIPTION |
| 1 | 1 | Record Book A;1877 - 1881 |
| 1 | 2 | Record Book B;1883 - 1887 |
| 2 | 3 | Record Book C;1887 - 1888 |
| 2 | 4 | Record Book D;1888 - 1891 |
| 3 | 5 | Record Book E;1891 - 1893 |
| 3 | 6 | Record Book F;1893 - 1894 |