The Utah Judicial Council has confirmed the appointment of Salt Lake attorney William Roger Russell as commissioner of the 3rd District Juvenile Court.
Russell replaces Richard W. Birrill, who is retiring Nov. 1 after 35 years as court commissioner. A University of Utah Law School graduate, Russell has been a staff attorney for Rilling & Associates, which is the contract public defender firm for Salt Lake County indigent juvenile clientele.The 3rd District commission typically hears 6,000 juvenile misdemeanor cases per year, including status offense cases, such as truancy.
Russell's experience includes 14 years in private practice, two clerkships and service as judge pro tempore in the district court small claims division from 1980 to 1989.