Background
Senate Bill 318 of the 2025 General Session created the Prosecutor Conduct Commission (PCC). The PCC is housed within the Department of Criminal Justice (formerly the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice; CCJJ). The PCC is tasked by law to receive, initiate, investigate, or hear complaints regarding potential professional misconduct on the part of a prosecutor during the prosecution of a Class B Misdemeanor or higher criminal offense.
Commission Members:
- Attorney General’s Office: Stewart Young
- Misdemeanor Prosecutor: Tyson Skeen; Nephi Justice Court
- Felony Prosecutor: Ryan McBride, Utah County Attorney’s Office
- Retired Judge #1: Senior Judge Paul Parker; Third Judicial District
- Retired Judge #2: Senior Judge Eric Ludlow; Fifth Judicial District
- Retired Defense Counsel: William Leigh; Kane County, Kanab City, and Iron County Public and Parental Defender, & general criminal defense.
- Date PCC Fully Staffed:
- Number of PCC Meetings Held:
- Number of Prosecutors Named in a Complaint:
- Outreach and Training:
- Director Powell presented the ethics training at Utah Municipal Prosecutor’s Association Conference in November of 2025.
- Director Powell made a brief introductory presentation regarding the PCC at the Utah Crime Victim’s Conference in April of 2026.
- Director Powell presented the ethics training at the Utah Prosecution Council’s Spring Conference in April of 2026.
- Director Powell attended the Utah Prosecution Council’s Fall Conference in September of 2026. Two PCC members presented on various topics at this conference.
- Number of Complaints Received:
- General Nature of Complaints:
- Right to a fair trial.
- Vindictive or retaliatory prosecution.
- Declined to prosecute.
- Victim unable to have a meaningful opportunity to participate in the screening process.
- Factual misstatements to media.
- Factual misstatements in open court and filings.
- Untimley filing of expungement response.
- Improper statements made during closing arguments.
- Improper use of prosecutorial authority to benefit a civil client.
- Excessive charging due to age of defendant at the time of the crimes alleged.
- Overcharging.
- Frustrated with process. Judge told her proof wasn't required for a conviction.
- Protective order firearms restrictions weren’t explained.
- Believed fabrication of actual criminal case and warrant for failing to appear for that case.
- Number of Complaints Dismissed Without an Investigation:
- Number of Complaints Investigated:
- General Findings and Outcomes:
- 13 cases have been reviewed by PCC and are pending further discussion at the PCC’s November meeting.
- Name of Agency who Refused, Without Reasonable Cause, to Cooperate with PCC:
- Continue building up the policies and procedures of the complaint resolution process and general management of the PCC.
- Continue to educate and make public aware of the PCC.
- Streamline the complaint resolution process for timely resolution of complaints.