Section R671-312-1 - General ApplicabilityThe provisions and procedures set forth below are of general applicability to all petitions filed with the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole (Board) seeking the commutation of a death sentence.
(1) Any person, individually or through counsel, who has been sentenced to death by a court in this state may petition the Board for commutation of the death sentence.(2) No person has a right, privilege, or entitlement to commutation or clemency; nor to the scheduling of a commutation hearing. Nothing in this rule may be interpreted to convey any right or expectation of commutation, clemency, or to a commutation hearing. The decision to schedule a commutation hearing is within the exclusive power and authority of the Board.(3) Petitions for commutation of a death sentence shall be governed by applicable state constitutional provisions, statutes, this rule, and other Board administrative rules as applicable.(4) Any document, pleading, notice, attachment or other item submitted as part of the commutation petition, response, or subsequent pleadings shall be delivered to and filed with the Board's Administrative Coordinator at the Board's offices.(5) Upon the filing of a commutation petition, and throughout the duration of all commutation proceedings, any communication to the Board by any party or party's counsel should be directed to the Board's Administrative Coordinator. Any communication from the Board to any party or counsel will be directed through the Board's Administrative Coordinator. This section does not apply to Board communications with its own legal counsel as assigned by the Attorney General.(6) A commutation petition, any response thereto, and any subsequent pleading, or document submitted to the Board for consideration in relation to a commutation petition is considered a public document, unless the document is determined by the Board to be controlled, protected, or private, pursuant to any other statute, law, rule, or prior case law.(7) Any order issued by the Board relating to a commutation petition is a public document.(8) If the petitioner's execution is stayed by any court, after a commutation petition has been filed with the Board, but prior to commencement of any commutation hearing, all commutation proceedings before the Board shall cease.(9) If the petitioner's execution is stayed by any court after a commutation hearing has commenced, the hearing may continue, and the Board may render its decision.(10) As used in this rule, "day" means a regular calendar day, including weekends and holidays.(11) As used in this rule, "Petitioner" means the person whose death sentence is sought to be commuted by the filing of a commutation petition with the Board.(12) The Board may summarily deny, with or without a response or objection from the State, any commutation petition without a hearing.(13) Procedures applicable to commutation petitions for any person sentenced to death by a court in this state prior to April 26, 1992, are governed by Rule R671-312A. Procedures applicable to commutation petitions for any person sentenced to death by a court in this state after April 26, 1992, are governed by Rule R671-312B.(14) If the Board deems necessary and appropriate, the Board may temporarily stay an execution to fully hear a petition for commutation.Utah Admin. Code R671-312-1