As a result of 2 1/2 years of work, a new circuit court of limited jurisdiction was established in Utah in July 1978. Utah now has a statewide misdemeanor court system in which judges are selected, compensated, and retained in office on the same basis as in the district courts, the court of general trial jurisdiction in Utah. This reform effort represented the culmination of longstanding concern about the structure and deficiencies of the city court system. Numerous previous attempts made by the State bar and others to abolish the justice of the peace system had failed. Therefore, in the mid-1970's the State Judicial Council invited the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives to form a 10-member joint judicial and legislative committee to study the Utah courts of limited jurisdiction. The committee obtained LEAA funding and contracted with the National Center for State Courts to assist in the study. By November 1976, the report, recommendations, and proposed legislation were ready for submission to the State Judicial Conference. The report recommended the establishment of a State circuit court system to replace the city court system and recommended extensive amendments to the justice of the peace courts as a companion measure. Support for the legislation was solicited from the mayors and city councils within the State. The final bill became effective in July 1978. The help of the National Center for State Courts and the detailed follow-through of the staff of the office of the State court administrator were vital to the realization of a circuit court within the State.