Sim Gill

Simarjit Singh Gill (born 1961) is the current District Attorney for Salt Lake County, Utah.

Sim Gill
District Attorney of Salt Lake County, Utah
Personal details
Born1961 (age 58–59)
India[1]
Political partyUtah Democratic Party

Career

Before his District Attorney election, Sim Gill worked as Salt Lake City's Chief Prosecutor. Sim Gill was elected as the Salt Lake County District Attorney in November 2010, by defeating incumbent Lohra Miller, after losing the race to her in 2006. As a veteran prosecutor, Sim has championed issues of therapeutic justice, criminal prosecution, and alternatives to prosecution.

On March 18, 2014, Gill announced his bid for a second term, and in November of the same year, defeated Republican challenger Steve Nelson, retaining his position as the District Attorney. In 2018, Gill announced that he would running for re-election against challenger Nathan Evershed.

Sim has collaborated on the creation and implementation of various therapeutic justice programs, including Mental Health Court, Veterans Court, Salt Lake City Domestic Violence Court, Misdemeanor Drug Court and the Salt Lake Area Family Justice Center.

Education and Election

In 2010, Gill became the District Attorney by defeating the incumbent Lohra Miller after losing to her in 2006.[2] On March 18, 2014, Gill announced his bid for a second term [3] and in November of the same year, defeated the Republican challenger Steve Nelson[4] to retain his position as the District Attorney. Before becoming the District Attorney, Gill worked as Salt Lake City's Chief Prosecutor.[2]

Gill graduated from the University of Utah with a B.A. degree in History and Philosophy. He received his J. D. degree and certificate of specialization in Environmental and Natural Resources Law from Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Gill was admitted to the Utah Bar in 1993.

Prominent cases

Gill participated in the prosecution of Brian David Mitchell, the man guilty of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart.[5] He has also been pursuing former Utah Attorneys General Mark Shurtleff and John Swallow on corruption and bribery charges that were later found to have been unfounded, and largely political in nature. He filed felony charges against Shurtleff and Swallow on July 15, 2014.[6] Both men were found not guilty of the charges filed against them.

In July 2020 Gill ruled that the killing of Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal, in which officers Neil Iverson and Kevin Fortuna fired 34 shots, was justified.[7]

Controversy

Shortly after his election to office, Gill filed charges against two of his political rivals, former Utah Attorneys General Mark Shurtleff and John Swallow, as well as a number of their campaign donors. In an effort to prosecute the same, Gill directed police to use what was later determined to have been excessive force. After a lengthy trial all individuals were found to be not guilty of all charges.

In the case of Shurtleff, all charges were dropped. In the case of Swallow, a jury found him not guilty of all charges. In the case their political donors, all charges were dropped. The State of Utah is currently facing several lawsuits for the amount of several million dollars to cover the legal fees of those prosecuted as a result of these cases. [8] On September 17, 2019 the State of Utah settled with John Swallow, as a result of his being acquitted. As a part of the settlement, they agreed to pay Mr. Swallow $1.5 million.[9]

In 2020, Gill decided to charge 7 protestors with "gang enhancement" crimes that carry sentences of life in prison for allegedly participating anti-racist protests that in part targeted the District Attorney's office for announcing that the murder of Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal as he was running away from police was justified.[10]

References
  1. Sim Gill and the American Dream at ABC4 News; originally published January 7, 2011; via archive.org
  2. Dennis Romboy (2010-11-03). "Sim Gill ousts Miller in Salt Lake County district attorney race". Deseret News. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  3. Shara Park and Pat Reavy (2014-03-18). "Sim Gill announces re-election bid, 3rd person seeks 4th Congressional seat". KSL. Retrieved 2015-02-06.
  4. Morgan, Emiley (2014-03-04). "Prosecutor seeking Republican bid for Salt Lake County district attorney". Deseret News. KSL. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
  5. Reavy, Pat. "State charges dismissed against Brian David Mitchell". KSL. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  6. Crofts, Natalie (July 15, 2014). "Swallow, Shurtleff taken into custody". KSL. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  7. "Shooting of Bernardo Palacios ruled 'justified' by Salt Lake County DA". KJZZ. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  8. Romboy, Dennis (August 3, 2018). "Men caught up in Shurtleff Swallow defense sue FBI, Utah". KSL. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  9. "$1.5 million settlement for former AG John Swallow approved by Utah Legislature". www.ksl.com. Retrieved 2019-09-19.
  10. "Sim Gill accused of filing excessive charges against protesters for broken windows, paint on the street". sltrib. Retrieved August 6, 2020.

[1]

[2]

  1. "Judge dismisses criminal case against former Utah AG Mark Shurtleff".
  2. "Former Utah attorney general acquitted in corruption case".
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